2004 BMW Z4 Steering Problems

1. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ALL DAY OUTDOORS ON A HOT SUNNY JULY DAY IN TEMECULA, CA. WHILE DRIVING IT HOME ON I15 AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO TURN AND WOULD NOT STAY ON CENTER, MAKING IT CHALLENGING TO SIMPLY STAY WITHIN MY LANE. THIS LASTED FOR 10-15 MINUTES, THEN THE STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL. FORTUNATELY, THIS SECTION OF FREEWAY IS RELATIVELY STRAIGHT AND THE TRAFFIC HAPPENED TO BE MODERATE. 2. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ONLY ONCE IN THE 6 WEEKS I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. 3. I HAVE NOT YET TAKEN STEPS TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. HOWEVER, I HAVE SEARCHED ONLINE FOR STEERING ISSUES WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL AND LEARNED THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE. THOSE WHO HAVE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE ISSUE CORRECTED BY THEIR LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAY THE REPAIR REPORTEDLY INVOLVES REPLACING THE...

IN HOT WEATHER, STEERING GETS STICKY AND CAR BECOMES MORE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. HAD REPAIRED ONCE BUT PROBLEM CONTINUES. VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 10,000 MILES. *TR

MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FEELS LIKE IT BINDS WHEN TURNING AND ALSO FEELS NOTCHY AND WILL NOT RETURN TO CENTER WHEN TURN IS COMPLETED. MOSTLY WHEN OUTDOOR TEMP IS WARMER THAN 80 DEGREES. *TR

WHEN MY Z4 HAS BEEN SITTING IN DIRECT SUN FOR A WHILE THE STEERING BECOMES STICKY. MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. CAUSING THE CAR TO SWERVE INTO OTHER LANES. BMW HAVE QUOTED 3500 TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN, I'M CURRENTLY NEGOTIATING WITH THEM TO REDUCE THIS COST. *TR

STEERING IS SOMETIMES "STICKY" -- WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED FROM ITS CURRENT STATIC POSITION, HIGHER THAN NORMAL RESISTANCE TO TURNING IS FELT. ONCE THE INITIAL RESISTANCE IS OVERCOME, THE RESISTANCE LESSENS, RESULTING IN A TENDENCY TO TURN THE WHEEL FURTHER THAN WAS INTENDED. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SMOOTHLY STEER THE CAR ON ITS INTENDED PATH AND RESULTS IN THE CAR WANDERING FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND SEEMS TO HAPPEN ONLY IN HOT WEATHER. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED YET TO THE VEHICLE (I HAVE ONLY RECENTLY ACQUIRED IT). *TR

2004 BMW Z4 STICKY STEERING WHEN IT'S HOT OUT. SOMETHING WITH THE POWER STEERING OR SOME OTHER STEERING COMPONENT MAKES IT SO THAT THE STEERING WHEEL TAKES EXTRA FORCE TO INITIATE A CHANGE IN THE POSITION OF THE WHEEL. THE EFFECT IS MOST NOTICEABLE AT SPEEDS 35MPH OR HIGHER, IT'S MOST PRONOUNCED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHERE MINOR CORRECTIONS ARE IMPORTANT AND SHOULD NOT TAKE MUCH FORCE. THIS COULD EASILY RESULT IN TOO MUCH STEERING FORCE BEING USED IN THE WRONG SITUATION. *TR

2004 Z4 STEERING STICKS AT UNPREDICTABLE TIMES CAUSING SEVERAL NEAR MISS INCIDENTS DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I MUST YANK THE WHEEL HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. HAPPENS AT LOW AND HIGH RATES OF SPEED. *TR

STEERING WHEEL "STICKS/CATCHES" BOTH TO LEFT AND RIGHT OF TOP CENTER. PROBLEM IS ONLY EVIDENT WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE ABOVE 80F AND AT SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MPH. HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM SINCE BUYING THE CAR OVER TWO YEARS AGO BUT IT IS SPORADIC. HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE UNTIL THIS WEEK. DEALER WAS FINALLY ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM AND WILL REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN (SCHEDULED FOR WEEK OF 7/12/2010). BMW WILL PICK UP COST OF PARTS BUT I MUST PAY FOR LABOR. *TR

I OWN A 2004 BMW Z4. I HAVE NOTICED IN THE PAST THAT THE STEERING "STICKS" SOMETIMES ON THE HIGHWAY....TYPICAL LIGHT-TOUCH ATTEMPTS AT STRAIGHTENING OUT MY PATH DON'T DO ANYTHING, THE WHEEL DOESN'T TURN. IF I PUT MORE PRESSURE THAN USUAL INTO THE TURN, THE CAR "SNAPS BACK" AND TURNS, BUT TURNS TOO FAR DUE TO ALL THE PRESSURE I'D PUT ON IT. IT'S A REAL ROAD HAZARD. I JUST READ IN THE NEWSPAPER ABOUT HOW THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THEM AND IS BEING LOOKED INTO, SO I WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER MY OFFICIAL "ME TOO". *TR

2004 BMW Z4. MY POWER STEERING IS "STICKING" AS PER THE PE 10-020 INVESTIGATION. VERY DISCONCERTING WHEN EFFORT IS NEEDED TO "BREAK IT LOOSE" TO TURN THE WHEELS. RESULTS IN A "JERK" OF THE CAR IN THE DIRECTION OF THE TURN. *TR

STEERING ON MY 2004 BMW Z4 3.0I STICKS. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 BMW Z4 3.0. WHEN DRIVING ON A HOT DAY THE STEERING SEEMS TO "STICK" IN TURNS MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE CAR HAS APPROX 20000 MILES ON IT. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 BMW Z4. I AM WRITING TO MAKE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE WAY THE VEHICLE STEERS. WHEN AT HIGHER SPEEDS, YOU HAVE TO USE MORE FORCE THAN SHOULD BE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THIS THEN CAUSES OVER-STEERING OF THE VEHICLE. I ALSO WROTE A COMPLAINT TO BMW OF AMERICA ABOUT THIS CONCERN. *TR

IN WARM WEATHER MY BMW Z4 STEERING STICKS. YOU HAVE TO REALLY PULL THE WHEEL TO GET IT TO "UNLOCK." I'VE ALMOST SMASHED INTO SEVERAL PEOPLE IN ADJACENT LANES BECAUSE OF THIS. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED. *TR

THE STEERING ON MY WIFE'S 2004 BMW Z4 BECOMES "STICKY" IN HOT WEATHER MAKING IT SOMEWHAT HARD TO CONTROL. *TR

I HAVE A BMW Z4 2004 WITH 24000 MILES. THE CAR HAS A SERIOUS STEERING PROBLEM SO I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. THIS CAR WILL NOT STEER STRAIGT AND WONDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD. I TOOK THE CAR TO BMW DEALER AND THEY WANTED $2500. TO LOOK AT IT. *TR

THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2004 BMW Z4 PERIODICALLY BECOMES VERY FIRM WHILE DRIVING, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SMOOTHLY MAKE MINOR CORRECTIONS TO THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL. ONE TIME IT WAS SO SEVERE THAT IN THE RAIN I ENDED UP BRIEFLY LOOSING CONTROL OF THE CAR. THANKFULLY I MANAGED TO REGAIN CONTROL WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING OR ANY ONE. MY PARTNER AND I HAVE SINCE BEEN VERY ATTENTIVE TO THE STEERING IN THIS CAR AND HAVE NOTICED MANY ANOMALIES, ESPECIALLY IN HIGH TEMPERATURES. REPEATED INQUIRES AT THE DEALERSHIP -- INCLUDING TEST DRIVES -- HAVE TURNED UP NO IDENTIFIED PROBLEMS AS FAR AS BMW IS CONCERNED. *TR

2004 BMX Z4, STEERING BECAME UNRESPONSIVE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. OVER CORRECTION TO REGAIN CONTROL NARROWLY AVOIDING TRAFFIC AND CENTER DIVIDER. AT SLOWER SPEEDS IT FELT LIKE THERE WAS NO STEERING FLUID IN CAR. VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. BMW DEALER HAD REPLACEMENT STEERING COLUMN IN STOCK IT TOOK 2 DAYS TO REPLACE AT A COST OF $2942.02. *TR

I OWN A BMW Z4 AND RECENTLY HEARD THE NEWS OF POSSIBLE STEERING PROBLEMS. I AM EXPERIENCING THESE PROBLEMS NOW. MY CAR HAS 26000 MILES AND THE STEERING SEEMS TO STICK AND RELEASE AS I TURN THROUGH GRADUAL TURNS. THE FEELING IS VERY NOTICEABLE. *TR

I AM STUCK WITH A 2004 Z4 WITH THE STICKY STEERING SYNDROME. AFTER IT IS WARMED UP THE STEERING STICKS IN POSITION AND IS DIFFICULT TO MOVE FROM POINT TO POINT. WE HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR 50 OR 60 MILES WITH THE TOP DOWN AND THE HEATER ON SO THE ENGINE WAS WARMED UP. THAT IS WHEN THE ISSUE FIRST APPEARED AND WE ALMOST HAD A HEAD ON ACCIDENT ON HIGHWAY 101 SOUTH OF CANNON BEACH, OREGON. THE SYNDROME SEEMS TO APPEAR ONLY AFTER THE CAR IS WARMED UP. WE BOUGHT THE Z4 ONE YEAR AGO AT ABOUT 37000 MILES AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 42667. BMW REGIONAL MANAGEMENT HAS DECIDED NOT TO SUPPORT ANY REDUCTION OF THEIR $3259.00 CHARGE TO REPLACE THE STEERING MECHANISM WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE STICKY STEERING SYNDROME IS WELL KNOWN AS A SAFETY HAZARD ON THE NHTSA SITE AND ELSEWHERE ON...

STICKY STEERING IN WARM WEATHER. *TR

AFTER THE CAR SITS IN THE HOT SUN (ANYWHERE ABOVE 75 DEGREES) THE STEERING STARTS BINDING/LOCKING UP AT ALL SPEEDS. ALTHOUGH IT SEEMS TO BE WORSE WHEN DRIVING AT HWY SPEEDS. WHEN DRIVING AROUND A SLIGHT CURVE THE STEERING DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER AS IT SHOULD NOR IS IT EASY TO GET THE CAR TO STRAIGHTEN BACK OUT. I HAVE TO FORCE IT BACK TO CENTER WHICH USUALLY ENDS UP CAUSING ME TO OVER CORRECT AND MOVE CLOSE TO OR IN THE OTHER LANE. I FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM LAST SUMMER, BUT SINCE I ONLY DRIVE THE CAR ON WEEKENDS I DIDN'T PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO IT LAST SUMMER. IT WAS FINE DURING THE WINTER, BUT GOT SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE WHEN IT GOT WARM THIS YEAR. I TOOK MY CAR TO BMW OF NASHVILLE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE STEERING COLUMN AND THAT IT NEEDED TO BE...

I RECENTLY PURCHASED THE Z4 USED WITH ~60K MILES. AS THE WEATHER HAS WARMED UP IN NJ RECENTLY I HAVE NOTICED THE STEERING BECOME STICKY. THE WARMER IT IS THE MORE PREVALENT THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE STEERING LOCKS IT IS NECESSARY TO JERK THE WHEEL TO BREAK THE LOCK RESULTING IN AN OVER CORRECTION. IT IS DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE CAR CENTERED IN THE LANE AND I'M WORRIED THIS WILL RESULT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

IN WARM WEATHER (> 75 DEGS F)STEERING BECOMES STIFF. DIFFICULT TO KEEP CAR ON STRAIGHT TRACK. STEERING WILL NOT SELF-CENTER. SAFETY CONCERN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

MY VEHICLE IS A BMW Z4, 2004 APPROX. 43,000 MILES. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ONLY OCCASIONALLY AT LOWER SPEED, THE STEERING BINDS WHEN I ATTEMPT TO TURN INTO ANOTHER LANE. THE DEGREE OF BINDING VARIES, I HAVE NOT ENCOUNTERED A POSITIVE LOCK; I ALWAYS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FORCE THE STEERING FREE TO EXECUTE THE TURN. THE INCIDENT DATE IS MERELY THE MOST RECENT. *TR

STEERING STICKS, USUALLY DURING WARMER WEATHER, 70 AND ABOVE. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 BMW Z4 AND IT EXPERIENCES THE SAME 'STICKY' STEERING IN HOT TEMPERATURES THAT ARE DESCRIBED ON THIS FORUM URL HTTP://BIMMER.ROADFLY.COM/BMW/FORUMS/E85/5246978-1.HTML. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT WHEN IT GETS HOT OUTSIDE, THE STEERING FEELS LIKE IT LOCKS FOR A MOMENT WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. WHILE IT HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, I BELIEVE THAT IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

MY 2004 BMW Z4 IS EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING BECOMING STICKY WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN OUTSIDE IN THE SUN IN SUMMER WEATHER. THE STEERING LOCKS IN A POSITION SUCH THAT IT TAKES EXTRA PRESSURE TO TURN THE WHEEL. WHEN SUFFICIENT PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO BREAK OUT OF THE STICKY POSITION, IT RESULTS IN A SUDDEN JERK IN THE STEERING, LIKE AN OVERCORRECTION. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THIS ISSUE IS EVENTUALLY GOING TO CAUSE A HIGH SPEED ACCIDENT, POSSIBLY A FATALITY. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT; IT IS A WIDELY REPORTED PROBLEM. IF ONE GOOGLES "STICKY STEERING Z4" THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF HITS RETURNED. YET BMW HAS YET TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM.

BMW Z4 2004 STICKING STEERING. THE STEERING GETS KNOTCHY, STICKY, OR LOCKING WHEN TRYING TO MAKE MICRO-STEERING ADJUSTMENTS WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS(60-70). THE PROBLEM EXISTS WHEN THE AMBIENT OUTSIDE TEMP IS GREATER THAN 60 DEGREES. THE STEERING LOCKS AND HAS TO BE BUDGED TO CHANGE STEERING DIRECITON. IT GETS WORSE WITH HOTTER WEATHER. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE AND WITH ALL THE OTHER REPORTED CLAIMS OF THE SAME ISSUE, THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED AT FOR A RECALL. BMW DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM TO BEING THE EPS MODULE BEING DEFECTIVE AND SAID THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A $3400 FIX. THE CAR HAS ~46K MILES. I WOULD NOT EXPECT STEERING TO BREAK WITHIN 46K MILES AND READING OVER OTHER COMPLAINTS THIS IS A MUCH WIDER ISSUE THAN THIS ONE Z4. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE DUE TO THE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS.

2004 BMW Z4 (E85) 3.0I MANUAL WITH SPORT PACKAGE - STEERING BECOMES SLUGGISH AND HARD TO INITIATE A TURN - ONLY OCCURS AFTER RADIANT HEAT IS APPLIED (IE.....LEFT IN THE SUN FOR AN HOUR) - DOES NOT CHANGE IF SPORT SUSPENSION IS ENGAGED - HUMIDITY IS NOT RELEVANT, ONLY DIRECT SUNLIGHT - GUESS IS A BUSHING/BEARING HEATING UP IN THE RACK ASSEMBLY - HAPPENS DURING SUMMER MONTHS IF LEFT IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT - DIRECTLY RELATED TO AMBIENT TEMPERATURE (80 DEGREES LESS NOTICEABLE THAN 100 DEGREES) - AT 100 DEGREES OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE AND IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT FOR AN HOUR, SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL (SAFETY HAZARD) - DEALER REPORTED SUMMER 2009 AND THEY SAID "SYMPTOMS NOT REPRODUCIBLE" - CONTACTED BMW USA AND THEY MADE A NOTE, BUT ADVISED OF NO RECALL. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE STEERING STARTS TO LOCK UP AND ITS HARD TO MAKE THE GO IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE CAR STEERING STICKS LIKE TIRES ARE IN A STRONG GROOVE. TAKES A SIGNIFICANT PULL TO BRING BACK TO CENTER. THIS COULD CAUSE A ACCIDENT DUE TO STEERING DEFECT. *TR

2004 BMW Z4 PURCHASED BRAND NEW OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR. PRACTICALLY FROM THE BEGINNING, NOTICED UNUSUAL HANDLING OF THE STEERING UNDER HIGH TEMPERATURES. LIVING IN TAMPA, FL THIS PRESENTS A CONTINUAL PROBLEM. I'VE OWNED Z 3'S AND Z 4'S SINCE 2001. SITTING IN HOT TEMPS, DRIVING WITH HEATER THERMOSTAT ON HIGH, CAUSES THE STEERING TO "NOTCH"....OR STEER ERRATICALLY. PRESENTED THIS TO REEVES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WITH NO RESULTS. SINCE THERE HAVE BEEN NO FIRES, NO ACCIDENTS, NO DEATHS, BMW AND REEVES CHOOSE TO DO NOTHING. I CONCUR WITH THE OTHER 44 "COMPLAINTS" LISTED ON THIS REPORT. APPARENTLY ONE OR TWO HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL. IN LIGHT OF THE TOYOTA SITUATION, BMW NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR DESIGN FLAWS. TO MY KNOWLEDGE THERE HAS BEEN NO CLASS ACTION. I INTEND TO START ONE. *TR

2004 BMW Z4 PURCHASED USED IN JULY 2009 WITH APPROXIMATELY 69000 MILES. NOTICED IMMEDIATELY THAT WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN TEMPS ABOVE 75 AMBIENT, OR WHEN VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING IN SUN FOR EXTENDED PERIODS, STEERING BECOMES VERY "STICKY" OR NOTCHY WHEN MAKING SLIGHT TURNS SUCH AS LANE CHANGES OR SLIGHT CURVES. STEERING SEEMS TO WANT TO STICK WHEREVER THE DRIVER PUTS IT AND NEEDS TO HAVE PRESSURE APPLIED TO BREAK THE POSITION. APPEARS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH A BMW KNOWN FIX BEING A COMPLETE REPLACE OF THE STEERING COLUMN. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE FIX TOO EXPENSIVE. THIS SEEMS TO ME TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER RECALL REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. EMAIL SENT WITH BMWNA WAS NEVER RESPONDED TO. *CN

STICKY STEERING SIMILAR TO OTHER COMPLAINTS LISTED IN THIS DATABASE. MORE EVIDENT IN HOT WEATHER, BUT HAS BEGUN HAPPENING IN COLD WEATHER. STEERING "STICKS" IN ONE LOCATION MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CHANGE THE CARS TRACK. STEERING DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER BY ITSELF. A DANGEROUS AND TIRING DRIVING CONDITION. *TR

STEERING FEELS "STICKY" SIMILAR TO OTHER REPORTS FILED, PREVIOUS ODI CASE NUMBER 10288772 REPORTED 06/30/09. ON 11 NOVEMBER 09 MILEAGE 82,745, ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING (EPS) FAILED COMPLETELY, WARNING LIGHT ON DASH, CAR STILL DRIVABLE WITHOUT POWER STEERING FOR LIMITED DISTANCE TO DEALER. CAUSE FOUND TO BE CODE 611C3 FAILED EPS UNIT. REPAIR WAS STEERING COLUMN REPLACEMENT & REPROGRAMMING IAW SIB32-06-05. ALL PREVIOUS PROBLEMS ARE GONE, CAR STEERS LIKE BRAND NEW, DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I'D BEEN MISSING. REPAIR COST WAS $50 DEDUCTIBLE UNDER EXTENDED BMW FACTORY WARRANTY, NO IDEA OF ACTUAL RETAIL COST. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE 95 IN SOUTH FLORIDA THE STEERING BOUND, (TIGHTENED) MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN GOOD CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE PERSISTENT IN HOTTER TEMPERATURES WHILE LESS EVIDENT WHEN THE CAR IS COOLER. *TR

STEERING IS "STICKY" AND HAS MOMENTARY FAILURES WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL AT HIGH OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES (OVER 80F). CONTINUOUS FAILURES AS STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. DEALERSHIP DENIES KNOWING OF PROBLEM, OR CANNOT DUPLICATE FAILURES. THIS AN EXTREME HAZARD. LUCKILY NO ACCIDENTS YET. *TR

2004 BMW Z4 CURRENT MILEAGE 81K BOUGHT USED WITH 35K IN 2008. BEGINNING IN SUMMER 2008, STEERING FEELS "STICKY" IN SLOW TURNS TO RIGHT/LEFT SUCH AS ON /OFF RAMP. WITH DIFFERENT TIRES, SYMPTOMS EASED, BUT STILL EVIDENT, ESPECIALLY AT AMBIENT TEMPS 70 DEG F OR ABOVE. AT 71K CAR IN FOR SERVICE INCLUDING THIS COMPLAINT. DEALER NOTED "BINDING/NOISY LOWER COLUMN JOINT" & REPLACED LOWER SECTION OF STEERING COLUMN JOINT "PER SIB 32 03 06", BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. PROBLEM NOT AS SEVERE AS THAT NOTED IN SOME OTHER COMPLAINTS ON LINE BUT SIMILAR IN PERSISTENCE AND ANNOYANCE. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A NORMAL RATE OF SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL IN A CORNER. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS. THE LAST INCIDENT NEARLY RESULTED IN A CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. I NEARLY STRUCK THE GUARDRAIL WHILE THE STEERING WOULD NOT RESPOND PROPERLY. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC, THEY SAID THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, SAYING THE VEHICLE BEHAVES THIS WAY, BECAUSE IT'S ELECTRONIC STEERING? I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ON THE INTERNET AND MANY Z4 OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THIS IS A EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

STEERING OF THE CAR SEEMS TO BIND, THAT IS, AFTER TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO EITHER TO LEFT OR RIGHT, IT DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER IN A SMOOTH OR LINEAR FASHION, AS IF THE POWER ASSIST IS INCONSISTENT. ALTHOUGH MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED,OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL REPORT THE SAME EXPERIENCE. REPLACING THE EPS UNIT DOES NOT SEEM TO HELP, NOR DOES REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS INCONSISTENT STEERING RESPONSE COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

2004 BMW Z4 WITH 26K MILES. WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS INTHE 90S OR ABOVE, THE STEERING, PARTICULARLY ON THE HIGHWAY, DEVELOPS A NOTCHY OR STICKINESS THAT DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO TRACK STRAIGHT. CAUSES YOU TO JERK THE WHEEL BACK AND FORTH TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT OF WAY. THERE ARE MANY OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THIS COMPONENT FOR 2003-04 MODEL YEARS. INDEPENDENT BMW MECHANIC HAS INSPECTED MY VEHICLE AND STATES THAT THE CONTROL MODULE/ELECTRIC MOTOR/STEERING COLUMN HAS FAILED AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. HE STATED THAT THERE APPEARS TO BE A TREND ON THIS. *TR

WHEN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES ARE ABOVE APPROXIMATELY 85 DEGREES, THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING WILL PRODUCE ABNORMAL RESISTANCE REQUIRING CONSIDERABLE FORCE TO RETURN TO CENTER. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO STEER THE CAR AT HIGH SPEEDS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE REQUIRING FURTHER NHTSA INVESTIGATION. *TR

2004 BMW Z4 STEERING WHEEL BINDS WHILE DRIVING AFTER THE AUTO HAS SAT IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT FOR SEVERAL HOURS OR THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 85 DEGREES. ONCE THE CAR IS ALLOWED TO COOL IN THE SHADE OR THROUGH EXTENDED DRIVING, THE STEERING WILL RETURN TO NORMAL. THIS CONDITION CAUSES THE CAR TO BE UNSAFE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I HAVE REPORTED THIS CONDITION SEVERAL TIMES TO MY LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME IT COULD BE THE TIRES 'STICKING' TO THE ROAD. THIS CONDITION WARRANTS A RECALL. THE STEERING IS NOT SAFE WHEN IT IS HOT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. SINCE 2008, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN AND WOULD LOCK UP. THE FAILURE HAS SINCE WORSENED DUE TO THE HOT WEATHER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,000. UPDATED 9/1/09 *CN UPDATED 09/09/09*JB

WHEN DRIVING THE POWER STEERING GETS HARD LIKE IT WILL GOING LOCK UP WHEN DRIVING. *TR

2004 BMW Z4-STEERING STICKS OR CATCHES AT CENTER WHEN TURNING WHEEL WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION. CAUSES VEHICLE TO SWERVE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. *TR

STEERING ISSUES. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON A SUNNY, SUMMER DAY, THE STEERING WHEEL HAS "TENSION" AND "STICKINESS" WHILE TRYING TO ROTATE IT. THIS CAUSES ABRUPT AND IMPRECISE STEERING CORRECTIONS DUE TO THE STICKINESS CAUSING JERKY STEERING. *TR THIS DEFECT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO RETAIN A STRAIGHT DRIVING PATH, AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO STAY WITHIN A LANE ON THE LOCAL ROADS AND HIGHWAYS. THE STEERING ALIGNMENT ALSO BECOMES OUT OF A STRAIGHT LINE, THUS COMING OUT OF "CENTER", AND FURTHER MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN A SAFE DRIVING COURSE.

MY CAR WAS PARKED IN AN AN AREA THAT WAS NOT IN THE SHADE LOT FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THE AIR TEMP. WAS ABOUT 80. WHEN I DROVE OFF I COULD FEEL THAT THE STEERING WAS NOT REACTING TO MY INPUT AS IT HAD IN THE COOL MORNING. THE STEERING WAS JERKY AND WOULD NOT TRACK AS I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL, BUT LAGGED A FEW MOMENTS. I HAD AN 80 MILE DRIVE WHERE I HAD TO TURN THE WHEEL IN A ZIG-ZAG MANNER TO KEEP THE CAR TRACKING IN THE DIRECTION I WANTED TO GO. WHEN THE CAR COOLED OFF OVERNIGHT THE STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. IT DOES NOT FEEL SAFE. *TR

AFTER WINTER STORAGE I TOOK MY 2004 BMW Z4 OUT OF STORAGE TO FIND THE STEERING STICKS. AFTER CORNERING, I MUST JERK THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO CENTER. THIS CAUSED ME TO RUN OFF THE ROAD FOR A BRIEF MOMENT WHILE I GATHERED CONTROL OF THE CAR. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, BUT THAT IS JUST BY LUCK. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS DESPITE HAVING THE CAR AND TIRES CHECKED OUT. THE PROBLEM IS WORSE AT HIGHER AMBIENT TEMPS. *TR