Light Steering

Linders

Member
Hi,

I'm a new member. I bought a 3 litre Z4, 2004 plate, 2 months ago. The issue I have is very light wayward steering especially at speed. Has anybody else had this problem and if so what things can I try to put it right, cheers Chris
 
Linders said:
Hi,

I'm a new member. I bought a 3 litre Z4, 2004 plate, 2 months ago. The issue I have is very light wayward steering especially at speed. Has anybody else had this problem and if so what things can I try to put it right, cheers Chris
Welcome to the forum, there are loads of owners who have suffered with steering and there are plenty of threads on here about it. Get some photos of your car on :)
 
Mine is the same. The opposite of the often talked about ‘sticky’ steering, which I believe requires a few degrees of rotation on the steering motor bracket to resolve. There are detailed threads on this issue and owners on here with first hand experience of solving it.
 
Sounds like possibly the tyre pressures are too high. Check them and if they are over the stated pressures, drop them down.

I find that 28psi all round works quite well for me on Eagle 2s. It sorted the ride out and makes things more comfortable and reduces the wandering somewhat.
 
Linders said:
Hi,

I'm a new member. I bought a 3 litre Z4, 2004 plate, 2 months ago. The issue I have is very light wayward steering especially at speed. Has anybody else had this problem and if so what things can I try to put it right, cheers Chris
Tyre pressures as above, or run flat tyres, if not that then maybe it's just the nature of the epas
 
Obviously try all of the above, additionally if your finding it too light at speed try engaging the sport button which decreases the electric assistance so may help.
 
noiseboy72 said:
Sounds like possibly the tyre pressures are too high. Check them and if they are over the stated pressures, drop them down.

I find that 28psi all round works quite well for me on Eagle 2s. It sorted the ride out and makes things more comfortable and reduces the wandering somewhat.
28 ? Wow.. All I see on here is folk running around 32 - 36
Need to sort this out properly once and for all. BMW giving out numbers cuz it don't want to supply a spare is really too bad. This silly electric steering is a pain in the arse. Did I read somewhere about someone putting proper hydraulic steering on?
 
I think it depends on the tyre type, manufacturer and loading. I'm normally driving around with the car pretty much empty except for my lard arse, so no need for super high pressures.

I've found the car much more sensitive to tyre pressures than past saloons and 4x4s, with the ride suffering more than anything. Mine's on M-sport suspension and fairly new shocks, so soaking up some of the bumps is a good thing imho. If you are on SE suspension then it may not be so much of an issue.

I never really find the suspension to be too light unless it's a high speed motorway run and then a stab on the Sport button stiffens it up nicely. I've had a few cars with electric power steering and the feel is definitely not as good as hydraulic, but I can still drive it with a high degree of precision and you soon learn to wrench it out of the tramlines with a deft flick!!
 
Buying into a car that already shows this vague / light / edgy feel at speeds is always going to be a task to get on top of .
So many factors to work through , i can recall one member trying everything then still bailing out as it was never cured :cry:
A coupe i had many years back was awful , literally felt like the front end was skating on ice over 60mph , a pair of front control arms along with a pair of tyres & it was sorted :cry: you can check for play by jacking the car slightly though leave tyres grounded , then grip at 3 & 9 & shake the front wheel
Otherwise Id start with a decent pair of non runflat tyres around 30/32psi
Then have the alignment checked / this itself can often be the cause as these cars being over 10 years old , multiple owners will have had components changed & very possibly various alignments done by some who do or do not know what they are doing :(
Don't give up , once sorted they do drive well at all speeds & ive never found the electric power steering to spoil the cars handling or my enjoyment :thumbsup:
 
Buying into a car that already shows this vague / light / edgy feel at speeds is always going to be a task to get on top of .
So many factors to work through , i can recall one member trying everything then still bailing out as it was never cured :cry:
A coupe i had many years back was awful , literally felt like the front end was skating on ice over 60mph , a pair of front control arms along with a pair of tyres & it was sorted :cry: you can check for play by jacking the car slightly though leave tyres grounded , then grip at 3 & 9 & shake the front wheel
Otherwise Id start with a decent pair of non runflat tyres around 30/32psi
Then have the alignment checked / this itself can often be the cause as these cars being over 10 years old , multiple owners will have had components changed & very possibly various alignments done by some who do or do not know what they are doing :(
Don't give up , once sorted they do drive well at all speeds & ive never found the electric power steering to spoil the cars handling or my enjoyment :thumbsup:
 
Help please, I need some new rear tyres on 8.5 rims. The current tyres are 255/35/18. Will smaller tyres 245 or 235 affect how the car handles much ? thanks,
 
Nice zed. Loks exactly like mine :thumbsup: apart from the er..kof, m badges on the flanks there. A forum faux pas. Expect the m badge nazis along any moment.... :lol:
 
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