Z4-forum.com

Hi everyone, need some of your expertise please, especially if you have experienced something similar before.
I have Z4 Coupe.

When I am driving, especially on uneven roads, my steering is all over the place. It is like I am constantly battling with the car to drive straight. On the motorway it is not as bad, but certainly it does not drive straight.

Another example is when I am approaching a stop, the steering sometimes tends to rotate 20 degrees to the left. And sometimes its to the right, and sometimes its ok. This issue has been getting worse. Just a few months ago it wasn’t good, but certainly wasn’t this bad.

I just want to know if this is a common issue, and if not any idea what it is? Obviously I will take it to the mechanic but I would like some advice before so they do not rip me off.

Thank you for reading and your responses.

Lollipop bushes are shot I would imagine, very common on e46 and z4

Do you still have run flats, these ruin the Z4 experience. As above or try moving the ring on the steering column.

Thank you for the reply

I do have run flats at the rear, maybe I should consider changing them over. But the bushes do sound like an issue.
How much roughly do they cost to change all the bushes as it is a 12 year old car.

Lollipop bushes are about £50-60 per set.

Not to expensive to have fitted either as they are 'relatively' easy to do.

Mine was all over the place until I had the wheels balanced - amazed with the difference and less than £10 per wheel

Fantastic response all thank you. Have contacted some local mechanics and will let you know how I get on.
Also if anyone can recommend any trustworthy and reliable mechanics in the west london (near heathrow) area please let me know.

Thank you.

Im getting quoted £480 inc VAT and labour for the front two Arms and Bushes.

Is that too excessive or just about right?

This sounds very much like tramlining. How old/worn are the front tyres? Have the lollipops Checked first and if theyre OK Id be looking at replacing the front tyres

Thank you.

Just did the wheel alignment, but they told me its ok anyway. Have booked a BMW specialist to have a look now as the other garage told me the bushes aren't too bad so that may not be the issue. Lets see.

Front tyres have normal wear, they dont need to be changed yet, but I guess I will know more when the specialist have a look.

Try reducing tyre pressures a little. 5 PSI might well sort out this issue, it did on mine.

Where are you based, see if there's another member near you who could have a look. When I got my Zed, I thought it was out to kill me, it was all over the road and just seemed dangerous.I ditched the run flats (big improvement) and fitting 18" wheels also helped. The biggest improvement was adjusting the ring on the steering motor.

A mix of RF/non RF is a recipe for trouble in itself

Hi all, glad I joined this forum, my recently purchased E86 is all over the place on the road. 19" CSL reps (non RFT) with front tyres worn on inside edge, just finished rebuilding front suspension (pics in newbies forum) and replaced (literally) everything along the way including a Bilstein b12 kit to replace the totally shagged suspension. the Z will be off the road for a few weeks having the rear bushes/arms/driveshaft bushes and gearbox mounts/diff mounts/all fluids replaced so I will try this fix and report back once finished.
Hopefully this and a set of Goodyear F1 asymmetric will cure the feeling that my car is trying to kill me, otherwise ill have to name her Christine
(the front tyres are worn on inside edge due to previous owner fitting H&R springs to original worn out shocks with stock mounts etc, lucky to catch the issues before they destroyed the car, mounts were millimetres from failure) They will be replaced along with new rear tyres (ditchfinders fitted currently) once all the work is complete along with a hunter align (already had done but will redo once work complete).
If I don't report back then please assume Christine read this post and decided against the work, or I'm in a ditch somewhere with valuable E86 parts waiting to be found