2004 BMW Z4 Complaints

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 LIST. SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY (SAFETY! SAFETY!) ISSUE, I BELIEVE/WISH BMW SHOULD STEP UP AND RECALL OR TAKE CARE OF THIS APPARENT DESIGN FLAW WITHIN THE STEERING SYSTEM. THESE CARS BECOME UNSAFE TO DRIVE WHEN THIS CONDITION ARISES. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

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 HAS A DETENTE OR CLICK BETWEEN THE SPEEDS AND HOW IT TAKES ADDITIONAL EFFORT TO CHANGE FROM ONE SPEED TO ANOTHER. 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 LIST. SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE I BELIEVE BMW SHOULD STEP UP AND RECALL OR TAKE CARE OF THIS APPARENT DESIGN FLAW WITHIN THE STEERING SYSTEM. THESE CARS BECOME UNSAFE TO DRIVE WHEN THIS CONDITION ARISES. *TR

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 SEEMED TO RUN TRUE THEN, BUT IT MAY HAVE FIRST HAPPENED AS EARLY AS 112,000 MILES, BUT BARELY NOTICEABLE. IT HAS BECOME PRONOUNCED ENOUGH AT 115,000 MILES TO MAKE A COMPLAINT. I CHECKED THE WEBSITES AND FOUND MANY OTHER OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE AND NOTHING ANYONE CAN FIND ANYTHING WRONG TO FIX IT. REALIGNMENTS DON'T FIX THE PROBLEM. ULTIMATELY, EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE REPAIR SUGGESTIONS LIKE "REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN FOR $3000" ARE MADE. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. TO BE HONEST, IT FEELS MORE LIKE AN ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING FINE STEERING ABILITY TO ME AND SHOULDN'T REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF ALL STEERING LINKAGE COMPONENTS. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND BMW SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX ALL CARS WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR

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