E85/E86 Steering Problems (Solved)

[enuff_zed]

Welcome to the forum!

Thanks for having me

Not sure it would have been so easy with allen key bolts?

Based on my limited experience, there is so little space up there, that if you have to do anything more complex than loosening the bolts, rotating the ring and then tightening the bolts again, it's probably easier to remove the whole steering column from the car. Then again, maybe some magician with right tools and small hands could it .

Hey! It's official! I'm a magician.
Couple of hours to remove, including the mandatory wait after disconnecting the battery, then removing the steering wheel and seat.
One 8mm ratchet ring spanner and a torch. Apart from the foot-well trim panel and the lower steering column shroud that was all I disturbed.
Refitting took around an hour as by then I knew what I as doing. Only issue was not being able to reach to put the bolts into the holes. As previously stated, put them in the ratchet ring spanner, offer them up, apply pressure on the bolt head with a screwdriver blade and ratchet them in. 5 minutes to do both. Aided by the fact that I indelibly marked the motor, ring and column before I took it apart, so it was all lined up.

To be fair though, I was the guy with small hands who used to be stood on a gearbox jack, holding the required tools over my head, and jacked up into the access panels of a Tornado to change stuff, so I guess I have had practice.

 

[davros]

Hi guys, hope someone can help.

I’m about to tackle this sticky steering fix, but after reading through this thread several times I’m still confused which way to rotate the ring to loosen it…. :?

If I’m on the right hand side of the steering column looking towards the centre console, do I need to rotate the eccentric ring clock wise so the guide line Ive marked on it would move upwards against the adjacent line I’ve marked on the servo motor? (Hope this makes sense - I’m suddenly feeling my age )

 

[wonkydonkey]

[ref]davros[/ref] To be completely honest, a) I can't remember and b) I can't be bothered going through all the pages of this thread again to find out! But it doesn't really matter.

1. Mark the eccentric ring and adjacent housing with a marker pen before you begin (as advised in this thread) so that you can always return it to the way it was before you started making adjustments.

2. Raise and support the front end of the car with the wheels off the ground. Spin the steering wheel left and right 180 degrees or so a few times to get a feel for the steering feel.

3. Loosen the pinch bolts so that the eccentric ring is free to move.

4. Rotate the eccentric ring 45 degrees or so in one direction, now test the feel of the steering.

5. Rotate the eccentric ring back to the start point, and then beyond the start point by 45 degrees or so. Now test the feel of the steering.

6. You should now be aware of which directions make the steering looser and tighter.

7. Based on your learning above, tweak the ring round to a point that makes the steering feel the way you think it should (i.e. Not tight, not sloppy), nip up the pinch bolts and take it for a drive. Don't feel as though you "shouldn't" require more than 10 mm of rotation on the ring. Some of them do need more than that.

 

[davros]

Cheers James

 

[wonkydonkey]

Cheers James

No problem. Feel free to PM me if you're stuck in the heat of the moment, and I'll reply if I get it!

 

[davros]

Just want to thank James and all the contributors on this post. Its incredible a small adjustment to the centric ring can make such a huge difference to the driving feel of the car

For anyone planning to tackle this job I can confirm the ring needs to be rotated clockwise (if you are looking from the right side of the steering column / motor towards the centre console) to loosen the steering.

 

[wonkydonkey]

Just want to thank James and all the contributors on this post. Its incredible a small adjustment to the centric ring can make such a huge difference to the driving feel of the car

You're welcome, and congrats on the improvement. Happy Zedding! :driving:

 

[D742]

I have done the tension ring adjustment with good results using 5 mm movement, and am going to go back in and do another 5 mm.

Unforuntatly I have the allen bolt heads. I am going to change these to something that i can put a wrench on, and would like to have them on hand when I do the job.

Does anyone know the bolt size/length that I need to go hunting for? RealOEM does not show them.

Thanks,

 

[Southwestz4]

Hi guys, hope someone can help.

I’m about to tackle this sticky steering fix, but after reading through this thread several times I’m still confused which way to rotate the ring to loosen it…. :?

If I’m on the right hand side of the steering column looking towards the centre console, do I need to rotate the eccentric ring clock wise so the guide line Ive marked on it would move upwards against the adjacent line I’ve marked on the servo motor? (Hope this makes sense - I’m suddenly feeling my age )

Looking at the eps ring from the seat ( ie looking in the forward direction ) tap the bottom of the ring towards the engine bulkhead to loosen the steering

 

[enuff_zed]

For anyone planning to tackle this job I can confirm the ring needs to be rotated clockwise (if you are looking from the right side of the steering column / motor towards the centre console) to loosen the steering.

Looking at the eps ring from the seat ( ie looking in the forward direction ) tap the bottom of the ring towards the engine bulkhead to loosen the steering

These two statements are saying the exact opposite???

 

[Southwestz4]

For anyone planning to tackle this job I can confirm the ring needs to be rotated clockwise (if you are looking from the right side of the steering column / motor towards the centre console) to loosen the steering.

Looking at the eps ring from the seat ( ie looking in the forward direction ) tap the bottom of the ring towards the engine bulkhead to loosen the steering

These two statements are saying the exact opposite???

Well thats what worked for me

 

[Special Kay]

Hey Joycey, I've just been reading through your handy work. Having recently bought a coupe, my journey home was dampened by the travel/play I was experiencing in the steering wheel around 60mph. I was thinking worse case scenario or replacing or reconditioned steering rack, but this thread has restored some confidence in BMW. Once I've got it on the road (probably next spring to summer) this will be one of the first things I will be addressing. I just wanted to say a huge thank you to you and all other contributors for all your analytical and problem solving skills. I'll be eternally thankful.

 

[Joycey]

Hey Joycey, I've just been reading through your handy work. Having recently bought a coupe, my journey home was dampened by the travel/play I was experiencing in the steering wheel around 60mph. I was thinking worse case scenario or replacing or reconditioned steering rack, but this thread has restored some confidence in BMW. Once I've got it on the road (probably next spring to summer) this will be one of the first things I will be addressing. I just wanted to say a huge thank you to you and all other contributors for all your analytical and problem solving skills. I'll be eternally thankful.

Your welcome, if your local more than happy to make the adjustment for you. Plenty of space now to help out.

 

[Special Kay]

wow man that's an awesome collection of z3's. My eye's seem fixated on the silver one. It definitely brings back some happy memories of mine. The cb750 looks pretty smart too

 

[Joycey]

Good spot on the CB, The silver Z3 is actually up for sale its a 1 owner 2.8 straight 6

 

[TheDan]

Your welcome, if your local more than happy to make the adjustment for you. Plenty of space now to help out.
8EF4B633-2C71-4D8A-9C00-2E3DB99F32C0.jpeg

That place would be my heaven!! Can't wait till I find a place with a garage large enough for a 2 post lift!!!

 

[2.5tdi]

Hello!

Im not sure i have sticky steering but gonna ask anyway.
My problem is that when driving around 110km/h electric steering assist is always micro correcting steering wheel and i have to counter that correction from electric assist, it is hard to drive in straight line because of this. There are no faults stored.
Could adjusting ring solve that?

 

[FunkyGBrown]

Hi guys,

Noticed when mine was parked in the sun during the baking hot summer the steering would get a bit sticky (nothing too bad just noticeable). The temperatures have dropped so only really occurs on a long drive but looked through this thread and thought I'd attempt this to see if it helps at all

I've managed to loosen the 2 bolts but cannot get the ring to budge. How are people doing this? And how 'loose' should the 2 bolts be? I have them to the point where using a ratchet spanner takes the lightest touch to loosen them further, but don't want to over loosen them (if that's even possible).

But the ring that you have to move clockwise will not budge, and I can't see holes or bits I can stick a screwdriver to use as leverage.

Ideas most welcome

 

[wonkydonkey]

[ref]FunkyGBrown[/ref] If you've definitely loosened the right bolts ( :!: ) then it should turn by hand. By all means loosen them another half a turn or so from where you are now, to take the clamping load off the assembly. Perhaps it just needs a bit of persuasion to break free if it's never been moved since initial assembly

 

[FunkyGBrown]

[ref]FunkyGBrown[/ref] If you've definitely loosened the right bolts ( :!: ) then it should turn by hand. By all means loosen them another half a turn or so from where you are now, to take the clamping load off the assembly. Perhaps it just needs a bit of persuasion to break free if it's never been moved since initial assembly

Definitely the right bolts! Should it turn quite freely? Any tips on getting it loose? It definitely feels stuck inplace!