2003 BMW Z4 Steeringcolumn Problems

MY NAME IS [XXX] , I JUST RECENTLY OWN A 2003 BMW Z4. IT IS ABOUT 65K CLEAN TITLE. I HAVE JUST NOTICE SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE STEERING. I RESEARCHED THIS ON MULTIPLE FORUMS AND IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS EXAMPLES OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS. MOST RELATE TO ISSUES IN HOT TEMPERATURES AND TO SPEED. PROBLEM WAS VERY NOTICEABLE LAST EVENING AT 70 DEGREES. HERE ARE THE SYMPTOMS... AT LOW SPEEDS (UNDER 20MPH) STEERING IS VERY LIGHT AND SMOOTH, NO ISSUES AT ALL. AS SPEED INCREASES, THE STEERING GETS HEAVIER (AS IT SHOULD) BUT DEVELOPS A "DETENT" AT STRAIGHT CENTER. THE FASTER THE SPEED, THE MORE EFFORT NEEDED TO OVERCOME THE DETENT RESISTANCE, TO THE POINT THAT IT BECOMES EASY TO OVERSTEER THE CAR. THIS CAN BE REAL SCARY DURING AVOIDANCE MANEUVERS AND QUICK LANE CHANGES. THE HOT WEATHER JUST MAKES IT WORSE. FROM WHAT I KNOW FROM RESEARCH,...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH SHE COULD FEEL THE STEERING WHEEL JERKING AND IT BECAME HARD TO CONTROL. SHE ALSO STATED IT FELT LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL EXHIBIT EXCESSIVE RESISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,800 THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 12,200 UPDATED 07/13/12*LJ BMW AGREED TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN FREE OF CHARGE. UPDATED 07/18/12

WHEN VEHICLE IS IN THE SUN AND HEATS UP THE STEERING BECOMES STICKY, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CORRECT ALIGNMENT ON ROADWAY. OVER STEERING OCCURS AND GIVES IMPRESSION OF WEAVING WHILE CROSSING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. NEAR MISS OF OTHER VEHICLE OCCURRED. THIS STICKING HAS OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS EACH SUMMER IN WARM TO HOT WEATHER.*AK