Help needed for new steering column

[raymond.harper]

My power steering has failed in my 2003 Z4. Handed it in today to my local garage and they said it needs a new electric power steering column and the price is going to be high! I am seeing them tomorrow to pick the car and discus costs. I am not keen to fit a second hand unit so does anyone know where I could pick up a reconditioned unit? Thanks in advance

 

[Scooba_Steve]

Have a search on here, there's a place that will recon.

 

[raymond.harper]

Just got it back from garage . BMW want £2200 for the column! Servo motor coupling error codes 6118 621A
Now left with spending over -£2550 to fix it or perhaps selling it as is. Tried to find someone to recondition but no luck so far

 

[Scooba_Steve]

Of course BMW want that much. Have a search on here - there is somewhere that does it. Or get one from a scrappy, I know you don't like the idea of second hand but if the choice is between that and selling the car then why not?

 

[firebobby]

I remember reading about someone fitting a standard fluid type rack from another BMW, Machine Monkey is also looking to do this conversion some time. He has the parts needed but is up to his eyeballs in nappies at the moment

 

[mr wilks]

Just got it back from garage . BMW want £2200 for the column! Servo motor coupling error codes 6118 621A
Now left with spending over -£2550 to fix it or perhaps selling it as is. Tried to find someone to recondition but no luck so far

It may well have a goosed column but before you go deep into the wallet i would rule out some basics just for peace of mind
How old is your battery & do you run the car daily or rarely ? If rarely is it on trickle charge between outings ?
Do you have a trusted indy who knows BMWs ?
If so i would make sure the battery is either new or fully charged & then ask your garage to lighten the coupling on the steering column by adjusting it . This should take around 20mins so always worth a try

 

[raymond.harper]

Thank you for all your comments. Just to add salt to the wound the car now has a minor coolant leak from what I think is the thermostat housing to the drivers side radiator hose :x . Not exactly pleased with the reliabilty of the car so far but then it is a thirteen year old car. I was speechless at the BMW cost of the steering column £2200 ! In other words about half the cost to rebuild a Porsche 911 engine. I do not know how they can justify the price. I was considering writing a letter to BMW but I have made contact with a firm in London near Greenwich. They have said they would charge me around £500 to removed and repair the rack which seems a good price. I don't think any of the members have used this firm so I will probably be the first. I am going to get the leak fixed first as the 52 mile drive is bad enough without power steering never mind worrying about a leak. Anyway I hope to go to Greenwich at the end of the week and will report back what happened

 

[mattyp]

Ray, I feel your pain. I have been there in the past with an R32. Hope you get it all fixed soon.

 

[Ewazix]

Thank you for all your comments. Just to add salt to the wound the car now has a minor coolant leak from what I think is the thermostat housing to the drivers side radiator hose :x . Not exactly pleased with the reliabilty of the car so far but then it is a thirteen year old car. I was speechless at the BMW cost of the steering column £2200 ! In other words about half the cost to rebuild a Porsche 911 engine. I do not know how they can justify the price. I was considering writing a letter to BMW but I have made contact with a firm in London near Greenwich. They have said they would charge me around £500 to removed and repair the rack which seems a good price. I don't think any of the members have used this firm so I will probably be the first. I am going to get the leak fixed first as the 52 mile drive is bad enough without power steering never mind worrying about a leak. Anyway I hope to go to Greenwich at the end of the week and will report back what happened

Check carefully what is supposed to be wrong, you mention a firm will remove and repair the RACK, this is not the the column assembly you mention being quoted for. As far as I'm aware nobody has managed to find repairers or refurbishers of the column assembly as the units are sealed. Your best bet is a post facelift complete column from breakers which will cost from 400 - 700 plus fitting including reprogramming. It Must come with locking pins installed before removal or may be damaged. A search on the forum of these issues will tell all.
... And the 621a code isnt direcly related to steering, id be getting an auto electrician to seriously check voltages per Mr Wilks suggestion and the integrity of the loom an connectors around the steering column, Good luck.

 

[raymond.harper]

Sorry I should have said electric steering upper column. This problem is driving me mad . Have spent most of the week end trying to get a solution to the problem. Right now the car is in my local garage getting the thermostat housing replaced. After this is done I am booking the car into http://www.power-steering.co.uk/bmw-z4-electric-power-steering-column-repairs-replacements They claim to be able to fix the part. I hope that they will be true to their word and be able to recondition the problem. I have been talking to them and they seem to know what they are doing. I will let you know what happens. Hopefully a fixed car

 

[mac27040]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z4-E85-03-05-COMPLETE-POWER-STEERING-COLUMN-AND-EPS-SERVO-PUMP-6766417-/262670961770?hash=item3d2868cc6a:g:2z0AAOSwLF1X6BPk

 

[Ewazix]

Sorry I should have said electric steering upper column. This problem is driving me mad . Have spent most of the week end trying to get a solution to the problem. Right now the car is in my local garage getting the thermostat housing replaced. After this is done I am booking the car into http://www.power-steering.co.uk/bmw-z4-electric-power-steering-column-repairs-replacements They claim to be able to fix the part. I hope that they will be true to their word and be able to recondition the problem. I have been talking to them and they seem to know what they are doing. I will let you know what happens. Hopefully a fixed car

Well if they are right they may be quite popular,
although I'm not sure how a complete unit requires no coding? But they read confidently, so will be a good find if it works out.

 

[raymond.harper]

Well after leaving the car for over a week they have found out the torque sensor is at fault and they cannot fix it. So much for their assurances that they could fix it. Think I will just drive the car as it is before I make any rash decisions to scrap it.

 

[k31ron]

had a similar issue last year , looked into all possibilities, but ended up being that mine needed new column, ridiculous BMW cost (£2+K - parts alone). I found a secondhand one from a scrapyard had it fitted at an Indie (did need coding) cost about £600 all in...not cheap but much better then the alternative....in hindsight I would have converted to hydraulic for similarish costs...but all sorted now

 

[raymond.harper]

Well I got the car back from the " specialist " with a large scratch on its rear wing which was not there when I handed it in so another battle ahead. I have decided that I will convert to hydraulic to sort the problem out once and for all. I have ordered a reconditioned purple E46 rack and tie rods ends. From ebay I have got a pump and hopefully some of the lines i will need. Not much information around on the conversion so it may take a while.

 

[Chris_D]

good luck ray. interested to learn how u get on with this, so keep us posted of developments!

 

[k31ron]

Well I got the car back from the " specialist " with a large scratch on its rear wing which was not there when I handed it in so another battle ahead. I have decided that I will convert to hydraulic to sort the problem out once and for all. I have ordered a reconditioned purple E46 rack and tie rods ends. From ebay I have got a pump and hopefully some of the lines i will need. Not much information around on the conversion so it may take a while.

good luck and please post how you get on, with ridiculous replacement costs I think this might be a more regular (and better) way forward.

 

[Machine monkey]

Hi Ray feel you pain buddy.

I will be doing mine in a few weeks so if you wait. I can either guide you through it. Or once i have done mine offer to do it for a fee?

 

[Machine monkey]

Well I got the car back from the " specialist " with a large scratch on its rear wing which was not there when I handed it in so another battle ahead. I have decided that I will convert to hydraulic to sort the problem out once and for all. I have ordered a reconditioned purple E46 rack and tie rods ends. From ebay I have got a pump and hopefully some of the lines i will need. Not much information around on the conversion so it may take a while.

good luck and please post how you get on, with ridiculous replacement costs I think this might be a more regular (and better) way forward.

100% The only thing wrong with the z4 is the steering feel compared to my old E46.
I have been waiting for ages to do mine. Now my car is off the road. Its time for a few fun things like this.

 

[Chris_D]

Hi Ray feel you pain buddy.

I will be doing mine in a few weeks so if you wait. I can either guide you through it. Or once i have done mine offer to do it for a fee?

That's a top offer MM!
If the job's a good'un and everything turns out OK on yours and Ray's, I would even be tempted to let you rip on mine as I'm beginning to tire of the constant fidgety steering feel. After years of being spoiled by hydraulic BMW steering feel the zed's is just horrid.
This could even become the next roof-motor-relocation-type trend.....