steering Whell noise

[edwhite68]

Recently bought a 2003 Z4 E85. There is a noise in the steering wheel. Its not a squeak, but more of a growling. When turn the wheel left or right. It appears to subside after driving a small distance, but comes back next I start, Any Ideas what it may be?

 

[Pondrew]

Whell.....I don't really know what the problem could be.

But wheelcome anyway!

 

[BumpyZ4]

Recently bought a 2003 Z4 E85. There is a noise in the steering wheel. Its not a squeak, but more of a growling. When turn the wheel left or right. It appears to subside after driving a small distance, but comes back next I start, Any Ideas what it may be?

If it sounds like a whale or foghorn, lube the steering rack. Slide the rubber boot out of the way extend the shaft and put some grease on the "teeth". It worked on mine and many others on the forum.

 

[Joez4]

Also try spraying some ptfe lubricant on the white plastic collar where the steering column goes through the bulkhead and greasing the universal joints this cured the noise I was getting turning at low speeds when cold

 

[x-driver]

I have this noise too. Where to access those described points to grease?

 

[firebobby]

I get this noise after the winter sleep, it goes, the more you use it, well it does on my car

 

[Joez4]

I have this noise too. Where to access those described points to grease?

To grease the rack your have to get the front of the car safely up onto axlestands and get underneath the car, remove the rubber boots on the steering rack by cutting off the clamps and turn the steering to full lock to expose the teeth to grease, and full lock the other way there are no teeth but still worth greasing, I used bmw branded power steering grease for this got it off ebay it was the same colour as the original grease, when finished put the rubber boots back on and secure, some use a cable tie for this but I bought the proper clips and the tool for about a tenner, think they are called ear clip or cv joint clips, I'm not sure the cable tie would hold it sufficiently, if like my rack on a 20 year old car there was barley any grease in there so felt worthwhile.

Follow the column up from the rack and grease the two universal joints, then spray some ptfe where the column goes through the bulkhead right by the abs module.

 

[x-driver]

Thanks