2003 BMW Z4

THERE IS A CATCH OR BINDING FEELING IN THE STEERING AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN A WHILE AND IS AT FULL OPERATING TEMPERATURE (GETS WORSE WHEN WARM). I NOTICED THIS AFTER HAVING DRIVEN IT A FEW MILES; IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR WANTS TO TRACK ON ITS OWN AS IF IT WAS FOLLOWING A RUT IN THE ROAD EVEN THOUGH IT IS ON SMOOTH PAVEMENT AND THE WHEEL HAS TO BE FORCED BACK IN THE A STRAIGHT LINE. IT HAPPENED TO ME AS I ENTERED AN INTERSECTION AND THE STEERING STUCK, TURNING ME INTO THE ON-COMING LANE. I WORRY THAT THIS MAY HAPPEN WHEN MY WIFE IS DRIVING AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT IF IT WERE TO TIGHTEN UP UNEXPECTEDLY. *TR

ON MY DRIVE HOME FROM WORK, AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED OUTSIDE, I EXPERIENCED "STICKY STEERING." JUST LIKE THE COMPLAINTS FROM INVESTIGATION PE10020 AND COUNTLESS INTERNET POSTS OVER THE PAST DECADE, THE STEERING WHEEL MOVEMENT WAS STUCK IN PLACE AND REQUIRED EXTRA FORCE, THEN IT WOULD RELEASE UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING ME TO OVER-CORRECT. WORSE THAN JUST HEAVY STEERING IS THE FACT THAT IT NEEDS EXTRA FORCE TO GET THE STEERING WHEEL "UNSTUCK" BUT THEN THE ASSIST KICKS IN AND YOU'RE OVER-COMPENSATING WHICH CAUSES ZIG-ZAGGING. IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN MY LANE ON THE INTERSTATE AND AT ONE POINT I DROPPED TWO WHEELS ON THE SHOULDER. I HAVE NOW CONTACTED BMW CORPORATE AND THEY TELL ME THEY'RE BEING GENEROUS BY REPLACING THE KNOWN-FAULTY STEERING RACK -- SO LONG AS I PAY $1,000+ IN LABOR. I THINK THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS. IT IS WRONG THAT THIS KNOWN DEFECT COSTS THE CONSUMER ANY MONEY TO REPLACE. BMW SHOULD COVER PARTS AND LABOR. THEY KNOW THIS PART IS FAULTY, EVERYONE I'VE TALKED TO SAYS "OH, THE Z4, YEAH I'VE SEEN THIS STEERING PROBLEM ON LOTS OF THEM" BUT THEY'RE QUICK TO REMIND ME THAT IT WAS NOT AN OFFICIAL RECALL SO THEY AREN'T OBLIGATED TO DO ANYTHING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE THE BASIS FOR A MANDATORY RECALL (YOU KNOW, LIKE THE ONE THEY ARE DOING ON CURRENT MODELS WITH SIMILAR POWER STEERING FAILURES!). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL EXHIBITED EXCESSIVE PLAY WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO TRAVEL OUT OF ITS LANE. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THERE WAS A FRONT END WHEEL ALIGNMENT PERFORMED AND ALL FOUR TIRES WERE BALANCED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY A DIFFERENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING AT 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STUCK IN THE CENTERED POSITION AND MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CHANGE LANES ON THE HIGHWAY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FREQUENTLY AT ALL SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC THAT SPECIALIZED ON BMW MANUFACTURED VEHICLES. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,300.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS THEN NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V247000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE SUN WITH TEMPERATURES OVER 88 DEGREES. AT 2 PM, I DROVE THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60MPH WHILE ROUNDING A SLIGHT BEND TO THE LEFT. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN UNDER A SLIGHT EFFORT SO I MADE AN ADDITIONAL EFFORT. SUDDENLY, THE RESISTANCE IS COMPLETELY ABSENT RESULTING IN A SHARP VEER TO THE LEFT CHANGING LANES. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NOT ANOTHER CAR IN THE LEFT LANE. I IMMEDIATELY CORRECTED AND RETURNED TO MY ORIGINAL LANE. WITHIN 15 TO 20 SECONDS, THE SITUATION REPEATS. I TRIED TURNING ON THE SPORT FEATURE WHICH IS SUPPOSE TO PROVIDE MORE RESISTANCE BUT THE SAME EVENT OCCURS. IT ONLY HAPPENS IN HOT WEATHER WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SITTING IN THE SUN FOR 4 OR MORE HOURS AND IT IS ABOVE 88 DEGREES. IN ORDER TO COMPENSATE, I DRIVE IN ONE GEAR LOWER, SAY 4TH, AND CONSTANTLY SHIMMY THE WHEEL TO AVOID LOSS OF CONTROL. IT'S SIMILAR TO SNOW SKIING WITH THE VEHICLE CATCHING AN EDGE OR GROOVE IT DOES NOT WANT TO GET OUT OF. IT CONTINUES TO DRIVE IN THE SAME PREVIOUS DIRECTION AS YOU APPLY ADDITIONAL EFFORT. SUDDENLY, THE WHEEL GIVES AND IT'S AS IF THE POWER STEERING ASSIST IS SUDDENLY AMPLIFIED, WHAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY NEED AT 5MPH, NOT 60MPH. AS YOU FINISH THE BEND, IT CONTINUES TO STAY LOCKED IN THE TURNING POSITION. SO, ADDITIONAL EFFORT MUST BE MADE TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE VEHICLE AND AGAIN THE STEERING WHEEL FIGHTS YOUR EFFORTS ONLY TO SUDDENLY GIVE WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT. YOU STRUGGLE TO KEEP THE CAR IN YOUR LANE THE ENTIRE TIME AND FROM THE REAR, THE VEHICLE APPEARS ERRATIC AND SWERVING FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THAT WAS MY FIRST SUMMER WITH THE CAR AND IT IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER WHERE HOPEFULLY MY EXTENDED WARRANTY WILL APPLY. *TT