NHTSA Complaint #10405434 — 2003 BMW Z4

I OWN A 2003 BMW Z4 THAT IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH HAS 27,000 MILES ON IT AND THAT I?VE HAVE HAD SINCE IT WAS NEW. THE CAR HAS NEVER DRIVEN IN WINTER AND KEPT IN A HEATED GARAGE. I JUST GOT THE CAR BACK FROM BMW SERVICE AND REPAIR. WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW, EVERY ONCE AND A WHILE THE STEERING WOULD GET STICKY OR NOTCHY, AND EXTRA FORCE WOULD HAVE TO BE USED TO BREAK THE STEERING WHEEL LOOSE AND TURN THE WHEEL. IT WAS VERY INTERMITTENT AND HAPPENED VERY INFREQUENTLY WHEN NEW; HOWEVER, THE LAST YEAR OR SO IT HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE AND HAPPENS WHENEVER THE CAR IS DRIVEN. I RECENTLY TOOK IT TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR AND GOT IT BACK YESTERDAY. THE DEALER REPLACED PART OF THE STEERING COLUMN AT A COST OF OVER $3,000.00. IT SEEMS TO HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. I CALLED BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE TO SEE IF THEY WOULD DO SOMETHING AND ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR COST AND THEY BASICALLY GAVE ME THE FINGER BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. FROM READING ON-LINE THERE IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING ON THESE CARS, OTHERWISE SO MANY PEOPLE WOULD NOT BE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME THING. I DON?T UNDERSTAND WHY BMW WON?T ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING ON THESE CARS AND STEP UP TO PLATE WHEN IT COMES TO THE REPAIR? THESE ARE NOT INEXPENSIVE KIAS!!! BMW IS REALLY HURTING THEIR CUSTOMER RELATIONS WITH THE INDIVIDUALS WHO OWN THESE CARS. I KNOW THAT THIS INCIDENT HAS DAMAGED THEIR REPUTATION WITH ME. MY WIFE OWNS A FORD EDGE AND WE WERE THINKING OF REPLACING IT WITH A NEW X3 NEXT SPRING. WELL GUESS WHAT!!!! *TR