NHTSA Complaint #11300634 — 2004 BMW Z4

I HAD THIS CAR BUILT AND AM THE ONLY OWNER. INITIALLY, STILL UNDER WARRANTY, THE CAR NEEDED A NEW CONVERTIBLE TOP. AFTER THAT, FOR YEARS, I HAD A 'STICKING' WHEN I WOULD STEER THE CAR MAKING THE CAR VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL OR TURN. THIS DETERRED ME FROM DRIVING THE CAR AS MUCH AS I WANTED, AND CERTAINLY FROM TAKING IT ON ANY DISTANCE TRIPS....BASICALLY ENJOYING THE CAR. INITIALLY I THOUGHT THE CAR MAY NEED NEW TIRES OR AN ALIGNMENT, BUT IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN. FROM READING BMW CHATS AND FORUMS, I FOUND THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. I TRIED TO CONTACT BMW DIRECTLY, BUT TO NO AVAIL. I FINALLY HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS MYSELF, COSTING OVER $3000. THE OTHER PROBLEM THAT HAS CONTINUED IS THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I HAVE HAD MY MECHANIC LOOK AT IT, BUT CAN'T SEEM TO FIND A DEFINITIVE CAUSE. OFTEN WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF, AND THEN RESTARTED, THE LIGHT GOES OFF...BUT WILL SOMETIMES, NOT ALL THE TIME, COME BACK ON AGAIN, BOTH AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND ALSO DURING CITY, LOW SPEED DRIVING. I BABY THIS CAR SO MUCH, ONLY DRIVE IT SEASONALLY, AND IT SEEMS TO SPEND MORE TIME IN THE SHOP BEING REPAIRED OR MAINTAINED. I THINK IT WAS A 'LEMON' FROM THE ONSET. BMW WAS NEGLIGENT IN HELPING COVER SOME EXPENSES THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED!