Upon starting up the bmw z4 there was noticeable play in the steering. The play in the steering is enough to so that when turning the steering wheel it is at least 4 inches from engagement right to engagement left. In addition, once there is engagement it engages with what may be described as a sticky spot after which it is necessary to keep turning the steering wheel or the steering again disengages and there is the 4 inches of play before it re-engages. While traveling down the highway it is very dangerous because when steering straight ahead the steering has the 4 inches of play making the car weave to the right or to the left and when correcting this weave the steering jerks through the sticky spot at the beginning of steering engagement and by the time the wheel is turned just enough to stay on the road in the right direction the play makes the car veer in the opposite direction. In order to drive this car on a nice highway it is necessary to constantly rapidly mover the steering wheel back and forth through the four inches of play or the car would go into on coming traffic or off the road. I would feel safer if I knew it would go off the road but the problem is play in the middle and it could go either into on coming traffic or off the road. It is quite dangerous to drive. We asked the dealership about it and were told this was a $3000 plus repair. I do not think that this manufactures defect should be a chargeable repair. I guess we will just need to wait for a crash or a recall.
2004 BMW Z4 steering complaints
Page 9 of 14: complaints 221 to 250 of 378, newest first, as owners wrote them.
The steering sticks while driving. Very scary so I don't drive the car for more than 4 or 5 mile trips. Won't take it on a highway anymore, since I have no confidence in the steering. I was told that the tires had broken bands and that might have been what I was feeling, so I replaced all four tires but the problem continued. I wouldn't be able to afford to replace the steering column and whatever else might be necessary. The tires were a huge expense. I can't very well sell the car, since I don't feel it is safe. Please help. Too many people have the same complaint, for this to be expected and acceptable.
2004 bmw z4 3.0. Steering gets very loose and one can not steer the car accurately at times. Very scary when this happens and one loses all confidence n the car.
My 2004 bmw z4 3.0i has difficulty with steering when the temperatures exceed 95 degrees. The car steering is "sticky" for lack of a better description. It is scary to drive home from work after it has been sitting in the sun. From what I have read, this is a failure of the steering column.
Steering is sticky not allowing steering wheel to return to center. Takes constant pressure to steer and keep centered. Very difficult to keep in center of lane at highway speeds.
Writes: I have the same problem. 2004 bmw z4 with 23,500 miles! Dealer iwill replace the steering column for a cost of $3,700! Where can I find help in fixing this problem being a senior citizen on limited income the $3,700 repair bill is a problem is there a number to call bmw to issue a complaint thanks 2004 bmw z4 roadster VIN the problem occurs when the outside temp get into the 90's. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)
After the car sits outside on a hot day when driving home on the highway between 55-60, the steering pulls to either the right or left and feels like it isn't going to unstick. It takes a lot of effort to correct the pull. It is very scary and definitely feels like something is terribly wrong with the steering. Three different days after sitting in the parking lot it did this when I was driving home. Never does it while driving to work in the morning from the garage and has never done it while driving in the evening or at night. We just bought the car from a different owner and of course she did not mention any problems. I am afraid to drive it to work now because it feels like it will get permanently locked up and I'll end up in the ditch.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 bmw z4. The contact stated was driving 25 MPH when the steering column began sticking. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who advised that the steering column would need replacing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 12,500. Updated 8/30/11 *cn updated 09/27/11
Normal drivng. Clunking sound in 2004 bmw z4 steering column. 11500 miles. Nothing done to date.
Lack of steering control.
Bmw z4 roadster 23000 miles steering column sticks which has the possibility of causing a crash with oncoming traffic.
Steering sticks in straight position. Brought to dealer a few years ago and told nothing is wrong. Started driving again after a few years due to surgery, problem persists brought to repair shop, bad steering system. Acts up more in warm weather more so then in cool morning. Almost hit another car on highway, problem staying in lane. Told this is normal and has been approved by the federal safety agency. Dealer wants almost $5,000 to fix, I will have to sell car.
Steering problems when the outside temp. Is hot (85+) the steering sticks and requires considerable force to keep from running into on coming traffic or off the road I first noticed it after I bought it two weeks ago around 7-1 the car has about 50,500 miles on it
The steering has a loud popping sound when turned to the left or right. Steering has become stiff. A mechanic is doing a thorough inspection and we are awaiting his final analysis of this problem. This vehicle has less than 3,000 miles but because it is a 2004, bmw will not cover this defect. Please notify me if further information is needed. I do not know if the vehicle is safe to drive at this time.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 bmw z4. The contact stated that when the vehicle was sitting idle for long periods, the steering wheel would become tight and would not operate properly. When the contact was finally able to maneuver the steering wheel it would only move in one direction. Once the vehicle was turned on and warm, the steering wheel would operate normally. The vehicle was taken to a personal mechanic who confirmed that the failure was within the steering column, but was non-repairable. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 25,000 and the current mileage was 53,000.
Vehicle has a steering issue where it becomes 'sticky'; it holds very tightly to the center position and is difficult to turn. Once it 'breaks free', it turns suddenly and is very difficult to control. The behavior is intermittent and tends to exhibit itself on hot days.
While operating vehicle on the highway, I encountered that the electrical power steering became stuck several times when turning the vehicle. This only seems to occur when the ambient temperature is high (<80 degrees fahrenheit), especially during the summer season. This reoccurring problem has caused several situations that could have lead to potential crashes.
What does it take to fix a 2004 bmw z4 that has notchy/sticky steering the car has 23000 miles on it appears to happen when the car is driven for 15-20 miles (is temp a problem) and why isn't there a recall on this problem this problem is very common and costly in the $3500-4000 range the steering column has to be replaced the car was purchased at bmw of chattanooga tenn in april of 2010 now I believe the car was sold to me with the steering problem it could easy cause a head on crash or you asked this bmw question on 6/24/2011 for $18.
The power steering becomes "sticky" in warm weather. There is no problem with the steering in cool weather. I keep the car in covered parking at most times making the steering only slightly sticky although enough to make freeway driving a constant state of over-correction to keep the car in a lane. On one occasion I left the car parked in full sunshine on a 100 degree day and the power steering did not work at all at highway speed making the car unsafe to drive.
My 2004 bmw z4 experiences steering problems when the weather is hot. The steering becomes sticky and difficult to manage. It returns to normal after it sits int he shade. It is extremely unsafe to drive when the weather is hot. Although I am reporting this today it has been occurring off and on for over a year. I purchased the car in 2009 and do not drive it very much-5,000 miles since purchasing it. Would drive more if steering was not an issue.
1. Steering sticks when the temp. Is around 80 degrees. 2. The steering becomes very sticking or slightly locked and requires extra force to correct, which sends the car off course. It seems to happen in warmer temps and higher speeds. 3. Nothing has yet to be done. I took it to the dealer but they told me they couldn't replicate it. This seems like it should be a no brainer to have a recall. It is very dangerous to have your wheel lock on you when you're traveling 55mph.
On my 2004 bmw z4 3.0i, on hot days my steering wants to stick and I have to use much more force than I usually have to make the steering move. In the winter I tend to not have this problem as much, but in the summer (I live in texas) it gets very hot and the steering wants to stick more. This is a problem that needs to be fixed!! There are hundreds of other z4 drivers that have the same exact problem as me.
Steering becomes unsafe in hot weather, steering will not center, and car is very hard to control, when you turn right or left steering will stick and cause you to over steer, and causes a very dangerous situation.
2004 bmw z4. Electric power steering on warm days will become chunky or notchy in feeling and requires excessive effort to steer the car. This can cause more steering input than is required and when the steering catches up the car can react more than intended. Very dangerous and needs to be recalled even for multiple owner cars.
2004 bmw z4. Electric power steering on warm days will become chunky or notchy in feeling and requires excessive effort to steer the car. This can cause more steering input than is required and when the steering catches up the car can react more than intended. Very dangerous and needs to be recalled even for multiple owner cars.
Several years ago, I noticed that my 2004 bmw z4 lost its otherwise smooth steering after being parked in the sun on hot days. The steering would become sticky and required extra and inconsistent effort to make low-speed as well higher-speed turns. This occurred most frequently during the initial part of the turn rather than well into it. These events were infrequent as I rarely park out in the sun, but very disconcerting. When I had the car in for regular service to the dealer I complained about the phenomenon but always got the ?can?t reproduce the problem? And ?it?s normal? Response. This spring, however, I have had the ?sticky? Problem on several of the hotter days even though I park in a garage which has me very concerned that the problem has gotten worse. Internet research has revealed that the federal safety agency has an active investigation into this issue and various forums report similar or more severe experiences. I read that bmw has responded to the federal safety agency that this is primarily a ?comfort? Issue, but I strongly disagree. Driving is highly instinctual, developed through experience ? Having your steering wheel suddenly hit a sticky point in mid-turn can easily trigger an adverse reaction such as forcing over-steering resulting in leaving the roadbed. Although I have been fortunate to not experience that, I must be much more diligent, alert and on-edge.
Sticky steering problem making it difficult to drive.
I have an '04 bmw z4 and am having problems with the steering. I've been reading online that many other z4 owners are experiencing the same problems that I am which include; difficulty keeping the wheel straight, having to use a lot of force to make steering adjustments, and constant pulling to the right/left while driving. These problems occur every time I drive my vehicle. I recently took it to a local mechanic, who said the problem was pretty bad. I am waiting to hear his exact diagnosis and should hear from him on monday 5/23/11 as I dropped it off fri 5/20/11. I have not wrecked the vehicle due to these problems however I have had some close calls. Fortunately I am a very attentive driver otherwise there may very well been an accident.
Pushed brakes hard for a near emergency stop and the vehicle careened to the right and almost ran off the road. This vehicle has had many instances of attempting to drive itself off the road, the terminology for groups with this type of car is "tramlining". I thought it odd that so many people could have the same problem that a term would be applied to the problem. I feel that this defect has the potential to cause a serious and possibly fatal accident.
Bmw z4 2004 vehicle exhibits sticky and notchy steering at high (85 or 90deg f +) outside temperature. Steering becomes extremely difficult and dangerous. The issue only effects owners in locations with high temperatures and during the summer months and therefore the occurrence of the issue is intermittent and difficult to diagnose. This issue needs to become a recall as it is a very dangerous situation even if it is only happening to a minority of z4 owners.
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