2007 Z4 E86 Steering column replacement

[rocky79]

Hello,

I am glad I found this forum. I have a 2007 Z4 E86 manual and the electric motor steering assist stopped working.
There is no communication with the steering controller with the scan tool.

The strange part is that the steering assist starts working again when it gets hot while driving and stops working when it cools down.

I am now at a point where I would like to fix it and replace the steering column unless there is an easier way.

My question is will the steering column from an automatic E85 work on my manual E86?

The donor car is a 2006 E85 Z4 auto ( Production date: March 2006)
my car is a 2007 Z4 E86 manual. ( October 2006)

The part# for the steering column on the Z4 manual: 32306780728
The part# for the steering column on the Z4 auto: 32306780729

Any help is appreciate it.
Thanks in advance.

 

[enuff_zed]

Hello, firstly the automatic column is indeed different.
However, you probably only need to get your motor fixed. ECU Testing do the repair with a lifetime warranty for £295.
No communication is a classic sign the ECU on the motor is failing.
The other sign is that the Sport button won't work either.
I can get a motor out in around an hour or so, and fitted again in about the same time.
Whereabouts are you?

 

[rocky79]

Hello, thanks for the quick reply.
The automatic column is different but will it work on a manual car?
Also, how come it works again when it gets hot. Something that is temperature sensitive that is affecting the controller operation.

If I got the motor retrofitted does it need to be re-calibrated. or programed to work again?
I am in southern california, too far from you.

 

[enuff_zed]

Hello, thanks for the quick reply.
The automatic column is different but will it work on a manual car?
Also, how come it works again when it gets hot. Something that is temperature sensitive that is affecting the controller operation.

If I got the motor retrofitted does it need to be re-calibrated. or programed to work again?
I am in southern california, too far from you.

Send me a ticket
There are several threads on here about how to remove and refit the motor.
You could simply get the motor off the auto column and bolt it on.
No coding needed.
You may need to make few slight adjustments of the spacer ring to dial out any sticky steering. But mark up the position of the spacer first and ensure everything goes back together in the same alignment and you won’t be far off.
Again, search sticky steering on here and you’ll find loads of articles.
Only last week I detailed the adjustment process to someone over your side of the pond. His mechanics had never heard of it but were impressed that it fixed it for him.

 

[rocky79]

[ref]enuff_zed[/ref], I am still a newbie at the forum, it won’t let me send a pm.
Is it possible to PM me the adjustment process?
Also, in case the motor and the controller didn’t work with the ECU. Do I need Insta+ to relearn or register the new steering motor?
Thanks again.

 

[enuff_zed]

[ref]enuff_zed[/ref], I am still a newbie at the forum, it won’t let me send a pm.
Is it possible to PM me the adjustment process?
Also, in case the motor and the controller didn’t work with the ECU. Do I need Insta+ to relearn or register the new steering motor?
Thanks again.

Have a read through this thread. It should tell you all you need to know, including pictures of the adjustment bolts.
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=130885

It starts talking about suspension etc, but by the end of page two we're well into the column adjustment process.

The motor comes complete with its own ECU attached.
You should be able to simply bolt it on and it will work. I've done a couple like that with no issues anyway.

 

[rocky79]

[ref]enuff_zed[/ref], It looks like the link is for the wrong thread. Different topic

 

[enuff_zed]

[ref]enuff_zed[/ref], It looks like the link is for the wrong thread. Different topic

I thought you wanted info on adjusting the steering feel?
As I said, it morphs into that on page 2.

 

[rocky79]

[ref]enuff_zed[/ref], It looks like the link is for the wrong thread. Different topic

I thought you wanted info on adjusting the steering feel?
As I said, it morphs into that on page 2.

I didn’t realize there are more than one page. I will check it.
It would be nice to get rid of the tramlining effect, the Z4 is notorious for that but my goal now is to get the motor fixed :wink:
I have been dreading that repair.
Thanks again.

 

[rocky79]

Any idea what grease to use on the worm gear?
I am going to clean it up after it came back from ECU Testing.

 

[enuff_zed]

Any idea what grease to use on the worm gear?
I am going to clean it up after it came back from ECU Testing.
IMG_8514.jpg

They test it on a rig and usually it comes back with enough grease already on it.
If you want to more it needs to be something light so it doesn’t clog up

 

[rocky79]

I see, some of the grease was transferred to the nylon wrapping that it was in.

 

[rocky79]

What torque setting do you use to mount the EPS motor?
It’s a 8x30mm bolt.
General BWM Torque setting calls for ~24Nm
The Steering TIS shows 30Nm ( Universal Joint coupling to Steering) but I don’t think this is for mounting the motor.