Steering column question.

JackHunter

Member
 Cardiff, Wales
Hi All,

Still new to the forum but picked up my 2005 3.0 E85 last week from fellow forum member Rob Benton last week. Absolutely loving it as I expected.

Just wanted to ask about steering column issues with sticky steering. In the extensive service history, the steering column got replace on 2012 at the cost of £2.2k at mtec with a genuine BMW new column.

Does this mean that this version of column would have eliminated the sticky steering issue so it should not happen again and need to shell out another £2k. I haven't experienced any issues, it's just my fear complex kicking in.

Ta
 
From what I've seen there hasn't been a revision to the steering column to eliminate the sticky steering, I'm happy to be corrected if this is wrong.
There have been a few write ups on how to cure/reduce the effects of sticky steering which work out vastly cheaper than £2.2k!! :)
Personally I wouldn't worry about it until it feels like something is wrong, by which point you probably would of read how to tackle this yourself ;)
 
The steering issues were in the pre facelift cars so you should not have any probs my 2004 had the sticky steering issue and I was lucky enough to be just out of warranty so it was replaced as a good will gesture and I just paid £200 labour but I have a man on the inside which helps. They fitted a brand new 2008 column and its been fine for the last 10 years . (Hope I have not tempted fate )
 
The sticky/twitchy steering can be made a lot better by adjusting the ring by the motor, many have done this now for pennies. As above, I don't think BMW have revised this issue.
I have read on here that later cars can also suffer with twitchy steering ??
 
Cool, cheers guys for the replies.

Is there any tips for general maintenance which should help prevent it from happening again?
 
Would anyone happen to know the part number of the steering column found in post-facelift cars? I tried various website and they all gave me the same number 32-30-6-780-728 for both 2003 and 2008 cars. Would this be the part number for the revised steering column?

Thanks in advance!
 
Take care the columns vary for RHD and LHD and again depending on manual or auto gearbox, I'd ask for the donor vehicle details.

According to online sources the facelift updated 32 30 6 780 728 unit is for a Left hand drive manual only which might be what you are after? (its 32 30 6 780 729 for LHD Auto)
https://www.schmiedmann.com/en/product/e73775-new?product=32-30-6-780-728
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=BT33-USA-01-2003-E85-BMW-Z4_25i&diagId=32_1383
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=BU11-EUR-02-2008-E85-BMW-Z4_25i&diagId=32_1383

BMW TIS for the RHD Facelift 2.0/2.5 & 3.0 parts catalogue is here and shows part No
32 30 6 780 730 for MANUAL cars
32 30 6 780 731 for Auto.
http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/E85/Europe/Z4_2.5si-N52/R-N/2007/browse/steering/steering_column_trim_interlock_cable#6780730_1
 
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