Steering doesn't feel right

[JamesJ]

I went to visit a friend today, who happens to live on a farm. This involved me taking the Z4 up a mud road with pretty big pot holes, more suited to a 4x4! Now I did hear a few scrapes but I went as slowly as I could and the scrapes didn't sound awful so I don't think I was causing too much damage.

However I don't think the steering feels quite right now, it's almost the opposite of the sticky steering that people can get, in that sometimes it feels as if it goes very loose at times just for a split second. I should add that the car is now on non run flat tyres (put on the other week) which made the steering much better, but now it doesn't feel right (or it may just be in my head!). Is there anything obvious I could have broken which could cause this? Or could I have knocked the alignment out? Not sure if this would cause these symptoms?

 

[Machine monkey]

I get the sticky steering when I have the heater on. It feels just like that how you describe. Did you have the heating on and on your feet at the time?

 

[JamesJ]

I tend to leave the climate control on all the time so yes it would have been on. I thought sticky steering made it heavier though not lighter?

I have done over 300 miles today (the car would normally only do that a month) so its probably got much hotter than it normally would.

 

[Bing]

Do you have summer or winter tyres on ? With temperatures dropping you could be feeling the effects of momentary loss of traction on summer tyres... Just a theory, based on the fact that my car feels kind of like that on my winters when the temperature gets too warm. I am sure someone will tell me I am talking crap

 

[Machine monkey]

The problem as I understand is. The steering rack gets hot either heating on. The heater is right next to the rack on a right hand drive car!!! Or long drive or razzing. And the joints dry out causing inconsistent steering. I get the same i had it last weekend heater on razzing = sticky steering bet yours is better tomorrow

Until it gets warm again :thumbsdown: Im looking for a fix I will let you know if I find one.

 

[Machine monkey]

I hope I am wrong by the way. I don't want you to have this problem. But it sounds jut like mine. It feels like under steer like flooring a front drive car round a sharp bend?

 

[Stuart Truman]

MM, Sticky Steering is 99% likely to be the steering ECU and will ultimately need a new steering column

 

[JamesJ]

It almost feels like the car did with run flats, it just gets loose and wants to follow the road more but it doesn't do it all the time like with run flats. It has Falken 452s on by the way.

I will certainly see if it does it when the car is cold!

 

[JamesJ]

You could say it feels like turning sport mode off for a second and then back on again. It doesn't get any stiffer /stuck at all.

 

[Machine monkey]

Good luck buddy hope you don't have it. I defiantly do

Stuart I know just trying to convince myself it will be ok. I really did get a crap one with every bloody problem. Should have spent more to start with. I do love the car and driving it. But if things don't get better I am going to chuck a match at mine and get myself a robin reliant....or a reliant robin.....

 

[Machine monkey]

MM, Sticky Steering is 99% likely to be the steering ECU and will ultimately need a new steering column

How come it only happens after prolonged periods of heater on? I must look this up and do some research.

Sorry for the hijack of your thread

 

[Stuart Truman]

The theory is that the heat does something to the steering ECU. The replacement columns have a modified ECU so looks likely. I guess if you put a heat-shield around it you could see if it made any difference... It definitely gets worse on hot days, or when the heater is on if its the dreaded sticky steering

A couple of people reported stripping the column and cleaning inner bearings helped. Lubricating the UJ in the column also seems to help, but ultimately it just delays the inevitable. It's a sizeable cost to replace so maybe if its not bothering you now, or you're not sure you have a fault, take out a warranty and claim if it manifests itself fully. As long as you don't claim in the first 30 days you should be covered. That way if the roof motor or anything else rears its head you'll be protected also

 

[Machine monkey]

That's a great idea it's not really an issue at the moment. And knowing my Luck the roof motor will be next. Any companies in particular I have never taken out a warranty.

 

[JamesJ]

I would also be interested to hear of any good warranty companies as I have looked at a few but most seem to get some bad reviews, and its a lot of money to pay if they won't pay out when needed.

Haven't had the chance to get out in the car today, at least I tend to do short journeys normally, so if it is sticky steering it shouldn't be too much of a hassle right away.

 

[Stuart Truman]

Mine is with BMW Mondial. Warranty Direct is another and someone was raving about another company but I can't remember the name.

BMW one is easy as they do it all for you if you ever need to call on it. Not too expensive (mine was cheaper than Warranty Direct) and the renewal quote came through £100 less than last year after I'd had close to £3k of work done! (Steering column plus 3x PDC sensors and module)

Go onto the BMW website and you can get a quote. They don't then spend ages phoning and making a bloody nuisance of themselves like Warranty Direct either.

 

[JamesJ]

Well the car feels exactly the same when cold, is it still likely to be sticky steering? Or have i bent / broken something, anything I can easily check? I am going to get it booked into my local specialist but they normally have a week or two waiting list so anything I could check in the mean time could help.

 

[BMWZ4MC]

Check your tyre pressures - simple (free) things first

 

[JamesJ]

I did that this morning, which improved it by about 50%. Now it just feels slightly unsettled over rough ground like it was back on runflats. A full geometery check next?

 

[Stuart Truman]

I did that this morning, which improved it by about 50%. Now it just feels slightly unsettled over rough ground like it was back on runflats. A full geometery check next?

Also a good idea. £100 is always better than £2000 plus fitting for a steering column!

If it's the same when cold I'd say it's not typical of sticky steering symptoms

 

[Machine monkey]

As Stuart says it might not be the steering problem if its not heat related. Could be good news that? A shame you have a problem but hopefully not a £2k one.