NHTSA Complaint #10524686 — 2004 BMW Z4

I HAVE A STICKY STEERING PROBLEM ON MY '04 Z4. I TOOK MY Z4 TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO SPECIALIZES IN BMW'S, I ASKED HIM TO LOOK AT THE STEERING PROBLEM. HE TOOK THE STEERING COLUMN APART AND FOUND A BEARING THAT IS ANYTHING BUT GOOD ENGINEERING. THERE IS A BEARING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STEERING COLUMN THAT IS NOT SEALED. WITH TIME AND WITH HEAT THE LUBRICANT GETS DRY AND CAKES UP. HE TOLD ME THIS IS WHAT IS MAKING THE STEERING STICKY. HE CLEANED OUT THE BEARING AND PUT IN NEW LUBRICANT AND MY Z IS FUN TO DRIVE AGAIN. NOW FOR THE BAD NEWS: HE TOLD ME IT IS A TEMPORARY FIX, THE RESULT OF LOUSING ENGINEERING/DESIGN. THE BEARING IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STEERING COLUMN. IT IS NOT A SEALED BEARING. THE BEARING IS NOT REPLACEABLE. BMW DOES NOT LIST IT AS A PART - YOU HAVE TO BUY THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY (PARTS AND LABOR OVER $3500). I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF BLOGS ON THIS SUBJECT IN WHICH OTHER Z-4 OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. SEVERAL THINGS THAT I NOTICED WHILE READING THESE BLOGS: ANYONE THAT CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WERE TOLD THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE. IT IS FUNNY THAT EACH BLOG STATED THE EXACT SAME STATEMENT FROM THE DEALERSHIPS. THE SECOND THING WAS THAT THEY RECOMMENDED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN BE REPLACED. IF THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE THEN HOW CAN THEY ASSUME THAT REPLACING THE STEERING COLUMN IS THE CORRECT REPAIR FOR THE PROBLEM, BMW SHOULD STEP UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM AND RECALL ALL Z-4?S BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED, OR SERIOUSLY INJURED. BMW CANNOT DENY THE EXISTENCE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR