[dima_pa]

Hey guys, I’ve been trying to figure out if this is normal behavior and reached the conclusion that it is not. My steering feel on center is loose, it is really noticeable when stationary, but don’t go away on speed. During driving, if I’m making a sweeping turn , my steering wheel just doesn’t come back to the center; it is 5-8 degrees to the right or left. The wheels are still turning, just the steering has no resistance at all, thus i can leave it in that position in the small turn and car will be turning by itself. It is not that noticeable on 90 degrees turns, but still i hate that steering has no feel and resistance when going straight, so it feels like steering wheel is disconnected from rack, but it is not. After that 5-7 degree point, the resistance and feel comes back and it is absolutely normal. I noticed that this issue is pronounced when it’s hot outside and car is warmed up. When it’s cold, this looseness is almost negligible. I’m tired of this thing.

[Patrick852]

I have the same problem, it starts from Day 1 but I didn't notice, thought it only happens on i4．

[dima_pa]

Originally Posted by Patrick852

I have the same problem, it starts from Day 1 but I didn't notice, thought it only happens on i4．

https://youtube.com/shorts/QhqMoGdG7Lc


Does your steering look like this when stationary?
Whenever car is not moving, it’s much easier to feel this looseness, because suspension geometry is not returning them to center, so here you can clearly see that there is point when it gains resistance from steering rack, but +- 10 degrees around center point it is absolutely light.

If you have issue with a video, just paste it to your browser

youtube.com/shorts/QhqMoGdG7Lc

[SportySpice]

OP - I have a pre-LCI m340 and it doesn’t behave the way your car does in these clips. My steering wheel returns to center after I turn.

[dima_pa]

Originally Posted by SportySpice

OP - I have a pre-LCI m340 and it doesn’t behave the way your car does in these clips. My steering wheel returns to center after I turn.

Yeah, i see that some people have similar issues and other people don’t, so it’s definitely not normal behavior. Trying to figure out what to do. I had my steering rack replaced due to water flood 2 days after i got this car, so it’s hard to tell if it behaved the same before. But I’m pretty sure it did, so i should probably eliminate steering rack from my list of issues. Next one is steering column, i suppose.

[Patrick852]

Originally Posted by dima_pa

https://youtube.com/shorts/QhqMoGdG7Lc


Does your steering look like this when stationary?
Whenever car is not moving, it’s much easier to feel this looseness, because suspension geometry is not returning them to center, so here you can clearly see that there is point when it gains resistance from steering rack, but +- 10 degrees around center point it is absolutely light.

If you have issue with a video, just paste it to your browser

youtube.com/shorts/QhqMoGdG7Lc

Mine is not loose like yours when stationary, it returns to centre, but not when driving at lower speed.

https://youtube.com/shorts/KlxzASgzt84

[Patrick852]

Originally Posted by dima_pa

https://youtube.com/shorts/QhqMoGdG7Lc


Does your steering look like this when stationary?
Whenever car is not moving, it’s much easier to feel this looseness, because suspension geometry is not returning them to center, so here you can clearly see that there is point when it gains resistance from steering rack, but +- 10 degrees around center point it is absolutely light.

If you have issue with a video, just paste it to your browser

youtube.com/shorts/QhqMoGdG7Lc

Moreover, I notice mine doesn't return to the centre as much when I turn to the left.

[dima_pa]

Originally Posted by Patrick852

Moreover, I notice mine doesn't return to the centre as much when I turn to the left.

I see that your your steering wheel returns to center even when stationary, but does it feel like it has no resistance at all 5 degrees to the right or left off the center, but when you go further it gets resistance like normal?

[Patrick852]

Originally Posted by dima_pa

I see that your your steering wheel returns to center even when stationary, but does it feel like it has no resistance at all 5 degrees to the right or left off the center, but when you go further it gets resistance like normal?

At speed between 0-50km/h(30mph), steering cannot return to centre probably by itself within 30 degrees, not just 5 degree, it returns slowly and stay at about 5 degrees and stopped, I have to steer by myself to make it straight, or it turns and hit the curb.
When speed picks up, problem resolves by itself. This is very annoying, as I have to drive on winding country road for one hour a day, my wrist feel tire and easily hit the curb if I am not paying enough attention.
Have you find a solution? I searched on youtube and found only one test driver discovered this issue.

[dima_pa]

Originally Posted by Patrick852

At speed between 0-50km/h(30mph), steering cannot return to centre probably by itself within 30 degrees, not just 5 degree, it returns slowly and stay at about 5 degrees and stopped, I have to steer by myself to make it straight, or it turns and hit the curb.
When speed picks up, problem resolves by itself. This is very annoying, as I have to drive on winding country road for one hour a day, my wrist feel tire and easily hit the curb if I am not paying enough attention.
Have you find a solution? I searched on youtube and found only one test driver discovered this issue.

No solution unfortunately and i have it even on higher speeds, it just becomes a little bit less noticeable. Sometimes if im driving on the road that has a lot of small turns it feels like im driving a simulator with a steering wheel that has no back pressure. When it is cold it is much better. I read on another threads about this kind of issue and everyone says it is steering column, i don’t understand which part of it though.

[sunbeh]

Originally Posted by dima_pa

No solution unfortunately and i have it even on higher speeds, it just becomes a little bit less noticeable. Sometimes if im driving on the road that has a lot of small turns it feels like im driving a simulator with a steering wheel that has no back pressure. When it is cold it is much better. I read on another threads about this kind of issue and everyone says it is steering column, i don’t understand which part of it though.

Hey, have you been able to fix this? I have the exact same kind of play in my wheel as well. When it’s cold, the steering feels firm, but if I hit a manhole/bump or if it’s been warmed up, it has the same 5-10 degree play.

Don’t know if it’s related, but the car doesn’t feel planted at all when going at higher speeds, almost like the axle or wheels are loose. I have an oil change at the dealership and will ask them to take a look. I’ve also had my steering rack replaced a few months ago for an unrelated issue.

[dima_pa]

Originally Posted by sunbeh

Hey, have you been able to fix this? I have the exact same kind of play in my wheel as well. When it’s cold, the steering feels firm, but if I hit a manhole/bump or if it’s been warmed up, it has the same 5-10 degree play.

Don’t know if it’s related, but the car doesn’t feel planted at all when going at higher speeds, almost like the axle or wheels are loose. I have an oil change at the dealership and will ask them to take a look. I’ve also had my steering rack replaced a few months ago for an unrelated issue.

Hey, i wanted to replace steering column because that’s what i read on other forums, but as i stated above i don’t know which part of it and i don’t have money laying around to experiment, so im waiting for someone who has access to competent technicians. My dealership is EXTREMELY incompetent, so i don’t even hope them to figure out the issue and my car is out of warranty.
By the way, did you have this issue before replacing the steering rack?
I’m trying to collect as much information as possible to narrow down my search for cause of this issue.
By the way as it got colder and adjust front psi to 35 makes it feel a tiny bit better, but it is not a fix, apparently.

[sunbeh]

Originally Posted by dima_pa

Hey, i wanted to replace steering column because that’s what i read on other forums, but as i stated above i don’t know which part of it and i don’t have money laying around to experiment, so im waiting for someone who has access to competent technicians. My dealership is EXTREMELY incompetent, so i don’t even hope them to figure out the issue and my car is out of warranty.
By the way, did you have this issue before replacing the steering rack?
I’m trying to collect as much information as possible to narrow down my search for cause of this issue.
By the way as it got colder and adjust front psi to 35 makes it feel a tiny bit better, but it is not a fix, apparently.

I'm under warranty and bringing the car in for an oil change on Saturday, so I'll bring it up and see what the dealership ends up doing.

I don't remember since it's been a while, but I really feel like I didn't noticed until I got the car back. Felt like it popped up post-change.

Biggest thing I've noticed is it doesn't happen on the first drive of the day. When I'm back in it, it'll get looser. Really wish there was an obvious fix...

[CarGuy954]

Started to noticing the same issue along with a front left clunk and tapping sound from front left suspension. Felt like a tie rod issue to me and noticed the front lower control arm had some play. Took it over to BMW and it turned out I was correct and they replaced both front lower control arms and tie rods end. The car only has 28000 miles on it. Front what I have read here its very common on the 3 series models, even the newer ones.

[dima_pa]

Originally Posted by sunbeh

I'm under warranty and bringing the car in for an oil change on Saturday, so I'll bring it up and see what the dealership ends up doing.

I don't remember since it's been a while, but I really feel like I didn't noticed until I got the car back. Felt like it popped up post-change.

Biggest thing I've noticed is it doesn't happen on the first drive of the day. When I'm back in it, it'll get looser. Really wish there was an obvious fix...

Hey, did you make it to the dealer?

[sunbeh]

Originally Posted by dima_pa

Hey, did you make it to the dealer?

Pretty much told me their foreman couldn’t recreate any of the problems and asked if I’d go on a drive with him. I work weekdays so I don’t have time to go in, unfortunately. Fortunately, it’s gotten colder now and the steering feels good enough where I don’t keep hyper focusing on it.