2004 BMW Z4 Steering Problems

I HAVE NOTICED ON WARM DAYS THE STEERING BECOMES STICKY AS IF THE POWER STEERING IS COMING ON AND OFF. THIS CAUSES A OVER CONTROLLING OF THE CAR AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. I FELT VERY UNSAFE. I TOOK THE CAR TO BMW ROADSHOW AT MEMPHIS AND WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS THE ELECTRIC STEERING UNIT AND WILL COST $4000 TO REPAIR. I RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND WAS SHOCKED AT THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS GOING BACK AS FAR AS 2009. I CALLED BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY HAPPENED. BMW KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS CORRECT IT IN LATER MODELS AND THEY KNOW HOW IT FIX THE ISSUE. IT APPEARS THIS IS AN AGE RELATE ISSUE, NOT MILEAGE, AND THESE CARS,2003-2005 ARE OUT OF WARRANTY. IN MY RESEARCH I SEE THAT...

THIS HAS BEEN A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM. I JUST HAD THE FRONT STRUTS AND OTHER FRONT END WORK DONE FIGURING IT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM, IT DIDN'T. IN RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM AND TALKING WITH OTHER BMW Z4 OWNERS, THIS HAPPENS ON ALL 2003-2005 BMW Z4. THERE IS A PROBLEM IN THE STEERING COLUMN. IT WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HAPPENS A HIGH SPEED. WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING AWHILE (LONGER THAN 1 HOUR, MOST LIKELY HEAT RELATED), THE STEERING BECOMES VERY, VERY STIFF AND FEELS LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED, AND TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL YOU MUST EXERT AN EXTRAORDINARY FORCE TO MAKE IT MOVE. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS UNTIL THE CAR SITS AWHILE (COOLS OFF). AT HIGH SPEEDS THIS CAN MAKE YOU OVER CORRECT AND FORCE YOU OUT OF YOUR LANE. IF I EVER COME UP AND AN OBJECT IN MY...

STEERING WAS NOTICED TO BE "NOTCHY" WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. SEEMS LIKE STEERING IS CAUGHT ON SOMETHING THEN BREAKS FREE. INITIALLY THOUGHT IS WAS LOW POWER STEERING FLUID, BUT DISCOVERED THIS VEHICLE HAS ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING. FURTHER TESTING SHOWED IT HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS. THE STEERING CAN BECOME DIFFICULT TO MOVE AND OVER-CORRECTIONS OCCUR WHEN IT BREAKS FREE. FORTUNATELY NO ACCIDENTS OCCURRED, ALTHOUGH IT IS VERY POSSIBLE THAT IT COULD EASILY HAPPEN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH IN WARM WEATHER, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STICKY AND DIFFICULT TO TURN INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 09/14/15*LJ UPDATED 10/26/2017*CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,352. UPDATED 09/01/15*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 10/27/2015*JS

MY WIFE TOOK THE CAR FOR A DRIVE AND RIGHT IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE LUCKILY WITH NO WARN THE STEERING ELECTIC MOTOR FAILED. THE BMW DEALER SAYS THE EPS IS BAD BUT THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS TO REPLACE THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN AT A LOW DISCOUNTED PRICE OF 3750. NOT SURE WHY BMW CAN'T JUST REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART. MY WIFE COULD HAVE BEEN IN VERY BAD ACCIDENT IF THIS EVENT HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY OR EVEN ON THE REGULAR ROADS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONSTANTLY MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING SERVO COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,500.

I PURCHASED A 2004 BMW Z4 CONVERTIBLE 2 MONTHS AGO. FOR THE FIRST MONTH, THE CAR DROVE PERFECTLY. THE LAST MONTH, THE CAR HAS BECOME UNDRIVEABLE DUE TO A "STICKY STEERING WHEEL" AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING (THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT MOVE). I HAVE TAKEN IT TO 2 SEPARATE DEALERSHIPS AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR IS QUITE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT THE MOMENT AND AFTER READING ABOUT THIS ISSUE ONLINE, IT APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE IN WHICH A FACTORY RECALL WAS SET TO BE RELEASED.

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE STEERING CONSTANTLY GETS STUCK ON THE LEFT SIDE AND YOU HAVE TO STRAIGHTEN THE CAR BY PULLING THE WHEEL FIRMLY TO THE RIGHT CAUSING OVER CORRECTION. YOU HAVE TO CONSTANTLY FIGHT THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT. VERY DANGEROUS AND IRRITATING.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS UNSTABLE WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

STEERING GOT STICKY IN A MIDDLE OF A 90 DEGREE TURN NEARLY RESULTING IN A CRASH AS POWER STEERING MOTOR FAILED TEMPORARILY. WE UNDERSTAND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS PARTICULAR BMW VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY ON HOT DAYS. TODAY IT WAS AROUND 85 DEGREES F. WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR 5 MONTHS AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED, LIKELY BECAUSE THIS IS THE HOTTEST DAY SINCE THE DAY WE BOUGHT IT IN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR. WE UNDERSTAND THAT BMW HAS RECEIVED ALMOST 50,000 COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THIS ISSUE AND WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT NHTSA HAS SEEN IT FIT TO CLOSE THEIR INVESTIGATION. WE ARE BAFFLED BY THIS DECISION AS STEERING PROBLEMS CAN BE FATAL AND OBVIOUSLY THE DEFECT LIES IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY BMW BEFORE FATALITIES START TO OCCUR. *TR

STEERING BECOMES TIGHT AND STICKY ,HARD TO MAKE IT TRACK STRAIGHT. WILL NOT RETURN TO CENTER AFTER MAKING A TURN. *TR

STEERING IS STICKY, MEANING EXTRA ENERGY IS NEEDED TO STEER THE CAR AT SPEEDS ABOVE 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TRACK DOWN THE HIGH WAY IN A NORMAL MANNER... *TR

VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS. DRIVING ON HIGHWAY MAKES DRIVING VERY STRESSFUL. CALLED BMW AND THEY HAVE NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN SHOULD BE REPLACED, HOWEVER, THE REPAIRS SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A PERMANENT FIX SINCE THE FAILURE OCCURS DURING WARM WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

ON WARM DAYS, VEHICLE STEERING IS STICKY, HARD TO TURN. FEELS LIKE LOSE OF POWER STEERING. VEHICLE ALSO PULLS EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT DEPENDING ON LAST MOVEMENT. HARD TO STEER BACK TO CENTER. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, PROBLEM HAS BEEN FOUND TO BE THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN, BUT NO ACTION OR RECALL HAS BEEN TAKEN. IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR

ON A WARM DAY STEERING IS STICKY, NEEDS A LOT OF EFFORT AND CAR FEELS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

WHEN TURNING STEERING, THE STEERING STACKS. NOT ALL THE TIME BUT IT GOT WORSE RECENTLY SO THAT IT BECOME VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

THE VEHICLE STEERING DEVELOPED A STICKY AREA THAT WAS VERY HARD TO GET PAST. THE STEERING WAS VERY HARD TO TURN TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. IT CONTINUED AND I SLOWED SO ANOTHER ACCIDENT DOES NOT OCCUR. THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED AT LOW SPEEDS ,BUT NOT AS BAD. I JUST GOT THE CAR AND WAS DRIVING HOME. *TR

THE STEERING HAS A HESITATION. I HAVE NOTICED IT THIS SUMMER AROUND TOWN, THINKING THE STEERING IS JUST VERY TIGHT SINCE IT IS A SPORTS CAR. BMW DID SOME REBUILDING OF THE FRONT END LAST FALL AND THERE WAS NO ISSUE IN THE STEERING AT THAT TIME. ON 9/06/14 I REALIZED AT HIGHWAY SPEED I WAS PUSHING HARD OCCASIONALLY IN A CURVE TO ACTIVATE THE STEERING. BMW GAVE THE DIAGNOSIS ON 9/24/14 THAT THE STEERING COLUMN/ELECTRIC MOTOR R&R PROGRAM EPS (STEERING UNIT) -ALL, FOR AN ESTIMATED FEE OF 3551.63. SO BMW TELLS ME THEY ARE SORRY THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY CAR AND THEY OFFER ME NO ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE BMW COMPANY. I AM NOT READY TO PAY THIS EXPENSE AT THIS POINT. IF THE PROBLEM GETS WORSE OR TO THE POINT I FEAR FOR MY SAFETY, THEN I WILL HAVE A REPAIR MADE, AT LEAST AT THIS POINT, I...

THE STEERING ON THIS VEHICLE SEEMS TO STICK AT TIMES AND YOU HAVE TO JERK IT BACK TO CENTER TO KEEP IT IN LINE ON THE ROAD. ONCE IT STARTS, IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. I AM REAL CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF DRIVING SINCE IT IS HARD SOMETIMES TO JERK IT BACK IN LINE OR STRAIGHT. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR MANY MONTHS NOW AND I AM VERY CONCERNED AND DON'T DRIVE IT AS MUCH NOW. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. UPDATED 10/07/14*LJ UPDATED 3/23/2015 *JS

STEERING STICKS WHEN TEMPERATURE IS WARM. WHEN DRIVING HAVE TO PULL STEERING BACK TO CENTER WHEN STEERING EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. USUALLY OCCURS ONCE TEMP IS ABOVE 75 DEGREES. DIFFICULT TO KEEP CAR ON ROAD, HAVE HAD MULTIPLE INSTANCES WHEN ALMOST WENT OFF THE ROAD. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND HAVE LIMITED MY DRIVING OF THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE DANGER. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR I LOST CONTROL OF THE POWER STEERING AND IT FELT LIKE MY STEERING LOCKED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND WAITED A BIT AFTER CHECKING UNDER THE HOOD TO SEE THAT I HAD GOOD POWER STEERING FLUID AND THE BELTS WERE GOOD. I TURNED ON THE CAR AGAIN AND STILL HAD NO POWER STEERING. SINCE I WAS NOT FAR FROM HOME I CAREFULLY DROVE HOME FIGHTING MY STEERING ALL THE WAY. I CALLED MY LOCAL BMW DEALER THE FOLLOWING DAY AND THEY SAID THEY WERE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND THE REPAIR WAS EXTREMELY COSTLY. I DID NOT REALIZE HOW AWARE THEY WERE UNTIL I FURTHER RESEARCHED THE ISSUE ON THE INTERNET AND WAS TOTALLY SHOCKED TO SEE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS....

THE STEERING WHEEL "STICKS" AT VARIOUS AND UNPREDICTABLE TIMES. IT WILL STICK AND RESIST GOING INTO A CURVE, THEN HOLD THE CAR IN THE CURVE AND NEED TO BE UNSTUCK TO BRING THE CAR OUT OF THE CURVE. THE STICKING IS NOT EXAGGERATED OR IMPOSSIBLE TO CORRECT, BUT SOME SMALL AMOUNT OF PRESSURE IS REQUIRED TO UNSTICK THE WHEEL FROM ITS DIRECTIONAL COURSE. BECAUSE IT HAPPENS AT UNPREDICTABLE TIMES IT IS UNSETTLING AND FEELS VERY UNSAFE ON CURVES OR WHEN MAKING LANE CHANGES. I'VE BROUGHT THE PROBLEM TO THE ATTENTION OF THE BMW DEALERSHIP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BUT THEY CLAIMED THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM ON SEVERAL VISITS. ON THE MOST RECENT VISIT THE DEALERSHIP CONCEDED THE FAULTY STEERING COLUMN, BUT ARGUES THAT THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE MAKES IT INELIGIBLE FOR WARRANTY COVERAGE. I BELIEVE THAT FAULTY STEERING COLUMNS ARE A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM ON Z4 ROADSTERS FROM 2003 -...

ON DAYS OVER 75 DEGREES F, DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING, IF I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY AND RELEASE IT, STEERING DOES NOT RETURN TO TOP DEAD CENTER. INSTEAD, THE Z4 CONTINUES TO TURN ON IT'S OWN UNTIL I STEER THE CAR BACK TO A STRAIGHT LINE. THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT RETURN TO THE STRAIGHT-AHEAD POSITION WHEN I RELEASE IT. A GREAT DEAL OF STRENGTH IS REQUIRED TO STEER AT ALL WHEN THIS HAPPENS. POWER ASSIST DOES NOT SEEM TO WORK OVER 75F AND THE STEERING FEEL IS NOTCHY. ON COOL DAYS, THE STEERING IS FINE. THIS STEERING FAILURE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS, IT IS GETTING WORSE AND IS NO LONGER SAFE. THE DEALER IS NOT HELPFUL. IT IS A US CAR AND I LIVE IN CANADA. I THOUGHT YOU WOULD WANT TO KNOW BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS IN FORUMS. THE CARS...

IN WARM WEATHER HAS A STICKY STEERING PROBLEM AS IT SEEMS TO STICK WHEN YOU TRY AND TURN THE WHEEL. AND THAN RELEASES WITH PRESSURE AND THAN YOU OVER STEER. HAVE SEEN MANY PEOPLE HAVING SAME PROBLEM. ONLY TIME BEFORE THIS CAUSES AND ACCIDENT. *TR

THE VEHICLE HAS A SERIOUS STEERING PROBLEM. THE STEERING STICKS AND REQUIRES CONSTANT ADJUSTMENT FROM THE DRIVER TO CORRECT WHILE DRIVING. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND MAY APPEAR AT ANY TIME. THE TIME IT APPEARED, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONDITION DID NOT EXIST AT FIRST BUT SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING THE STEERING WAS STUCK AS IF THE STEERING HAD A "DETENT". THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIFT OUT OF LANE AND INTO THE LANE NEXT TO ME. THIS REQUIRED ME TO ABRUPTLY APPLY MORE FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL. EVENTUALLY THE STEERING BROKE FREE AND THE VEHICLE OVER COMPENSATED AND DRIFTED TO THE OTHER SIDE LANE. I IMMEDIATELY REDUCED SPEED TO THE MINIMUM ALLOWED ON THE HIGHWAY AND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GET THE VEHICLE BACK HOME. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE ON EITHER SIDE OF ME WHEN THIS OCCURRED, ELSE I WOULD HAVE SURELY...

AFTER DRIVING MY Z4 ON A HOT AFTERNOON I NOTICE THE STEERING FEELING VERY NOTCHY. YOU HAD TO PUT IN A LOT OF FORCE TO GET THE WHEEL BACK TO WHERE YOU WANTED IT. THE NEXT MORNING IT WAS FINE. BUT I HAVE NOTICE ANY TIME THE CABIN TEMP GETS ABOVE 88 THE PROBLEM COMES BACK. IT PRODUCES A REAL JERKY FEELING IN THE WHEEL AND ITS VERY UNNERVING TO DRIVE. *TR

DRIVING ON CURVY MOUNTAIN ROADS STEERING STICKS REQUIRING EXTRA FORCE TO STEER RESULTING IN OVER CORRECTION AND RUNNING OFF ONTO SHOULDER. WITHOUT A SHOULDER IN THE MOUNTAINS THIS IS A POTENTIAL SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

WHEN I AM DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, MY STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT FEEL AS THOUGH IT IS MOVING SMOOTHLY, AS I WOULD EXPECT FROM A PRECISION-ENGINEERED BMW. IN FACT, IT STICKS TO THE POINT THAT IT WILL NOT MOVE UNLESS IT IS JERKED FORCEFULLY TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. THIS JERKING IS NOT A BIG PROBLEM WHEN I AM DRIVING AT 20 TO 30 MILES PER HOUR. HOWEVER, WHEN I AM DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT 40 OR MORE MILES PER HOUR, THE STICKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES A SERIOUS PROBLEM BECAUSE WHEN I JERK THE WHEEL AS HARD AS I HAVE TO IN ORDER TO UNSTICK THE STEERING, THE CAR SWERVES SO DRAMATICALLY THAT I COULD EASILY LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND HIT ANOTHER CAR, ESPECIALLY IN RAIN OR OTHER PRECIPITATION, AND CAUSE PROPERTY, OR WORSE BODILY, DAMAGE TO OTHERS OR MYSELF. WHAT I FIND RIDICULOUS ABOUT...

HAVE HAD THE CAR ABOUT 8 MONTHS. HAVE DRIVEN IT 268 MILES. TOOK THE CAR TO WORK 5/30/14. IT WAS FINE DRIVING IN THE MORNING. AFTER SITTING IN THE SUN ALL DAY, THE STEERING STUCK BADLY ON THE WAY HOME.IT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE RIDING ON A RAIL.HAVE TO KEEP MOVING STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP CAR GOING STRAIGHT. FEEL RESISTANCE IN STEERING. I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 2003-2005 Z4'S. I WISH I KNEW THAT BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR. IT IS DANGEROUS. *TR

STEERING IS VERY STICKY AND HARD TO STEER IN WARM WEATHER. *TR

THE STEERING BECOMES "STICKY" WHEN THE WEATHER IS WARM. WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT IT RESISTS TURNING AND ONCE TURNED TRIES TO STAY TURNED AND THE CAR TENDS TO VEER UNINTENTIONALLY. THE STEERING WILL NOT RETURN TO CENTER WHEN THE WHEEL IS RELEASED AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO STEER SMOOTHLY ON THE FREEWAY AND REQUIRES CONSTANT CORRECTION. WHEN IT IS COLD IT STEERS FINE AND TRAVELS DOWN THE FREEWAY PERFECTLY WITH NO HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND CORRECTIONS CAN BE MADE WITH ONLY TINY EFFORT. WHEN IT IS HOT AND STICKY IT TAKES BOTH HANDS AND A FAIR AMOUNT OF EFFORT TO STEER. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW RESULTING IN A SAFETY ISSUE THAT BMW SHOULD FIX UNDER WARRANTY REGARDLESS OF AGE. *TR

I OWN A SUSPECTED Z4 WITH A NHTSA REPORTED "STICKY STEERING" ISSUE I CAN TELL YOU A LITTLE MORE ABOUT IT. THE PROBLEM HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BOOST. WHEN THE CAR GETS HOT (SUMMER HOT) THE STEERING GETS NOTCHY IN THAT WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN A SLIGHT TURN, LIKE CHANGING LANES OR GOING AROUND A SLIGHT CORNER, THE STEERING LITERALLY STICKS IN THAT POSITION CAUSING THE DRIVER TO APPLY OPPOSITE PRESSURE TO "BREAK" THE WHEEL LOOSE FROM THE TURN FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER STICK WHEREVER THE WHEEL IS BROUGHT BACK TO. PROBLEM IS THAT IT CAUSES MASSIVE OVER STEERING ISSUES AT HIGH SPEED UNLESS YOU ARE LOOKING FOR IT. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS! BMW KNEW ABOUT IT AND RELEASED MULTIPLE PUMAS (THEIR EQUIVALENT OF A TSB) AND EVEN REDESIGNED THE SUSPECT COLUMN, BUT REFUSED TO REPLACE THE OLDER ONES OUT OF WARRANTY. THESE ARE $3000 BEFORE...

THIS PROBLEM APPEARS WHEN THE OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE GETS ABOVE 70, OR MY VEHICLE SITS IN THE SUN ALL DAY. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING AT ALL SPEEDS - THE STEERING WHEEL FEELS LIKE IT "STICKS" IN ONE POSITION AND I HAVE TO FORCE IT BACK IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO CORRECT THE COURSE I'M ON. THEN IT "STICKS" IN THAT POSITION AND I HAVE TO BE VERY VIGILANT WITH EVERY CURVE IN THE ROAD. IT SCARED ME LAST WEEK BECAUSE IT WAS THE WORST IT HAD BEEN SINCE IT FIRST BEGAN DOING THIS LAST YEAR. I LIVE IN THE FOOTHILLS OF CALIFORNIA AND CURVY ROADS ARE THE REASON I LOVE DRIVING MY Z4. LAST WEEK, THE STEERING PROBLEM SEEMED TO TAKE MORE ENERGY AND MORE CORRECTIONS TO FORCE THE WHEEL BACK IN THE DIRECTION I NEEDED THE CAR TO BE MOVING. WHEN THE WEATHER IS COOLER, THE STEERING...

STEERING STICKS WHEN VEHICLE GETS HOT OR SITS IN THE SUN. *TR

AS I BEGAN TO PULL OUT FROM PARKING LOT ONTO ROADWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED UP. I MANAGED TO BACK STRAIGHT DOWN THE HILL AND READ ABOUT THE ISSUE (IT WAS VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING). I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED. IT WORKED FINE. I'VE SINCE READ ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON SEVERAL BLOGS AND HAVE DISCOVERED THAT IS A REPEATING ISSUE. THANKFULLY I WASN'T IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH-HOUR TRAFFIC. *TR

STEERING BECOMES DANGEROUSLY SLOPPY AND TWITCHY AT SPEEDS OVER 35MPH. CORRECTING THE STICKY STEERING CAUSES AN OVER-CORRECTION AND WEAVING ON THE HIGHWAY MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY THOUSANDS OF BMW OWNERS, YET NOTHING SEEMS TO BE IN THE WORKS TO ADDRESS. *TR

AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I HAD TO TURN DUE TO A CURVE IN THE ROAD, THE STEERING WOULD NOT RETURN TO CENTER. I HAD TO FORCE THE STEERING BACK TO CENTER. THIS ALMOST RESULTED IN A CRASH WITH ANOTHER CAR. THE STEERING IS VERY JERKY,, IT STICKS IN ONE SPOT. UNTIL YOU FORCE IT WHERE YOU NEED IT TO BE. THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS NOW HAPPENED MANY TIMES AND IS GETTING WORSE. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE, THE HOTTER THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 222,000.

SINCE I PURCHASED MY 2004 BMW Z4 ON MARCH 13, 2013 I HAVE EXPERIENCE VERY ANNOYING AND MORE IMPORTANTLY UNSAFE ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLES STEERING ESPECIALLY AT HIGH SPEEDS. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT COULD HAVE BEEN THE ALIGNMENT BUT AFTER DOING EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ONLINE AND BMW FORUMS IT APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE E85 (2003-2005) BMW Z4 ROADSTERS. "NEED A NEW STEERING COLUMN TO FIX "STICKY STEERING" PROB WITH THE EPS @ $3,300. MY 2004 Z4 IS A "PLEASURE" CAR WITH 17,000 MILES. NOT A PLEASURE TO FIGHT THE STEERING ON THE ROAD." -TAKEN FROM ONE OF THE FORUMS. FORTUNATELY I HAVE ANOTHER VEHICLE I DRIVE DAILY AND DON'T HAVE TO COMMUTE DAILY IN THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER WHEN I DO DRIVE IT IT'S DEFINITELY NOTICEABLE NOT ONLY BY ME BUT MY PASSENGERS, IT'S SCARY EVEN. I PURCHASED MY CAR WITH 69,500 MILES WHICH REALLY IS QUITE...

EPS(ELECTRIC POWER STEERING), DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE STEERING BINDS INTERMITTENTLY,AND ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT CAN THROW THE VEHICLE INTO ANOTHER LANE OR INTO A DANGEROUS SITUATION ON A CURVE. *TR

2004 BMW Z4 PURCHASED USED IN 2011 WITH JUST OVER 60K MILES ON THE ODOMETER. AT JUST UNDER 70K MILES THE DRIVER NOTICED STEERING SEEMED STIFF AND WHEN ENTERING A CURVE THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD FREEZE IN LOCKED POSITION UNTIL MANUALLY CORRECTED UPON WHICH TIME IT WOULD FEEL AS IF THE FRONT WHEELS WERE ON A PATCH OF BLACK ICE MOMENTARILY! OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOVE 80 DEGREES. DID A SEARCH ON THIS VEHICLE NO ACCIDENTS. HOWEVER IT WAS DISCOVERED MANY COMPLAINTS (242) ON THIS OR SIMILAR STEERING PROBLEMS. I CALLED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND SPOKE TO A PUBLIC RELATIONS REP. WHO INFORMED ME THAT BMW WAS UNAWARE OF ANY SUCH PROBLEMS WITH THIS YEAR MODEL STEERING. I REPLIED THAT THIS SEEMS ODD SINCE I HAD JUST LOOKED AT 17 PAGES OF SUCH PROBLEMS ON-LINE? I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND ASKED TO SPEAK WITH AN EXPERIENCED...

STEERING WAS STICKING AND FEELING FUNNY. SEEMED TO TAKE MORE FORCE TO TURN THE WHEEL. IT FELT MAGNETIC IN THE CENTER OR RIBBED LIKE. THEN IT WOULD SUDDENLY GO WHEN TURNING. HAD TO BE VERY CAREFUL. AFTER DOING RESEARCH I FIND THAT THE BMW Z4'S HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH STEERING COLUMNS IN THE 2003, 2004, 2005 AND SOME 2006 YEAR CARS. HAS TO DO WITH THE METAL WORM GEAR CLEARANCE IN THE NYLON COG GEAR BEING A POOR DESIGN. ON HOT DAYS THE CLEARANCE GOES TO ZERO MAKING THE GEARS TO TIGHT. ALSO NYLON ABSORBS MOISTURE AFTER A WHILE WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE NYLON GEAR TO INCREASE IN SIZE DECREASING THE CLEARANCE EVEN MORE. I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR AND NOW AM SOMEWHAT AFRAID TO DRIVE IT OR LET MY FAMILY DRIVE IT. BMW HAS REPLACED MANY OF THESE. I HOPE MINE CAN BE REPLACED AS RIGHT NOW I'M NOT...

I HAVE A 2004 BMW Z4 WITH 32,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH WHAT I WILL CALL STICKY STEERING. WHEN HOT, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL BIND AND REQUIRE EXTRA EFFORT TO MOVE, RESULTING IN OVER STEERING IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE STICKING. AT ALL SPEEDS THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THIS CAN BE PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS. *TR

THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS AND IT'S VERY HARD TO KEEP THE CAR CENTERED. I AM TOLD IT WILL NEED A NEW STEERING COLUMN AND THIS WAS AN ISSUE BMW HAD FOR A COUPLE YEARS ON THESE MODELS. *TR

IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE WE NOTICED DIFFICULTY STEERING THE CAR. THE STEERING IS VERY STICKY AND ERRATIC. IT IS ACTUALLY SCARY TO DRIVE. HAS A TENDENCY TO VEER OFF AND POSSIBLY WRECK. I JUST HOPE IT DOES NOT TAKE X NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS/DEATHS FOR THE MANUFACTURE (WHO IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM) TO FIX THIS UNACCEPTABLE STEERING PROBLEM. MY PERSONAL RESEARCH HAS REVEALED THAT THERE ARE MANY MANY OWNERS OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM. IF ANY INFORMATION IS NEEDED OR IF YOU WISH FOR ME TO ELABORATE, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EMAIL OR CALL ME. THANK YOU. *TR

ONCE THE CAR HAD WARMED UP I NOTICED THE STEERING WOULD "STICK"AND I HAD TO USE FORCE TO GET IT TO STAY ALIGNED WITH THE ROAD. *TR