2004 BMW Z4 Complaints

2004 BMW Z4 STEERING SYSTEM FAILS TO PERFORM PROPERLY AND IS UNSAFE WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS SOMEWHERE ABOVE 80 DEGREES (F). ON ALL WARM DAYS, THE STEERING BECOMES UNSAFE - HEAVY, AND DOES NOT PERFORM PROPERLY - IT BECOMES HARD FOR THE DRIVER TO CONTROL AND "NOTCHY" TO STEER. *TR

WHEN AIR TEMPERATURE IS GREATER THAN APPROXIMATELY 80 DEGREES F, THE STEERING ON MY 2004 BMW Z4 BECOMES "STICKY" REQUIRING A MUCH HIGHER LEVEL OF EFFORT TO MAKE STEERING ADJUSTMENTS. INITIALLY THIS HIGHER LEVEL OF EFFORT IS APPLIED WITH NO CHANGE IN VEHICLE DIRECTION AND THEN WITH ADDITIONAL EFFORT VEHICLE DIRECTION CHANGES SIGNIFICANTLY REQUIRING RE-CORRECTION TO KEEP VEHICLE IN LANE AND/OR ON THE ROAD. *TR

STEERING WHEEL "STICKS". REQUIRES FORCE TO MOVE TO EITHER SIDE FROM CURRENT POSITION. HAPPENS ALMOST DAILY WHEN TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 85 DEGREES. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 60 MPH EPS LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR LOST IT'S POWER STEERING. I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY PARKED THE CAR, TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND BACK ON AND EPS LIGHT WENT OFF. AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS THE EPS LIGHT STARTED TO TURN ON EVERYDAY, SPECIALLY IN THE AFTERNOON. TOOK THE CAR TO A BMW DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS JUST A LOOSE CABLE. THE DAY AFTER I GOT MY CAR FROM THE DEALER AND NOTHING HAD CHANGED. TOOK IT BACK AND THEY SAID THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE UPPER SECTION OF THE STEERING COLUMN QUOTING ME A TOTAL OF REPAIR COSTS OF $3000.00 AFTER DISCOUNTS. COULD NOT AFFORD THE REPAIR COSTS AT THAT MOMENT AND CAR HASN'T BEEN REPAIRED TILL THIS DAY. *TR

2004 BMW Z4 STEERING ISSUE. WHILE DRIVING MY Z4 OVER THE PAST MONTH I HAVE HAD INCIDENTS OF MY STEERING LOCKING TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. I NEVER KNOW WHEN THE TIME WILL COME AND IT IS VERY SCARY. MY WIFE HAD HAPPEN TO HER YESTERDAY AND ALMOST LOST CONTROL. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER TODAY AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE ISSUE BUT WOULD REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN FOR $3000,00. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I NOTICED MANY COMPLAINTS AND FEEL A RECALL SHOULD OCCUR BECAUSE THIS IS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

2004 BMW Z4, VIN:[XXX], 63000 MILES THE BMW IS HAVING A SEVERE STEERING PROBLEM ON HOT SUMMER DAYS. TRAVELING AT 70MPH ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR CAN BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS PROBLEM IS RELATED TO AN ELECTRIC STEERING. THE STEERING IS SUPPOSED TOO TIGHTEN SOME DEPENDING ON SPEED AND DRIVING CONDITIONS. IN MANY CASES THAT I HAVE FOUND IN RESEARCH IT GETS TO TIGHT AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE THE MINIMUM OF STEERING CORRECTIONS. IN MY CASE IT CAN MAKE THE CAR MOVE INTO ANOTHER LANE ON THE HIGHWAY FROM A SMALL CORRECTION. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE ARE SIMILAR PROBLEMS IN THE MINI COOPER, Z4, AND 3 SERIES BMW'S. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO A BMW DEALER (SUNBELT MOTORS, INC., MERIDIAN, MS) FOR DIAGNOSIS. THEIR SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN IN THE CAR AT A COST OF $2600.00 (PARTS ONLY) PLUS LABOR. I CONTACTED BMW AND OPEN A CASE STUDY WITH THEM REGARDING THIS MATTER. THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY DO NOT FEEL ANY RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR OR OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. ALL IT TAKES IS A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH FOR: BMW Z4 STEERING PROBLEMS TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

2004 BMW Z4 WITH LOSS OF POWER ASSISTED STEERING. DEALER MADE FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND FRONT TIRES WERE REPLACED. OLD PARTS TO FRONT END WERE NOT GIVEN BACK. *TR

I OWN A 2004 BMW Z-4 WITH 18,648 MI ON THE ODOMETER. I HAVE THE SAME STEERING PROBLEMS AS MOST OTHER OWNER'S. THE STEERING IS OVER REACTIVE, THE PROBLEM IS MORE PRONOUNCED IN WARM/HOT WEATHER. AT TIMES IT FEELS LIKE THE POWER STEERING IS SLUGGISH OR NOT WORKING. WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT I CAN FEEL A CHATTERING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN I WENT TO THE, HE TOLD ME HIS MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING AND THERE WASN'T ANY THING HE COULD DO ANY WAY. I HAVE CHECKED ON LINE AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF UNHAPPY OWNER'S OUT THERE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS SAFETY DEFECT AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. MY WIFE IS THE PRINCIPLE DRIVER OF THE CAR AND SHE HAS COMPLAINED OF STEERING CONTROL PROBLEMS. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT HER SAFETY AND OTHER DRIVERS OF Z-4. CAN YOU HELP ME!! *TR

I HAVE 2004 Z4 BMW THE STEERING IS STICKY IT FEELS LIKE THAT IS BINDING AND HAVE TO USE EXTRA EFFORT TO CONTROL CAR. AT TIMES I HAVE TO JERK IT BACK INTO LINE. AT TIMES IT FEELS LIKE IM FIGHTING WITH IT . *TR

POWER STEERING ON CAR IS VERY STIFF IN THE CENTER CAUSING GREAT DIFFICULTY IN TURNING, AND THEN SAFELY TURNING / KEEPING THE CAR IN THE PROPER LANE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY BMW ON THESE CARS, AND I BELIEVE AN INVESTIGATION LEADING TO A RECALL IS UNDER WAY. I AM AFRAID TO ALLOW MY 22 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO DRIVE THIS CAR. IT SEEMS TO BE MUCH WORSE IN HIGH TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS. *TR