2004 BMW Z4 Steering Problems

THE STEERING BECOMES "NOTCHY" OR "MAGNETIC" DURING HOT WEATHER. IT GETS STUCK IN A POSITION AND REQUITES FORCE TO MOVE IT FROM THAT POSITION. THIS OFTEN HAPPENS TURNING THE VEHICLE AT LOW OR HIGH SPEEDS WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL TO CHANGE LANES, FOLLOW A CURVE, OR MAKE A TURN. IT IS DANGEROUS AND CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

THE STEERING IS THE ONLY PROBLEM BUT YOUR WEB SITE INSISTS ON MY SELECTING AT LEAST 3 AFFECTED PARTS. IN ANY CASE, THE STEERING RECENTLY BECAME JERKY AND NOTCHY WHILE DRIVING. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF THIS, I TOOK IT MY LOCAL FOREIGN CAR REPAIR SPECIALIST AND THEY DIAGNOSED A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING. ULTIMATELY, THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AT A COST TO ME OF $4100. THIS WAS A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION MAKING MY CONTROL OF STEERING TENUOUS AT BEST AND ONE THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT. *TR

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY STEERING BECAME VERY STICKY, WHEEL WOULD JUST JERK BACK AND FORTH WHENEVER I TRIED TO SWITCH LANES. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY WHO SAID, OH YEAH THAT'S JUST STIFF STEERING. WHEN I EXPLAINED IT MORE, HE FESSED UP THAT OH YEAH HE HAD HEARD OF THAT TOO AND IT WAS A POWER STEERING ISSUE AND NOT A GOOD THING AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. HE SAID THAT THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED, THE QUOTED WAS $4100 TO FIX IT! AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON LINE I'M FLABBERGASTED BY HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE AND HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM AS THIS IS A RECREATIONAL VEHICLE FOR MOST PEOPLE AND THEY PROBABLY HAVEN'T DRIVEN IT ENOUGH YET TO FIND OUT THIS WILL OCCUR. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL NO COMPANY SHOULD GET AWAY WITH PUTTING OUT A...

MY 2004 BMW Z4 STEERING IS CHOPPY AND STICKS EVEN WHEN DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. MAKING NORMAL DRIVING MANEUVERS TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR AWKWARD. NOTE, THIS CAR HAS LESS THAN 36000 MILES. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP AND WITHOUT EVEN TAKING IT INTO THE SHOP TO LOOK UNDER THE HOOD, THE MAINTENANCE CREW TOLD ME EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG. THE UPPER POWER STEERING MECHANISM IS FAULTY, WHICH BMW HAS A RECALLED FOR CERTAIN VINS BUT NOT OURS. ITS PRETTY CLEAR THAT THIS IS AN ACROSS THE BOARD BMW PROBLEM AND SUCH A PRESTIGIOUS AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE COAXED INTO DOING THE RIGHT THING. SO I GO ON THE WEB TO THIS SITE AND I FIND 233 COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM IN JUST THIS YEAR ALONE. WHAT'S IT GOING TO TAKE FOR BMW TO DO A RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM....

VEHICLE BECOMES DIFFICULT TO STEER. STEERING BECOMES STICKY AT TEMPERATURES ABOVE 75 DEGREES F., AND IS JERKY AND DIFFICULT TO STEER. BMW DEALERSHIP STATE IT WAS THE TIRES. I HAVE REPLACED THE TIRES AND THERE WAS NO CHANGE. *TR

FIRST NOTICED THE ISSUE IN 2009 AFTER A LONG DRIVE ON A VERY WARM SUMMER DAY IN NEW YORK. STARTED NOTICING A "STICKY/CHOPPY" REACTION TO THE AUTOMATIC STEERING WHICH BECAME PRONOUNCED WHILE ON A CURVE, AND REQUIRED QUICK ACTION TO "RIGHT" THE WHEELS TO AVOID A CROSSOVER TO THE OPPOSITE LANE. I BECAME MORE AND MORE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AS IT SEEM TO RELATE TO LONG DRIVES ON HOT DAYS. SINCE THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY DRIVEN IN THE SUMMER TIME, I CAN NOT TESTIFY TO THIS STEERING PROBLEM IN THE COLDER WINTER MONTHS. HOWEVER, I AM CONSTANTLY VIGILANT TO THIS ISSUE NOW. CONTACTED BMWNA TO CHECK FOR RECALLS, BUT RECEIVED NO RESPONSE OR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT THE STEERING WAS FAULTY. THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION, AND I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN CONTACTING THEM. THANKYOU *TR

THE STEERING ON THE CAR BECOMES NOTCHY AND TWITCHY, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND IN WARM WEATHER. THE STEERING WHEEL HANGS UP LIKE THERE IS A FLAT SPOT SOMEWHERE IN THE SYSTEM. IT TAKES EXTRA PHYSICAL EFFORT TO MOVE THE STEERING OFF THAT FLAT SPOT. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL INTERMITTENTLY STOP RESPONDING TO DRIVER INPUT FOR A SHORT RANGE. THEN SUDDENLY START WORKING AGAIN AFTER EXTRA APPLIED PRESSURE ON THE WHEEL. WHEN THE STEERING IS IN THE NOTCHY/TWITCHY CONDITION IT WILL PULL TO ONE SIDE. THIS IS NOT A SAFE SITUATION BECAUSE YOU ARE CONSTANTLY CORRECTING THE STEERING TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THE PROBLEM IS GREASE ON A BEARING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE BEARING IS NOT SEALED AND THE GREASE IS EXPOSED TO HOT TEMPERATURES. THE PROBLEM CAN BE REPAIRED BY REPLACING THE BEARING WITH A NEW IMPROVED VERSION, BMW DOES NOT OFFER...

STEERING IS STICKING PULLS TO THE LEFT THEN TO THE RIGHT VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP CAR STRAIGHT ON THE ROAD SUDDEN JERKING OF CAR WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TURNS BUT CAR DOESN'T TURN WITH THE TURN YOU HAVE TO FORCE THE TURN AND THEN YOU GET PULLED IN OTHER DIRECTION VERY VERY UNSAFE! FEELS LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO BE PULLED INTO A CRASH! THESE STEERING COLUMNS NEED RECALLED AND FAST! *TR

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...

THE STEERING ON THE CAR BECOMES 'NOTCHY' AND 'TWITCHY' ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND WARM WEATHER. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL INTERMITTENTLY STOP RESPONDING TO INPUT FOR A SHORT RANGE OF INPUT, THEN SUDDENLY START WORKING AFTER A LIMITED RANGE. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS IN A STRAIGHT LINE, THE STEERING WILL SUDDENLY PULL TO ONE SIDE REQUIRING THAT THE STEERING WHEEL IS HELD STRAIGHT VERY FIRM OR THE CAR WILL LUNGE TO THE SIDE. THE ISSUE WAS DIAGNOSED BY TWO DIFFERENT BMW REPAIR SHOPS. BOTH CONCLUDED THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING IS FAILING AND THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST IS JUST UNDER $4,000. *TR

THE VEHICLE TUGS ON UNEVEN ROAD OR WHEN TURNING N HIGHWAYS AT HIGH SPEED. IT IS DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE CAR STEERING STRAIGHT. JUST BOUGHT THIS AS A USED VEHICLE WITH NO CRASH HISTORY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE STEERING WHEEL COULD NOT BE TURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD ONLY OCCUR DURING EXTREMELY HIGH TEMPERATURES. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR A FULL DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. UPDATED 7/26/13 *CN

THE STEERING WOULD TAKE A "SET" MEANING IT WOULD TAKE EFFORT TO MOVE THE WHEEL. THE TEMP THAT DAY WAS ABOVE 80 DEGREES (THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING WITH THIS VEHICLE). NO SMOOTH MOTION TO COMPENSATE FOR STEERING ADJUSTMENT. CONTINUAL COMPENSATION WITH BOTH HANDS AS NOT TO OVER CORRECT. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND BMW NEEDS TO ADDRESS IT ASAP. *TR

DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOVE NINETY DEGREES THE STEERING BECAME 'CATCHY' MEANING WHEN I TRIED TO DO NORMAL CORRECTIONS IT WOULD 'STICK' LIKE IT WAS STUCK IN SOME KIND OF GROOVE, REQUIRING ME 'FORCE' IT PAST THE STICKING POINT, WHICH WOULD RESULT IN AN OVER CORRECTION, WHICH IN TURN WOULD REQUIRE ME TO CORRECT IN THE OTHER DIRECTION - RESULTING IN A WEAVING IN THE LANE. THE ISSUE CONTINUED AND ON OCCASION, SEEMINGLY RELATED TO TEMPERATURE, WAS BAD ENOUGH TO FORCE ME OFF THE HIGHWAY AND ON TO SURFACE ROADS WHERE THE SPEED WAS LESS. I MENTIONED IT TO THE DEALER AND HE SAID HE COLD NOT REPEAT THE PROBLEM. THIS OCCURS EVERY YEAR WHEN IT GETS HOT AND THE LAST TIME I WAS AT THE DEALER HE SAID THE ELECTRONIC ASSIST STEERING IN THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $4,000....

MY WIFE WAS PASSING THROUGH A TOLL BOOTH WHEN THE STEERING SUDDENLY PULLED TO ONE SIDE, SHE WAS ABLE TO CORRECT AND AVOID HITTING THE CONCRETE BARRIER. THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND IS ALWAYS THE SAME. CAR WILL PULL TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER AND YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE SITUATION. IT HAS HAPPENED ON VARIOUS ROAD SURFACE TYPES FROM SMOOTH TO GROOVED. WE HAVE THE FACTORY TIRES ON THE CAR AND NO MODIFICATIONS TO THE CAR. FRONT END ALIGNMENT IS CORRECT. WE PURCHASED THE CAR USED FROM A DEALER WITH 58,789 MILES IN MAR 2013. *TR

WHEN TEMPERATURE REACHES ABOVE 75 DEGREES, THE STEERING STICKS WHEN DRIVING. IT STICKS TO WHICH IT MAKES IT HARD TO STEER THE WHEEL LEFT AND RIGHT. ALMOST HAD TWO ACCIDENTS ON THE WAY HOME. *TR

YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE INCIDENT DATE ONLY ALLOWS FOR ONE DATE. THE KNOTCHY ,STICKING STEERING WHEEL HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES HIT 75 DEGREES. THIS STEERING MALFUNCTION HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED MANY TIMES ONLINE IN BMW Z4 FORUMS. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PULL UP Z4 STEERING ONLINE TO READ A MULTITUDE OF CONCERNS AND EXAMPLES OF BMW STONEWALLING. THIS STEERING ISSUE ON 2004 Z4S IS VERY SERIOUS!!! THE CORRECTION NEEDED WHEN THIS HAPPENS CALLS FOR A QUICK JERK OF THE STEERING WHEEL TO STAY STRAIGHT. UNUSUAL EFFORT IS NEEDED TO KEEP THE CAR IN IT'S LANE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. SIX MONTHS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE RECENT FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000. UPDATED 6/25/13*CN UPDATED 7/1/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING WOULD NOT RETURN TO CENTER BY ITSELF. UPDATED

THE STEERING IS VERY STICKY AND JOLTS LEFT AND RIGHT. I HAVE FOUND THROUGH SOME RESEARCH TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG 2003-2005 BMW Z4 OWNERS. IT IS NOT SAFE TO BE CRUISING DOWN THE HIGHWAY JOLTING BACK AND FORTH. *TR

STEERING HAS A RUBBING AND SCRAPING NOISE WHEN CAR IS BARELY MOVING, SUCH AS IN DRIVEWAY OR PARKING LOT. AT SPEED, STEERING BECOMES STICKY AND JERKY. I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR IN MARCH 2013 AND IT HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT. DOES NOT SEEM TO BE CAUSED OR AFFECTED BY TEMPERATURE. I AM TOO CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE TO LET MY WIFE OR DAUGHTER DRIVE THE CAR. I HAVE HAD THE STEERING SHAFT LUBRICATED, BUT THAT DID NOT HELP ANYTHING. *TR

STEERING BECAME SOMEWHAT UNRESPONSIVE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT WAS AS IT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STICKING. REDUCING SPEED DID NOT SEEM TO HELP, TEMP OUTSIDE WAS 71 DEGREES AND SUNNY. CHECKING WEB FORUMS, THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. BOUGHT THIS USED APPROX 4 WEEKS AGO, CONCERNED THAT IF STEERING CONTINUES TO FUNCTION THIS WAY, COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AS YOU TRY TO OVER COMPENSATE FOR STICKING ISSUE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO MAKE SMALL ADJUSTMENTS TO THE STEERING WHEEL. ONCE THIS ABNORMALLY HIGH RESISTANCE WAS OVERCOME, THE INTENDED ADJUSTMENT WOULD BECOME EXCESSIVE AND REQUIRE IMMEDIATE CORRECTION. THIS CORRECTION WOULD IN TURN BE EXCESSIVE, RESULTING IN ZIGZAGGING WHILE SIMPLY TRYING TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT LINE. ALSO, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD REMAIN IN ITS ROTATED POSITION UPON RELEASE WHEN EXITING A TURN, RATHER THAN NATURALLY RETURNING TO CENTER, THUS REQUIRING DELIBERATE EFFORT TO BRING THE CAR STRAIGHT AGAIN. THIS BEHAVIOR IS UNNERVING UNDER ORDINARY CONDITIONS AND COULD BE QUITE DANGEROUS, PARTICULARLY IN SITUATIONS INVOLVING SKIDS OR EMERGENCY MANOEUVERS. SOON AFTER THE INITIATION OF THE 2010 NHTSA INVESTIGATION INTO THIS ISSUE, I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A LOCAL BMW DEALER WHO CLAIMED TO KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THIS PREVALENT ISSUE AND WHO WAS REPORTEDLY UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE. SINCE THEN I FIGURED OUT IT CAN REPLICATED...

MY 2004 BMW Z4 EXHIBITS SEVERE STEERING ISSUES WHEN DRIVEN DURING WARM (=> 75 DEGREES) TEMPERATURES. UNDER THESE CONDITIONS THE ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE CAN BECOME VERY UNPREDICTABLE TO DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS. DURING THE SUMMER OF 2012 AND AS RECENTLY AS THIS WEEK I'VE EXPERIENCED INCIDENTS WHERE THE INABILITY TO EFFECTIVELY STEER THIS VEHICLE HAS LED TO SEVERAL 'CLOSE CALLS' WHICH NEARLY RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH OTHER VEHICLE. WHILE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT PLAGUES HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF BMW Z4S PRODUCED IN THE EARLY TO MID 2000S, BMW HAS NEVER ISSUED A RECALL. IT ALSO APPEARS THE WHILE THE NHTSA HAS INVESTIGATED THIS PROBLEM THEY RULED THAT A 'SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED'. HOW CAN THIS BE?! HOW CAN A MANUFACTURER ASSUME NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR VEHICLES WITH A POTENTIALLY...

LOSS OF ELECTRICAL ASSISTED STEERING/STEERING WHEEL VERY SLUGGISH. *TR

AT HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES THE STEERING STICKS. IT SOMETIMES IS JUST A DISTRACTION, WHEN IT IS AT IT'S WORSE I BELIEVE IT IS DANGEROUS, NOT SO MUCH ON WIDE OPEN ROADS, BUT VERY MUCH SO ON NARROW ROADS. WHEN IT IS AT IT'S WORSE THE CAR MAY DART AS MUCH AS TWO FEET. *TR

STEERING WHEEL / RESPONSE FEELS "STICKY AND NOTCHY" WHEN STEERING COLUMN IS HOT. HAVE TO FIGHT STEERING WHEEL WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS. DOES NOT HAPPEN IN COOLER TEMPS. I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS AN INTERNAL BEARING ISSUE WITH THE STEERING COLUMN. DANGEROUS! *TR

BOUGHT USED 2004 BMW Z4 IN AUG 2012, STEERING SEEMED FINE, IT HAD 39K MILES ON IT. NOW AT 44K MILES THE STEERING HAS BECOME NOTCHY, WOBBLY FEELING AND THE CAR DARTS AROUND. HAD ALIGNMENT DONE IN JAN 2013 BUT STILL A PROBLEM. LOOKING AT THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FILED ALREADY, I AM NOT ALONE. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO PAY OUT A SMALL AMOUNT TO FIX THIS BUT IT SEEMS TO BE A 3K-4K FIX FROM WHAT I'VE READ. BMW NEEDS TO RECALL OR ELSE COME UP WITH A FIX THAT DOESN'T INVOLVE REPLACING THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN. WHAT DO YOU SAY BMW? *TR

STICKY STEERING PROBLEM, THIS WAS REPLACED IN 2006 UNDER WARRANTY BY BMW, AT ABOUT 2000 MILES. NOW FEB,2013 I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE LESS THAN 12000 MILES ON VEHICLE. I FEEL THIS IS UNSAFE BECAUSE IT WILL CAUSE YOU TO JERK THE WHEEL THINK YOU NEED TO STEER HARD. *TR

THE STEERING WHEEL GETS STUCK WHILE DRIVING AND CAR DOESN'T STAY IN LANE INFACT NEEDS CONSTANT SIGNIFICANT ADJUSTMENTS TO KEEP IT FROM ACCIDENTALLY GETTING INTO ANOTHER LANE. THE ISSUE HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES AND WAS AN INCONVENIENCE SO I DIDN'T PAY A LOT OF ATTENTION BUT IT'S MORE LIKE A SAFETY ISSUE NOW WITH CONTROLLING THE CAR BECOMING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT ON FREEWAYS. NHTSA HAS IDENTIFIED THIS ISSUE PE10020 AS NOT SIGNIFICANT AND I SINCERELY HOPE THEY INVESTIGATE IT FURTHER AND TAKE SOME SERIOUS ACTION BEFORE IT CAUSES IRREPARABLE LOSS. BMW NEEDS TO OWN UP TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AS ITS NOT WEAR AND TEAR AND FIX THIS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING LIGHT COMES ON AND THE STEERING LOCKS IN PLACE. WHEN U TRY TO FORCE IT THE CAR STALLS OUT AND THE STEERING STAYS LOCKED .. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!!! *TR

FOR SOME TIME MY BMW Z4 2004 HAS BEEN HAVING A "NOTCHY" FEEL TO THE STEERING. TODAY IT CAME TO A HEAD AS THE STEERING COMPLETELY LOCKED ON ME. I WAS 2 BLOCKS FROM HOME AFTER JUST EXITING A MAIN HIGH WAY I DRIVE EVERY DAY TO AND FROM WORK. I AM SO LUCKY I WAS ALREADY OFF THE MAIN ROAD OR A MAJOR ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE HAPPEND. NO STEERING, COMPLETELY LOCKED. I HAVE DONE MANY INTERNET SEARCHES AND APARENTLY I'M ONE OF MANY THAT HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. FIX THE ISSUE BMW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR

I RECENTLY BOUGHT THIS CAR AND THE DEALER TALKED ABOUT A STEERING ISSUE WITH THE Z4 MODELS WHERE THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THE STEERING WILL CENTER. I DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO PUT MILES ON THE CAR UNTIL TODAY WHERE I FOUND OUT WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT AND HAD TIME TO RESEARCH IT. THIS IS A VERY WELL KNOWN ISSUE AND IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE INVESTIGATED IT PREVIOUSLY BUT IT STILL IS A VERY REAL PROBLEM AND MAKES THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WHILE DRIVING AFTER THE CAR IS WARMED UP THE STEERING WILL FEEL AS THOUGH IT STICKS AS YOU TRY TO DRIVE A STRAIGHT LINE. AT AROUND 40+MPH THE CAR WILL PULL RIGHT OR LEFT WITH THE STEERING NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO ADJUST TO CENTER. YOU CAN HAVE THE CAR PULLING TO ONE SIDE, SAY TRAVELING AT 60MPH, IT WILL PULL YOU TO THE RIGHT AT A...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO WIGGLE THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE STEERING POWER ASSIST FOR THE STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,000. UPDATED 12/11/12*LJ UPDATED 12/12/12

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED THE STEERING BECAME STICKY AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR. MINOR STEERING ADJUSTMENTS ARE NEAR IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT JERKING THE CAR FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THIS CAR IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITH THIS CONDITION. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 Z4 THAT I PURCHASED LAST AUGUST USED. I RARELY DROVE THE CAR AND KEPT IT MAINLY FOR LEISURE UNTIL THIS PAST JULY. THIS JULY, ON THE DRIVE FROM WARNER ROBINS, GA TO HILTON HEAD, SC, I NOTICED THE STEERING WOULD STICK AND I HAD TO USE FORCE TO GET IT BACK ALIGNED WITH THE ROAD. SINCE THAT TIME EACH DAY WHEN I LEAVE WORK AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED ALL DAY IN THE HEAT IT DOES THE SAME THING. ITS ALMOST AS IF THE CAR IS TRACKING. NORMALLY MY SPEED DOES NOT EXCEED 40 MPH. I HAVE HAD THE TIRES CHECKED, THEY ARE NEW RUN FLAT TIRES, NO PROBLEM, I HAVE HAD IT ALIGNED AND I AM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH STEERING WHEN TEMPERATURES EXCEED 85 DEGREES. IT DOES NOT DO THIS IN THE MORNING WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 80. IT IS SOMETIMES SO...

I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW. IT CURRENTLY HAS ONLY 39K MILES ON IT RIGHT NOW (2012) SO ONE CAN EASILY SEE THAT I DRIVE THE CAR ONLY FOR LEISURE/PLEASURE. I LIVE IN UPSTATE NY SO CAN ONLY DRIVE THE CAR SEASONALLY. I INITIALLY THOUGHT THE STICKING/NOTCHING WAS DUE TO THE POOR RUN-FLAT TIRES (WHICH ALWAYS SEEMED TO SET OFF THE DASHBOARD SENSOR THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH AIR IN THEM AND THEN PERHAPS AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE. THIS IS MY FIRST BMW, SO I THOUGHT THAT IT MIGHT BE ATTRIBUTED TO BEING MORE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL (EVEN AT LOWER SPEEDS LIKE 35-40MPH) BECAUSE IT WAS A PERFORMANCE CAR. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER BUT THEY CLAIMED THEY HAD "NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM," AND IT "WASN'T HAPPENING" FOR THEM. SO YET ANOTHER YEAR WOULD PASS AND THE CAR WOULD BE STORED FOR THE WINTER. WITH SUCH LIMITED TIME TO...

EVER SINCE I BOUGHT MY 04 BMW Z4 AT 42,000 MILES THE STEERING I NOTCHY, AND STICKY TOOK BACK TO DEALER AND THEY DONT ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM. HAVE LOOKED UP ON INTERNET AND IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. *TR

AS I BACKED OUT OF PARKING SPACE, POWER ASSISTED STEERING FAILED. I MANAGED TO DRIVE VEHICLE WITH MUCH INCREASED STEERING EFFORT. IT IS DOUBTFUL THAT MY WIFE COULD HAVE MANAGED TO DRIVE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER WHERE THE STEERING COLUMN IS BEING REPLACED. *TR

STEERING STICKS IN THE AFTERNOON, WHEN OUTSIDE IS HOT AROUND 90F. I NOTICED THIS CONDITION THIS SUMMER WHEN DROVE THE CAR AFTER WORK. THE CAR HAD ABOUT 38000MI. ON IT. THE STEERING WHEEL LITERATELY FEELS STUCK IN A POSITION AND TAKES ABNORMAL AMOUNT OF EFFORT TO TURN/CHANGE DIRECTION THEN IT'S LIKE IT JUST SUDDENLY RELEASES AND CAUSES YOU TO OVER-STEER THE CAR IT FEELS UNSAFE DRIVING ESPECIALLY IN TRAFFIC OR DRIVING CLOSE TO A HWY BARRIER/CONSTRUCTION ZONE ETC.. I HAD TO FORCE TO CHANGE DIRECTION AND THE CAR WOULD DART DUE TO HAVING TO OVERCOMPENSATE FOR THE STUCK CONDITION. I KNOW THERE IS PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING, BUT NOT SURE WHAT PARTICULAR CAUSING THE PROBLEM, MY BEST GUESS IS THE EPS SYSTEM. I HAVE BEEN READING THE FORUMS AND BLOGS AND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH 2003-2005 BMW Z4'S SO I AM ADDING MINE TO THE...

STEERING STICKS WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES ARE HOT 90DEG+. I NOTICED THIS CONDITION LAST YEAR IN THE SUMMER MONTHS EVERY TIME I DROVE THE CAR IN THE HEAT (N. TEXAS SUMMER) THE CAR HAD ABOUT 39000MI. ON IT. THE STEERING WHEEL LITERATELY FEELS STUCK IN A POSITION AND TAKES ABNORMAL AMOUNT OF EFFORT TO TURN/CHANGE DIRECTION THEN IT'S LIKE IT JUST SUDDENLY RELEASES AND CAUSES YOU TO OVER-STEER THE CAR IT FEELS UNSAFE DRIVING ESPECIALLY IN TRAFFIC OR DRIVING CLOSE TO A HWY BARRIER/CONSTRUCTION ZONE ETC.. MY WIFE STARTED DRIVING THE CAR TODAY AND SAID THE STEERING FELT LIKE IT WAS STICKING, AND THAT SHE HAD TO USE CONSIDERABLE FORCE TO CHANGE DIRECTION AND THE CAR WOULD DART DUE TO HAVING TO OVERCOMPENSATE FOR THE STUCK CONDITION, SHE SAID IT SCARED HER. BEST DESCRIPTION I CAN GIVE IS TO COMPARE THE STEERING TO AN ELECTRICAL SWITCH E.G. (FAN BLOWER SWITCH) THAT...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT AUTOMATICALLY RETURN TO THE STRAIGHT POSITION AFTER COMPLETING TURNS. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANUALLY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL STRAIGHT AFTER TURNING AT ALL SPEEDS. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHEN THE WEATHER CONDITIONS PRODUCED TEMPERATURES OF AT LEAST SEVENTY FIVE DEGREES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

THE STEERING WHEEL STUCK IN ONE POSITION AND NEEDED UNUSUAL EFFORT TO CONTINUE TO STEER THE CAR IN THE PROPER DIRECTION. THIS STEERING PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN THE WEATHER IS WARM AND SUNNY AND THE CAR IS PARKED OUTSIDE. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS CONDITION IS PECULIAR TO BMW Z4'S MANUFACTURED AND SOLD BETWEEN 2003 AND 2005. OBVIOUSLY BMW RECTIFIED THE PROBLEM ON THE 2006 MODELS. THE STEERING IS ELECTRIC STEERING. MY PROBLEM IS SERIOUS,I WILL NOT ALLOW MY WIFE TO DRIVE THIS CAR. SUMMER IS UPON US AND PROBLEM WILL AGAIN MANIFEST ITSELF BECAUSE OF SUMMER TEMPS. BMW KNOWS OF THIS MALFUNCTION BUT STONE WALLS EFFORTS TO GET THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION CORRECTED. THANK YOU *TR

STEERING SEEMS TO LOCK IN A POSITION. TAKES EFFORT TO MOVE WHEEL TO A NEUTRAL POSITION. HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WARMED. DOES NOT OCCUR WHEN FIRST DRIVEN. *TR

THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT SELF CENTER PROPERLY. YOU HAVE TO APPLY TURNING PRESSURE TO THE WHEEL AND WHEN THE PRESSURE OVERCOMES THE STICKINESS THE WHEEL TURNS BUT NOT SMOOTHLY. THEN YOU HAVE TO DO THE SAME THING THE OTHER DIRECTION. SO IF YOU ARE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE YOU ARE FORCED TO CONSTANTLY CORRECT BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS STICKINESS CAUSE YOU TO OVER CORRECT. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF COMPLAINTS, SOME ARE EVEN AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. MINE IS NOT YET THAT SEVERE BUT I FEAR THAT AT ANY TIME IT MAY STICK HARDER AND. OR CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE ADVISE ME WHAT IS BEING DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THE TIME FRAME. I DO NOT WANT TO GET KILLED FIRST. *TR

THE CAR STEERING "STICKS" AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT BECOMES A PAIN FOR KEEPING THE CAR IN THE LANE. IT IS AS IF THE POWER STEERING FOR FINE ADJUSTMENT TURNING QUIT WORKING. THE CAR MAY BE TRACKING STRAIGHT, ALL IS FINE UNTIL A SLIGHT DRIFT RIGHT OR LEFT. TO ADJUST THE CAR TAKES CONSIDERABLE EFFORT MAKING FINE STEERING NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. WHEN ALERT AND NO OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD, NOT A PROBLEM. WITH MODERATELY HEAVY BELTWAY TRAFFIC MOVING AT HIGH SPEED AND MUST STAY IN LANE, IT CAN GET FRIGHTENING. THE PROBLEM IS WORSE WHEN IT IS WARM OUT, BUT APPEARS INTERMITTENT. WHEN SEVERE, IT IS HIGHLY DANGEROUS. IT REQUIRES A LOT OF CONCENTRATION, ANY LAPSE IN CONCENTRATION COULD BE DISASTROUS. THERE IS NO INDICATION OF A PROBLEM FROM THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATION LIGHT. I HAD A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT, BALANCING AND TIRE ROTATION PERFORMED AT 105,000 MILES. THE CAR...

THE STEERING WHEEL SOMETIMES STICKS WHILE DRIVING. I NEED TO USE MORE FORCE THAN NORMAL TO TURN THE WHEEL, AND WHEN IT DOES TURN IT OFTEN OVERSHOOTS CAUSING THE CAR TO SWERVE FROM MY INTENDED DIRECTION. MANY OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE BMW Z4'S FROM 2003-2005. THIS STICKY STEARING COULD LEAD TO A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TT

AFTER THE CAR HAD SET OUT IN THE SUN ON A HOT DAY, STEERING WAS VERY STIFF. I COULD NOT STEER FLUIDLY. IF I TRIED TO SLIGHTLY ADJUST THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, THE WHEEL WOULD NOT MOVE. I WOULD APPLY MORE AND MORE PRESSURE UNTIL IT WOULD FINALLY MOVE. BUT SINCE I WAS APPLYING SO MUCH FORCE IT WOULD JUMP PASSED THE DESIRED POINT. THIS WOULD CAUSE ME TO HAVE TO CORRECT TO THE LEFT WHERE THE CYCLE BEGINS AGAIN. KEEPING THE CAR IN THE LANE IS NOW VERY DIFFICULT. *TR

STEERING BINDING WHEN MOVING STEERING TO LEFT OR RIGHT FROM THE CENTER POSITION

STEERING HAS A "NOTCHED" OR "STICKY" FEEL TO IT WHEN TRAVELING ON HIGHWAYS AT SPEEDS AROUND 50MPH AND HIGHER. WHEN THE NEED TO TURN ARISES AND THE STEERING WHEEL "STICKS" IN THE 'NOTCH", IT REQUIRES EXTRA EFFORT TO GET THE WHEEL OUT OF THE NOTCH, CAUSING "OVER STEER" WITH DIFFICULT RECOVERY. I WON'T LET MY WIFE DRIVE THE Z-4 AS I FEEL THIS IS A DANGEROUS CHARACTERISTIC THAT COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. MY DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE SITUATION BUT WAS "UNABLE TO DUPLICATE" THE FAULT; (PRIOR TO MY WARRANTY RUNNING OUT). ON THE FOLLOWING SERVICE, WITH MY RENEWED COMPLAINT, THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE AND IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. MY BMW WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED, BUT I HAD PURCHASED AN "EXTENDED WARRANTY", HOWEVER THE "STEERING" PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE NEW WARRANTY. THE COST FOR REPAIR WAS IN EXCESS OF $3000.00! I HAVE PARKED THE CAR EXCEPT FOR...