[planetb00m]

Picked up a 69 plate 320i. Its done 20k miles. Bought it 1 week ago and been driving it listening out for any weird squeaks, creeks and whines.

I've noticed that on slower speeds, especially with big turns I can 'hear the steering'. It's a whining noise more than anything else. Also, may be completely unrelated, but coming out of my drive steering tends to feel quite heavy (i'm still in comfort mode at this point, and thats set to default settings in the idrive and not set to sports steering.)

Coming from a 330d f30 this is different to what I'm used to. I've brought it up with the dealer but they've yet to respond to me.

[willougs]

On mine there's definitely a small noise from the steering. sounds like a low whine. I put it down to the fact that the steering has some kind of mechanics/gearing attached to it for the self parking/lane guidance stuff.

[bavarianride]

my US-spec 2021 G20 330i also has the whine at local speed turns, dealer foreman and tech said it is normal.

[Carbon dude]

I've had mine since new and it's the same for me. It sounds more like mechanical or fluid sounds.

[Alpine110]

I had mine checked and there was a heat shield that was creating the noise, part of the steering column assembly had become scored and required replacement. It’s now much quieter but not silent but I think that’s the assistance systems that I hear.

[HighlandPete]

When you guys say the 'assistance systems', do you mean you are hearing the servo motor in the steering rack, while turning?

G20 models (other than the M340i) have a different EPS rack design than the F3x models, so may be more audible.

[thescouselander]

Yes, I can definitely hear the motor that's built into the steering working, it does seem like it's loud. I had a loaner 3er recently and it was exactly the same. I guess they must all do that.

[Nexstar2011]

Originally Posted by Alpine110

I had mine checked and there was a heat shield that was creating the noise, part of the steering column assembly had become scored and required replacement. It’s now much quieter but not silent but I think that’s the assistance systems that I hear.

I too had noisy power steering - and the heat shield was also the cause. Not bad enough to damage the steering column, but after the tech adjusted the heat shield it's as close to silent as it gets. He even video'd the cause/resolution (crap pic below)

[a.summers86]

Yes normal - is it not a metallic/clunk noise as such...more off a noise similar to turning a motor/ gear manually? I put it down to the mechanism used for the auto park/ lane assist.

I've had a few loan cars both G20 and x3 and all had this noise at low speed. Can only be heard if the radio is off and you are driving under 5-10mph.