[edb5020]

Ok everyone, heres the story. If you can please give me some advice, I would really appreciate it.

I have a 08' 328xi Sedan w/6500miles on it with 17" Wheels with OEM B'Stone RFT. For that past few months I have noticed that the steering on my car feels like garbage. It's not responsive and quick jerks of the wheel (like ditching potholes/debris/lane changes, etc.) - do not register the way I feel it should.

IMPORTANT: When I jerk the wheel back and forth, lets say about 20 degrees to the right (WHETHER OR NOT THE CAR IS MOVING OR NOT) the steering makes this little tick or "knock" and feels as though it "hits something"....Not that it will not turn any further but as if the power steering mechanism cannot register it properly or respond?

I have posted a thread before with a little background info here about the situation here: http://http://www.e90post.com/forums...d.php?t=200585


Took the to service yesterday for engine ticking (totally different problem).

When I took the car in I was given a 328xi loaner.

I was quite interested getting this loaner car because now I finally get to compare the steering with my car.

This loaner had 16" wheels with the stock B'Stone RFT. After driving this car for 2 minutes I instantly realized that the steering is worlds BETTER than my car! The steering was tight and responsive.

Here are my questions:

1.) What can be the problem here? Can an alignment make my steering more responsive? (even though I do not think the car needs one because it does not pull)

2.) Can the crappy RFT's cause this symptom? If I were to get new non-RFT would that make it feel better?

3.) Could hitting the speed bump in the road, refer to http://http://www.e90post.com/forums...d.php?t=200585 could have caused this?

4.) What is that weird knocking noise when I jerk the wheel back and forth?(explained above)

[I335]

Why are you even putting your own effort into solving this? You're under warranty - just bring it back to the dealer and have them fix it.

[edb5020]

The dealer says it "FINE"...And that their lead technition drives it and says it is perfect.

[clark192]

Perhaps its the steering box, the connection between the column and the rack? Let me just say that once you go down the path of changing either of those parts, the steering wont feel 100% the same as you think it should. The loaner 328i will still feel better than your car if you replace the rack and the steering box.

I had to get mine changed because I had an accident, and the steering is lighter than it normally should be at highway speeds. I would think the best course of action would be to take your SA out for a spin in your car, and then immediately take out the loander 328 to compare, I did that with my SA and it worked for me..

[clark192]

At first, the techs at my dealer would say the same thing to me, you have to keep hammering them and get one of the SA's to come with you on two test drives

[mike-y]

when you move the steering wheel back and forth a small amount, does anything happen before you feel/hear the clunk? it almost sounds like the rack is bad or stripped in the center.

I had an old car where the steering didn't "catch" until you turned the wheel about 20 degrees or so. I knew it didn't feel right, but it didn't become obvious until I drove down a road that had back to back S turns, where I had to turn the wheel a good 100+ degrees to the right, then all the way to the left and then back to the right again. That's when I realized there was a "dead spot" right in the middle, and the steering wheel would "clunk" when the the rack would catch and start turning the wheels.

[bsamoul]

how about giving another dealer a shot? or have them drive the loaner and then after drive yours so they notice the difference.

[edb5020]

Anyone have any idea what this can be?

[DenverJayhawk]

did the loaner have active steering?

[edb5020]

Originally Posted by mike-y

when you move the steering wheel back and forth a small amount, does anything happen before you feel/hear the clunk? it almost sounds like the rack is bad or stripped in the center.

I had an old car where the steering didn't "catch" until you turned the wheel about 20 degrees or so. I knew it didn't feel right, but it didn't become obvious until I drove down a road that had back to back S turns, where I had to turn the wheel a good 100+ degrees to the right, then all the way to the left and then back to the right again. That's when I realized there was a "dead spot" right in the middle, and the steering wheel would "clunk" when the the rack would catch and start turning the wheels.

Well the car does seem to have a dead spot, especially at slow speeds, and it is much worse than the loaner car. The dead spot is about maybe 2 inches in either direction before the car responds. Let me put it this way, if something was in the road and I had to avoid it very quickly, I would have to turn the wheen quite a bit in my car compared to the loaner car. And not only that, but the steering is not as "sharp" as the loaner car I drove or as MY car once used to be.

There was no Active Steering in the loaner car or in my car.

[buckybadger]

does this have to do with the run flat tires?

[bimmerdude03]

dude I think you're over analyzing it. the truth is, every car is built a bit differently. The real truth about steering is that you've gotten used to your car. This is psychologically whats happening. If you took it to the dealer and they say its fine it 100% probably is.

[GmoBmw]

Originally Posted by bimmerdude03

dude I think you're over analyzing it. the truth is, every car is built a bit differently. The real truth about steering is that you've gotten used to your car. This is psychologically whats happening. If you took it to the dealer and they say its fine it 100% probably is.

Ya like my dealership told me my turbos were fine... Dude go to a different dealership and ride along with them and tell them the issue.

[ndog14]

Originally Posted by bimmerdude03

dude I think you're over analyzing it. the truth is, every car is built a bit differently. The real truth about steering is that you've gotten used to your car. This is psychologically whats happening. If you took it to the dealer and they say its fine it 100% probably is.

WTF bro. You revive this 3 year old thread to tell him it's the placebo affect? I'm sure the OP has had the problem solved by now or a new car. I just looked at your profile and you did the same thing to another 3 year old thread. Please look at the dates before you revive a thread with useless information.

[oshusttoley]

Originally Posted by clark192

Perhaps its the steering box, the connection between the column and the rack? Let me just say that once you go down the path of changing either of those parts, the steering wont feel 100% the same as you think it should. The loaner 328i will still feel better than your car if you replace the rack and the steering box.

I had to get mine changed because I had an accident, and the steering is lighter than it normally should be at highway speeds. I would think the best course of action would be to take your SA out for a spin in your car, and then immediately take out the loander 328 to compare, I did that with my SA and it worked for me..

had a rack and pinion done on a different car of mine under warranty, never felt the same

[NaNo_F1]

Originally Posted by ndog14

WTF bro. You revive this 3 year old thread to tell him it's the placebo affect?

[achien]

have the same problem with my steering wheel on the X5. I will be interested to see how you gets this resolved.

I did some research on the internet and most people say it is the lower control arm spindle.

Originally Posted by edb5020

...

IMPORTANT: When I jerk the wheel back and forth, lets say about 20 degrees to the right (WHETHER OR NOT THE CAR IS MOVING OR NOT) the steering makes this little tick or "knock" and feels as though it "hits something"....Not that it will not turn any further but as if the power steering mechanism cannot register it properly or respond?

...

[ndog14]

Originally Posted by NaNo_F1

People can't read dates.... a PM would be more effective than hoping the OP happens to visit E90Post today and see his 3 year old thread

[point665]

Something like this? http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=355854

[vooheese]

maybe it is the steering repair kit. At least for F20, it is the case. when I change the this part, the steering feels tight again. No more jerk when the car hit the pithole.

part nr. 3210 6891 974

[desertman123]

Originally Posted by vooheese

maybe it is the steering repair kit. At least for F20, it is the case. when I change the this part, the steering feels tight again. No more jerk when the car hit the pithole.

part nr. 3210 6891 974

Homie this thread is from 2009

[vooheese]

Originally Posted by desertman123

Homie this thread is from 2009

Originally Posted by desertman123

Homie this thread is from 2009

Wa—. Time flies.