NHTSA Complaint #10400374 — 2004 BMW Z4

BEGINNING EARLY IN 2010, WE BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT THE STEERING, PARTICULARLY AT SPEED, WAS 'STICKY'; EG, IT WOULD TAKE MORE FORCE TO TURN THE WHEEL AND THEN IT WOULD BREAK FREE OF THE STICKY AND TURN. IT BEHAVES AS THOUGH IT STICKS WHEN THE WHEEL ISN'T BEING TURNED, BUT THEN MOVES FREELY ONCE IT TURNS. THE RESULT IS ERRATIC STEERING, PARTICULARLY IN A HIGHWAY SITUATION WHERE SMALL CORRECTIONS ARE NEEDED. IN TRAFFIC, ON A MULTILANE HIGHWAY, THIS BEHAVIOR CAUSES THE CAR TO BE HARD TO KEEP SMOOTHLY IN LANE; THERE WERE SEVERAL TIMES THAT THE RUMBLE STRIP WAS ENCOUNTERED DUE TO OVERCORRECTING THE STEERING. WARMER TEMPERATURES TEND TO MAKE THE PROBLEM WORSE. I HAVE READ ON NUMEROUS BMW FORUMS OF OTHERS HAVING VERY SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THIS WITH THIS VINTAGE OF Z4; APPARENTLY THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE A $2500 STEERING UNIT IF THE DEALER CAN BE CONVINCED THERE ACTUALLY IS A PROBLEM. I HAVE JACKED THE VEHICLE UP AND 'FELT' THE STEERING WITH THE CAR 'OFF', BUT THE SWITCH ON TO RELEASE THE WHEEL LOCK, AND THAT STICTION (MY PHYSICS BACKGROUND IS SHOWING) WAS SOMEWHAT EVIDENT (TO A MUCH SMALLER LEVEL THAN EXPERIENCED IN NORMAL DRIVING ON A WARM DAY) EVEN WITH NO LOAD ON THE STEERING AND AT A NORMAL ROOM TEMPERATURE. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND I HESITATE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION.