Sticky steering problem. Time to sort it! Help and advice.

I think reading the fix.... there are two views, the original fix used grease via the self tapping grease nipple... a couple of the others used "Rem oil" as an alternative sprayed in the drilled hole... the concern being the grease could dry out and and that could cause problems... The original fix done with grease is still running after two years so it appears to be a good fix... Like you I hope to view the youtube footage when it is put up..
 
Before you go drilling, you've bought a car with a pre existing fault, and it doesn't matter whether you bought private or from a dealer.

Think about whether you want to go back to the seller before you start in on repairs yourself.
 
My 2.0 had this sticky steering problem, it was strange because the drive to work, (30 miles mixed town and motorway) it would be smooth but after being parked all day it would be notchy and awful.
However after reading this forum this is what worked for me.
I adjusted the position of the steering wheel, just dropped it down a fraction, then under the bonnet greased the two joints in the steering column. Then a couple of days later oiled the joints with a light (3 in 1) oil and regreased them again. The stickiness had gone completely , and did not return.
This worked for me, and may not for you, but was cheap and effective.
Later as I needed more space the z was replaced by a Mercedes CLS with proper steering.
 
skirmish said:
It would be very helpful to a lot of people if the video was made available but it's a long time since that was talked about so I'm working on the assumption that I'll have to do the work without its assistance.

I'm afraid that the legal term for buying a car from a private seller is Caveat Emptor. Buyer Beware. Providing the seller didn't lie or mislead then there's nothing I can do.

The other route I am going to try is to write direct to BMW. They do know about the problem and subsequently changed the steering column design on the Z4. I've heard that some owners have managed to get them to do the decent thing so maybe I'll be lucky. Nothing really lost for just the price of a stamp.

Any advice about sourcing a self tapping grease nipple would be much appreciated.

Dave
Click to expand...

If you go the self taping grease nipple route. PM me i can help you out i can send you all the tools needed + nipple all i ask is you pay postage and maybe if you want make a donation to the forum :thumbsup:
 
skirmish said:
An update.

I thought I may as well try lubricating the universal joints in the steering column so went and bought a tub of grease.

One of the UJ's is in a fairly accessible location so I did that first and applied the grease as well as I could and covered most of the critical points.
The second UJ is deeper down although still just accessible. I thought it easier to apply a lump of grease to my index finger which allowed me to get the grease around all the faces and into the nooks and crannies of the UJ. Unfortunately though my middle finger somehow worked its way into an opening and wouldn't then come out again. If it had some grease on it would have been fine but it didn't. I spent ages trying to move it into various positions to get it out but with no avail. At that point I started thinking the worst, involving firemen and cutting implements. This prompted me into realising that there may need to be some pain and blood to get myself detached from the Z4. A sharp tug eventually got me free but it did leave a nasty cut in my finger and plenty of blood.

Anyway, I ignored the pain and finally got grease into this UJ too and then it was a case of getting the stuff off my fingers and stopping the bleeding.

So, after all that pain I thought I deserved a spin on some open roads so got the Z4 fired up and went for a 30 minute drive. It was raining so had the hood up but also had the heater on in the footwells to see what would happen.

I'm pleased to report that the steering seemed fine even though I would previously have expected from the drive I did for it to have started getting sticky.
I think tomorrow I'll add a little 3 in 1 oil too which may penetrate the areas where the grease hasn't reached.

I'm keeping my fingers firmly crossed but this may just have cured it.

I'll keep you updated.
Click to expand...

Result except for the finger :thumbsup:

Keep us updated with the results.

Ash
 
skirmish said:
An update.

I thought I may as well try lubricating the universal joints in the steering column so went and bought a tub of grease.

One of the UJ's is in a fairly accessible location so I did that first and applied the grease as well as I could and covered most of the critical points.
The second UJ is deeper down although still just accessible. I thought it easier to apply a lump of grease to my index finger which allowed me to get the grease around all the faces and into the nooks and crannies of the UJ. Unfortunately though my middle finger somehow worked its way into an opening and wouldn't then come out again. If it had some grease on it would have been fine but it didn't. I spent ages trying to move it into various positions to get it out but with no avail. At that point I started thinking the worst, involving firemen and cutting implements. This prompted me into realising that there may need to be some pain and blood to get myself detached from the Z4. A sharp tug eventually got me free but it did leave a nasty cut in my finger and plenty of blood.

Anyway, I ignored the pain and finally got grease into this UJ too and then it was a case of getting the stuff off my fingers and stopping the bleeding.

So, after all that pain I thought I deserved a spin on some open roads so got the Z4 fired up and went for a 30 minute drive. It was raining so had the hood up but also had the heater on in the footwells to see what would happen.

I'm pleased to report that the steering seemed fine even though I would previously have expected from the drive I did for it to have started getting sticky.
I think tomorrow I'll add a little 3 in 1 oil too which may penetrate the areas where the grease hasn't reached.

I'm keeping my fingers firmly crossed but this may just have cured it.

I'll keep you updated.
Click to expand...

:?

U-joints are sealed.

So unless you disassemble them either you:
- wasted your time and made a mess for nothing
OR
- if you managed to get grease into the bearings then the seals are shot and the U-joint MUST be replaced



Besides, the U-joints are not the issue that causes sticking steering in these cars. It's the stupid plastic gear on the electric assist getting dry and swelling.
 
In my old 3.0i the sticky steering was resolved by greasing (oiling actually) the UJs....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I was recommended to use motorcycle chain grease as its designed to work its way into difficult places, ddnt cure my problem completely but was a big help.

BTW good laugh about getting your finger stuck in remind me of a good 'ol drinking song. "I put my finger into a woodpeckers hole and the woodpecker said 'Gor bless my sole' take it out, take it out, remove it"
 
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