Power steering failure

[thecremeegg]

Right so went to take the car for its MOT today and got a lovely yellow EPS light on the dash and no power steering and the Sport button doesn't work.
Scanned it, no faults found (other than the normal ones it has, sigh) but the issue persists.

I've had a creaking from the steering when warm for a while but never had any dash lights.

I saw this thread - https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=103782 - and it seems that this could well be my issue. That said, is there much in the actual column itself that could go wrong or is it likely the motor? I ask as I don't want to spend £300 on sending the motor off if the problem is in the column itself!

I know it's a common issue but it's actually surprisingly hard to find actual solutions other than "I bought a used steering column and it's fixed!"
As refurbed columns aren't cheap I'd of course like to avoid that if possible and if it's the motor then that's fine as it's simple to remove, but I want to check that it's not likely to be anything else?

Thanks!

 

[MKZ4000]

Have you run the codes on it ? If it comes up with "unable to communicate" , it's likely to be the motor

 

[enuff_zed]

I'd say the motor as you're not getting the sport button either. But check the codes too.
Really is a simple job if you take your time and much easier with the seat out.
Just did it recently.
ECU Testing are advertising on Ebay for £295. The ad implies that you have to post it to them at your cost, but I got a call from them to confirm my email address. At 9am I got an email from them with a prepaid DHL label. At midday it was collected. That was Monday morning. By Thursday morning it was back with me, all fixed!
Reads as though you're happy to tackle it yourself, but if you need any pointers then PM me and I'll send over my number.

 

[MKZ4000]

My sport button light was permanently on when my motor went.

It’s worth a check of the fuses and turning the steering full lock to lock while stationary

 

[enuff_zed]

My sport button light was permanently on when my motor went.

It’s worth a check of the fuses and turning the steering full lock to lock while stationary

Definitely worth all the easy checks first yes.
I meant my sport button functionality was gone. Though in my case it did not light up, not even the usual 2 second blink when you turn the ignition on.

 

[SonnyA85]

ECU testing fixed mine.

This is the most common problem after the roof motor.

So it's an easy fix. Send the module away to ECU testing and pay the £400 and get it fitted back on the column.

Don't bother with second hand columns they will also fail after some time. Get it remanufactured which fixes the real problem.

 

[enuff_zed]

Send the module away to ECU testing and pay the £400 and get it fitted back on the column.

I only paid £295?

 

[MKZ4000]

Send the module away to ECU testing and pay the £400 and get it fitted back on the column.

I only paid £295?

Me too plus about £150 to get it taken out and refitted

 

[enuff_zed]

Send the module away to ECU testing and pay the £400 and get it fitted back on the column.

I only paid £295?

Me too plus about £150 to get it taken out and refitted

Oh yeah! I always forget the labour charge. :roll:
Nice to know I saved myself that much though.
And the chiropractor was only £120, so I'm in profit. :rofl:

 

[thecremeegg]

Thanks guys! I hadn't thought to try a fuse actually, doh! I'll try that this evening but I'm not confident in that being the issue. There's a company that also advertises at £295 but they take the whole column...I wonder if that's a better bet as they include the motor?

 

[enuff_zed]

Thanks guys! I hadn't thought to try a fuse actually, doh! I'll try that this evening but I'm not confident in that being the issue. There's a company that also advertises at £295 but they take the whole column...I wonder if that's a better bet as they include the motor?

I'd say no!
So much can go wrong if you remove the whole column!
Honestly, 2 hours to get it out, which includes the 30 minute wait after disconnecting the battery, then removing the seat and steering wheel.
Max of an hour and a half to put it all back together. With 3-4 day gap in between. It has a lifetime warranty.
Whereabouts are you? If its not hundreds of miles away I'd come and help out.
Trick is to mark it all with an indelible pen so it all lines up nicely when you put it back together.

 

[thecremeegg]

Fair enough! Have you got a guide to just getting the motor out as I've seen a video of taking the whole column out that looks fairly simple, but by the sounds of it you can get the motor out on its own?
I'm a bit of a trek from you down in Hampshire, kind of you to offer though! I'm sure I can manage it, just finding good instructions is tricky.

 

[SonnyA85]

Send the module away to ECU testing and pay the £400 and get it fitted back on the column.

I only paid £295?

https://www.ecutesting.com/product-catalogue/bmw/z4/power-steering-eps-electric-power-steering/eps010001/

£305 + vat think it was £380ish I paid so I just rounded up to £400.

If you want I can go through my emails and get the exact price but it looks like their prices have gone up. I got.mine done literally a couple of weeks back

 

[enuff_zed]

£305 + vat think it was £380ish I paid so I just rounded up to £400.

If you want I can go through my emails and get the exact price but it looks like their prices have gone up. I got.mine done literally a couple of weeks back

Which is why I said earlier in this thread, go through their Ebay advert. £295 with postage paid both ways. :headbang:

 

[SonnyA85]

£305 + vat think it was £380ish I paid so I just rounded up to £400.

If you want I can go through my emails and get the exact price but it looks like their prices have gone up. I got.mine done literally a couple of weeks back

Which is why I said earlier in this thread, go through their Ebay advert. £295 with postage paid both ways. :headbang:

Can't believe I got scammed by going directly through their website. You think they would refund me if I emailed them?

 

[enuff_zed]

£305 + vat think it was £380ish I paid so I just rounded up to £400.

If you want I can go through my emails and get the exact price but it looks like their prices have gone up. I got.mine done literally a couple of weeks back

Which is why I said earlier in this thread, go through their Ebay advert. £295 with postage paid both ways. :headbang:

Can't believe I got scammed by going directly through their website. You think they would refund me if I emailed them?

Not sure tbh. nothing ventured................
It was only when I started asking about doing the job on the forum that someone told me to use the ebay route.

 

[MKZ4000]

It's worth asking

 

[SonnyA85]

Sent off an email. Thanks again guys. That is truly baffling. You would have thought going direct be cheaper not through ebay with their extortionate fees.

 

[SonnyA85]

Good afternoon Sonny,



Thank you for your email.



The offer is an eBay offer and is not something we advertise directly to the customer over the phone.

This is only applied to people who purchase direct through eBay so unfortunately we can’t refund the difference.

 

[thecremeegg]

Help needed please!
I have everything disconencted but the one thing holding me back is the connector on the back of the EPS motor - I can't see how you undo it as access is poor.
I've removed the big one but the smaller one isn't a connector I've seen before - any help would be appreciated!