Rookie Kootie
Member
So it all began about 2 weeks ago, I drove for 10mins to the supermarket, parked up, did the shopping and returned to the car to head back home. Started the car up and I get a warning light on the dashboard (yellow steering wheel with an exclamation mark) and the sport button permanently on (nothing would happen if I pressed it). The steering wheel was very difficult to turn (loss of power steering). I turned the car off, key out and locked the car. Waited about 2mins, unlocked the car and started it up again. The warning light was still illuminated and sport button permanently on.
Anyways, I drove off (was very difficult to steer at low speeds, but got only a little easier when the car got up to speed (about 50% power steering restored). About 30 seconds later after driving off, the steering was back to normal now but the warning light was still lit on the dashboard...
I pulled over, switched the car off and key out. Started it back up and the light was no longer lit and steering all back to normal. It drove back home perfectly fine.
Next morning I get ready to go to work, but the power steering is gone again with dashboard light illuminated and sport mode permanently on again. I had to drive to work and back home without power steering on this day!
A few days later I go to my friend (car still without power steering and warning lights lit) and use his diagnostics scan tool (he has a good quality one). There are no error codes present relating to the steering. The steering angle sensor was fine also with no error codes present. However, the EPS system could not communicate with the reader...
I cleared fault codes and drove back home. Still no power steering and lights illuminated.
About 30 minutes after driving, the power steering was back to normal again but light still on the dash. I pull over and turn the car off and on again. Everything is now fine, no warning lights, sport mode button now working fine also and power steering back to normal.
Got in the car again today and, yes you've probably already guessed it, no power steering again and the lights lit... :headbang:
I have did a bit of research on this problem and there doesn't seem to be a definitive answer as to why this happens and how to permanently fix this nuisance. I have seen the horror stories of people having to replace their entire steering columns, but is this really necessary? Wouldn't it just be the power steering motor unit that is attached to the column that goes faulty rather than the whole column?!
I came across these guys...
https://www.ecutesting.com/common-faults/bmw/bmw-z4-power-steering-problem/
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/401352168863
Wondering if anybody has used them and if it fixed their power steering problem?
I really need to get this fixed asap as the car can be quite difficult and dangerous to drive, especially after a long hard day at work (I'm an NHS worker) and it really takes the enjoyment out of the driving experience. I usually look forward to driving it, but now dread it haha.
Thanks.
Anyways, I drove off (was very difficult to steer at low speeds, but got only a little easier when the car got up to speed (about 50% power steering restored). About 30 seconds later after driving off, the steering was back to normal now but the warning light was still lit on the dashboard...
I pulled over, switched the car off and key out. Started it back up and the light was no longer lit and steering all back to normal. It drove back home perfectly fine.
Next morning I get ready to go to work, but the power steering is gone again with dashboard light illuminated and sport mode permanently on again. I had to drive to work and back home without power steering on this day!
A few days later I go to my friend (car still without power steering and warning lights lit) and use his diagnostics scan tool (he has a good quality one). There are no error codes present relating to the steering. The steering angle sensor was fine also with no error codes present. However, the EPS system could not communicate with the reader...
I cleared fault codes and drove back home. Still no power steering and lights illuminated.
About 30 minutes after driving, the power steering was back to normal again but light still on the dash. I pull over and turn the car off and on again. Everything is now fine, no warning lights, sport mode button now working fine also and power steering back to normal.
Got in the car again today and, yes you've probably already guessed it, no power steering again and the lights lit... :headbang:
I have did a bit of research on this problem and there doesn't seem to be a definitive answer as to why this happens and how to permanently fix this nuisance. I have seen the horror stories of people having to replace their entire steering columns, but is this really necessary? Wouldn't it just be the power steering motor unit that is attached to the column that goes faulty rather than the whole column?!
I came across these guys...
https://www.ecutesting.com/common-faults/bmw/bmw-z4-power-steering-problem/
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/401352168863
Wondering if anybody has used them and if it fixed their power steering problem?
I really need to get this fixed asap as the car can be quite difficult and dangerous to drive, especially after a long hard day at work (I'm an NHS worker) and it really takes the enjoyment out of the driving experience. I usually look forward to driving it, but now dread it haha.
Thanks.
