2005 BMW Z4: pulls to one side

Filed Feb 22, 2020 · Steering · 130,000 miles · SC · crash

Sudden loss of power steering causing the car to be very difficult to control. When reading known issues regarding the bmw z4, this appears to be a very common safety problem. There is a known recall on these vehicles for this problem, however, it does not include my vehicle make, model, year. My vehicle was in motion in heavy city traffic when the steering became sticky, causing the car to pull to the right and ultimately hitting a curb causing damage to the right lower wheel well and door panel. My vehicle is currently sitting in a repair shop waiting on finding a steering column that will not cost $3800 - $4000 to replace.

Filed Feb 18, 2017 · Steering · 99,500 miles · TX

Steering sticky hard to turn, sometimes pulls to left as your driving highway speeds. Front end is properly aligned. Happens more in hot weather.

Filed Jun 11, 2014 · Steering · 35,337 miles · OH

First time was on the interstate approximately 65mph. The steering wheel felt like it had tight spots requiring the need for both hands on the wheel. The car seemed to wander left and right and when corrected it was insensitive. It felt like a goose neck bearing that had been over tightened on a bicycle, it had a tight feel, yet it was only in the center position. When making lane changes it felt normal, back to center the feel returned as before. It happened again yesterday on a state highway. The car has the sport mode and in both occurrences it was in sport. I have 60 years of driving experience and many cars have been high performance and sport vehicles. This is a dangerous condition because it is intermittent and requires both hands on the wheel to counter.

Filed May 1, 2014 · Steering · 57,328 miles · TX

While driving on the straight highway at a normal speed I noticed the car began to pull to the right. In order to correct, you would have to pull the steering wheel to the left causing the car to sometimes over correct with a jerking sensation and pulling to far to the left. Car was taken in for repair. After diagnostics I was told that it was a problem with the steering column electric motor and you could not just replace the motor, but would have to have the entire steering column replaced. I did have the steering column replaced with good results. The new column was ordered by my repairman from bmw. My worry is if the last column was defective, will this one be also.

Filed Mar 26, 2013 · Electrical, Engine · 99,662 miles · NC

Bought the 2005 z-4 bmw used from a dealer in high point nc. Drove it and enjoy driving until the warm weather. The steering sticks to a point of being dangerous. To compensate, I steer to the left and car pulls to the left then I bring the steering back towards the center and feel it sticking so I compensate by steering to the right. The whole time down the highway I fear for my life driving this car. I really had to concentrate to keep the car from steering off the road and I'm sure it appears I'm driving erratically to others on the road. The warm weather will soon be here in north carolina and I'm just scared to drive it. The car otherwise is beautiful. But if I'm going to be a repeat customer to the bmw line I need to get this fixed or they should recall it and I don't feel that I should have to pay for this problem and sounds like many many others have had the exact same problem from what my research shows me. Please help before someone is killed. Seriously I'm scared ! I contacted bmw in ohio and they need me to validate the problem through a dealer which I will do but I have to wait til the weather is warm again. Luckily I am employed and will be able to pay the $125.00 diagnostic fee. *tr the consumer also stated every time she rode over a bump in the road, the radio would shut off and then come back on at random times. The dealer was unable to find any loose wires. Also, the oil filter housing was leaking and an oil leak separator was sauing air to dispel into the engine. Updated ivoq 04/16/13

Filed Aug 31, 2012 · Steering · 53,457 miles · CA

My 2005 z4 3.0i has an intermittent steering problem. I never know when it will malfunction or when it will correct itself. It doesn`t seem to be effected by temperature or humidity. Road surface or any certain speed,when it binds up it requires both hands on the steering wheel to keep the car under control. It is impossible to drive straight down a freeway, when it wanders to the left I must use excessive effort to turn to the right and it oversteers and I have to bring it back to the left so I just wiggle my way down the road. On a three hour trip, both on freeway and two lane roads, my shoulders and hands were so tired I had to pull off the road and rest and I was only twenty five miles from returning home. Sometimes the problem doesn`t occur but I always must be vigilant because when it happens I had better be prepared, it could be so easy to lose control of this car. It is a really nice car if not for this problem. My wish is for bmw to remedy this situation voluntarily or have a the federal safety agency recall on all (and there are a lot of z4`s with this condition), these cars because this is a glaring safety issue, besides being a real pain to drive. I have tried everything I can think of, like pulling off the road and shutting off the ignition and restarting besides three inspections at a bmw dealership, two of which I paid the going service rate. Also a four wheel alignment which didn't help at all. Z4 owners need some help from somewhere!

Filed Aug 3, 2012 · Steering · 67,300 miles · MS

Steering very hard to control and stcks to one side or other. Problem occurs after car has been sitting in sun for several hours and 95+ degree heat. I just bought this car in june 2012. Steering has a notched feel and will not center. Pulls to one side and requires significant pressure to turn, but over corrects and pulls to other side. Very dangerous. Will not let any of the women in my household drive it because it is so hard to turn in that condition. This is very dangerous! Steering returns to normal after a night in my garage, but returns to dangerous condition for drive home after sitting in the sun all day.

Filed Nov 2, 2010 · Steering · FL

I have major problems with the steering wheel of my 2005 bmw z4 3i, purchased as a certified pre-owned car from a bmw dealer. It had about 11k miles on it. Since then I have been experiencing this problem described below. I have not had any accident with it, but this is a complaint that there may me a safety issue with the steering wheel of the car. 1)it keeps pulling to the left, or to the right especially at lowers speeds say below 60 mi/hr. It requires constant adjustments so that I could keep the car aligned, or centered while driving. 2) the car pulls me to the left, or to the right suddenly when the road surface is slightingly uneven, especially in lower speeds. I can never predict which way the car pulls me. It can be very struggling to keep the steering under control when stopping at any red lights because of these sudden jerks in the steering, or pulls in the steering wheel. 3) sometimes, the steering feels like it is stuck, or locked in a way that I feel like I could not control it. This usually happens when the weather is hot, or at higher humidity. 4) I took the car to the dealer two years ago when I still had the warranty, and then they replaced the steering column and alignment was made after the replacement. However, the symptoms did not go away at all. I took the car to another dealer; I was told that it just required an alignment which was already done after the replacement of the steering column. So, there should not be an alignment relate problem. If the only problem was the alignment problem, the car should have pulled either to the left, or to the right, not to the both directions. 5) I believe if any elderly person, or someone with slower reflex, tries to drive this car with such problems may end up having a catastrophic crash. Mainly because, the driver must pay lots of attention to keep the car centered, or the steering under control. Otherwise, at any second you may find yourself somewhere off the road.

Filed Sep 16, 2010 · Steering · 18,000 miles · OR

I just bought a used 2005 bmw z4. The vehicle seemed to "pull" to one side before I bought it so I had the dealer do an alignment as a condition of sale. The car drove fine the first couple of times I drove it, but now off and on it sticks either pulling to the left or to the right. In other words, the wheel won't return to center.

Filed Jul 15, 2010 · Steering · 35,653 miles · CT

I have a 2005 bmw z4 3.0i and have 'sticky' steering at speeds above ~40mph (mainly highway). On warmer days when the car has been sitting in the sun, going past ~40mph the steering will begin to 'bind' or 'stick' causing me to use excessive force to move the steering wheel. Once the vehicles steering stops 'sticking', the adjustment is too much and can sometimes lead to lane wandering and other unwanted characteristics.