2004 BMW Z4 Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT A MINIMUM OF 50 MPH IN WARM TEMPERATURES, THE POWER STEERING WOULD SPORADICALLY FAIL. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY VEER FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,388.

2004 BMW Z4-STICKY STEERING-POWER STEERING STICKS, SEAMS TO BE WORSE IN HOTTER WEATHER, CAUSES YOU TO OVERCORRECT WHEN DRIVING AND THIS HAPPENS, I CAN SEE WHERE THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS IF YOU ARE NOT REALLY PAYING ATTENTION. OR COULD CAUSE TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL GIVEN THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES. *TR

IF MY CAR VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE SUN FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, INCREASED FORCE IS REQUIRED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE ANY PROBLEMS AT LOWER TEMPERATURES OR AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT. THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS/BINDS OR LOCKS UP, AND REQUIRES A LOT OF EFFORT TO MOVE WHICH RESULTS IN OVERCORRECTING WHICH PRODUCES SEVERE OVER OR UNDER-STEER. THE PROBLEM IS MOST NOTICEABLE AT SPEEDS OVER 50MPH. *TR

STEERING STICKS ON HOT DAYS OR COOL DAYS AFTER SITTING IN TRAFFIC. REQUIRES EXTRA EFFORT TO MOVE THE WHEEL WHICH THEN BREAKS "FREE" AND TENDS TO OVER REACT CAUSING LANE RETENTION ISSUES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

WHEN TEMPERATURE IS HOT OUTSIDE THE ELECTRIC STEERING IN MY BMW Z BECOMES EXTREMELY TIGHT. ANY ATTEMPTS TP CORRECT THE STEERING RESULTS IN A JERKY MOVEMENT THE CAR IS VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AT ANY SPEED. *TR

IN WARM WEATHER, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE POWER STEERING STICKS AND THE WHEEL DOES NOT RETURN TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION ON IT'S OWN. AT TIMES THE WHEEL SEEMS TO TURN ON IT'S OWN AND YOU MUST CONSTANTLY HAVE A FIRM GRIP ON THE STEERING WHEEL READY TO CORRECT ANY UNWANTED MOVEMENT. *TR

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 ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AT A COST OF NEARLY $4000. MY VEHICLE HAS UNDER 20,000 MILES BUT IS BEYOND THE 48 MONTH WARRANTY PERIOD. HAVING READ RECENTLY IN THE NEWSPAPER THAT NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING POWER STEERING ISSUES IN 2003-2005 BMW Z4'S, I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT IF THERE IS A KNOWN SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM THAT IS LESS COSTLY OR THAT IS COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER BEFORE COMMITTING TO A $4000 REPAIR ON A LOW-MILEAGE USED VEHICLE THAT I ONLY RECENTLY PURCHASED. *TR

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