mine was like this it could be the bushes in the rear suspension causing a little rear wheel steering effect. although mine was dramatically reduced but not eliminated when I fitted a set of second-hand wheels with new cheepie tyres. which was odd as the wheels I took off had very good tread matching premium brand tyres all round (unless the better tyres were highlighting the suspension bush problem with there better grip)
Motorway speeds and steering
- Thread starter ChillZ4
- Start date
Well, it's MOT time so the car is in the shop (BMS Surrey - an Indy in Leatherhead) to (hopefully) sort out the steering issue whilst it's there.
He's had a drive in it and has experienced it so at least he knows what I'm trying to chase down which is half the battle won!
First call back from them was to say that the fact my Bridgestone runflats on the front are not even slightly round, and is probably a factor if not the cause.
I would love it to be that simple, but am fairly sure it won't be. Fingers crossed.
He's had a drive in it and has experienced it so at least he knows what I'm trying to chase down which is half the battle won!
First call back from them was to say that the fact my Bridgestone runflats on the front are not even slightly round, and is probably a factor if not the cause.
I would love it to be that simple, but am fairly sure it won't be. Fingers crossed.
A long ish suffering memeber here wit this shitty problem, changed tie rods inner & outer, front wishbone bushes all round, had alignment done 3 times, 7 different sets of wheels and it still does it 
not throwing any more money at it now though so i'll have to lump it as i love the car too much
not throwing any more money at it now though so i'll have to lump it as i love the car too much
Just got a call from the Garage as the car is ready to pick up (they had it a couple of weeks as I was lucky enough to also suffer the dreaded yellow abs, handbrake and traction control threesome on the dash - abs control unit had to go off to ectesting.com to be reconditioned, and needed new rear brake pipes and front discs and pads too). Will be picking it up Saturday morning.
They've given everything the once-over, all suspension components are all in good nick - all bushes are fine and everything is solid.
His conclusion for the twitchy steering is it is a glitchy electronic steering unit (that was my original prediction, rather than something mechanical - but for some reason I'm not feeling that warm fuzzy feeling I would usually get when proven to be correct!).
Apparently they have had several in with exactly the same of late. No software or anything that can be re-flashed or upgraded for the eps. He said sadly there isn't really anything to be done short of a whole new steering column as its all integrated - and he said that's probably not something I would be wanting to fork out for!!!
(Oh, other option of course sell it and get an M with proper steering instead. Grrr - I was so torn at the time between the coupe I bought and a Z4MC I was also looking at - I firmly blame the Mrs for swaying away from the predicted higher costs of the M! I keep listening to her and never learn!)
My front tyres are out of round which isn't helping, but it's certainly the electric power steering causing the problem as they switched wheels and road tested but still did it.
Was going to take the opportunity of switching to non-run flats, but as still loads of meat on them and it seems my twitchy steering will still be there anyway I'm gonna put up with it until I've worn them out a bit more - the bill is going to be pretty hefty as it is so I could do with a little time to repair the damage to my bank account first anyway.
So, terrible news.
Seems it's a "feature" of the eps that I've just got to live with.
I'll try and finish off my run flats over the next couple of months, switch to eagle f1s and then get it on hunter machine, and if that doesn't satisfy me looks like I'll be giving up and searching the classifieds for a Z4MC.
(I'm sure that's gonna be a long search to find one same colour/spec as my coupe, which for me is perfect - will give me time to try and earn a pay rise to be able to cover the additional running costs I guess).
I'm off to find somewhere quiet to have a little sulk.
They've given everything the once-over, all suspension components are all in good nick - all bushes are fine and everything is solid.
His conclusion for the twitchy steering is it is a glitchy electronic steering unit (that was my original prediction, rather than something mechanical - but for some reason I'm not feeling that warm fuzzy feeling I would usually get when proven to be correct!).
Apparently they have had several in with exactly the same of late. No software or anything that can be re-flashed or upgraded for the eps. He said sadly there isn't really anything to be done short of a whole new steering column as its all integrated - and he said that's probably not something I would be wanting to fork out for!!!
(Oh, other option of course sell it and get an M with proper steering instead. Grrr - I was so torn at the time between the coupe I bought and a Z4MC I was also looking at - I firmly blame the Mrs for swaying away from the predicted higher costs of the M! I keep listening to her and never learn!)
My front tyres are out of round which isn't helping, but it's certainly the electric power steering causing the problem as they switched wheels and road tested but still did it.
Was going to take the opportunity of switching to non-run flats, but as still loads of meat on them and it seems my twitchy steering will still be there anyway I'm gonna put up with it until I've worn them out a bit more - the bill is going to be pretty hefty as it is so I could do with a little time to repair the damage to my bank account first anyway.
So, terrible news.
Seems it's a "feature" of the eps that I've just got to live with.
I'll try and finish off my run flats over the next couple of months, switch to eagle f1s and then get it on hunter machine, and if that doesn't satisfy me looks like I'll be giving up and searching the classifieds for a Z4MC.
(I'm sure that's gonna be a long search to find one same colour/spec as my coupe, which for me is perfect - will give me time to try and earn a pay rise to be able to cover the additional running costs I guess).
I'm off to find somewhere quiet to have a little sulk.
Although dissapointing this is kinda the result that I was expecting. At least your garage has determined that it is the eps at fault as all the garages I have used just keep saying its wheels or tyres or bushes.
Think im going to keep an eye out for uprated front strut braces to see if that helps reduce the issue.
We just need someone to find a way to fit hydraulic steering to the n52 engined cars......
Think im going to keep an eye out for uprated front strut braces to see if that helps reduce the issue.
We just need someone to find a way to fit hydraulic steering to the n52 engined cars......
So had a look at the website where you can check your cars MOT history https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history today as I only just found out about it.
Interestingly I noticed that on one of the MOTs prior to my ownership (2012 MOT and I bought in 2014) there was an advisory for 'Play in steering rack inner joint(s)'. Doing some google searching of this it appears to mean the inner part of the track rod shown here on realoem http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=DU52-EUR-11-2007-E86-BMW-Z4_30si&diagId=32_1371 as parts 4 and 5.
Now I have a folder full of reciepts for the car right back to 2009 and non make mention of these ever being replaced (although no subsequent MOTs made mention either).
I know that the two previous owners never drove the car on the motorway as it was only a weekend A road car, TBH I dont think they pushed the car very much at all, so im wondering if this could be the problem with the steering?!
I did find a few forum posts for other BMWs (E36 & E46 mainly) and other cars such as Renaultsport Clios which claimed they had similar high speed steering wobble which was fixed by replacing the who track rod assembly.
So I guess the question is has anyone else changed these on a problemtic zed?!?!
Interestingly I noticed that on one of the MOTs prior to my ownership (2012 MOT and I bought in 2014) there was an advisory for 'Play in steering rack inner joint(s)'. Doing some google searching of this it appears to mean the inner part of the track rod shown here on realoem http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=DU52-EUR-11-2007-E86-BMW-Z4_30si&diagId=32_1371 as parts 4 and 5.
Now I have a folder full of reciepts for the car right back to 2009 and non make mention of these ever being replaced (although no subsequent MOTs made mention either).
I know that the two previous owners never drove the car on the motorway as it was only a weekend A road car, TBH I dont think they pushed the car very much at all, so im wondering if this could be the problem with the steering?!
I did find a few forum posts for other BMWs (E36 & E46 mainly) and other cars such as Renaultsport Clios which claimed they had similar high speed steering wobble which was fixed by replacing the who track rod assembly.
So I guess the question is has anyone else changed these on a problemtic zed?!?!
adam1985 said:
Slack in the track rod end bushinging is not uncommon on any car TBH and will contribute to wayward steering as the play constantly alters the front wheel alignment, the Z4 seems really sensitive to this. BMW track/tie rod's are also notorious for seizing solid meaning that the tracking can not be adjusted properly, for some reason more often on the nearside (UK). Last time I had an alignment done it was discovered that the NS was seized solid and the track rods had to be replaced suggesting that the previous git who did the alignment a short time before only did one side which is possible but bad practice. So if you are in doubt get them changed.
also think that my nearside front caliper i binding a little which wont be helping this problem either! Seems like there is more money to be spent