Problems with 2003 BMW Z4 STEERING

I own a 2003 bmw z4 roadster that seems to have an intermittent steering problem. when the temperature rises, the steering feels heavy, requiring added force to return the steering to center position. the result is jerky steering and some difficulty in steering in tight circumstances. my dealer denies any knowledge of other complaints. following internet research, i know other are having a similar problem. *tr

I own a 2003 bmw z4 3.0. the steering mechanism often becomes sticky and jerky, making the car less predictable to drive. it occurs most often with the temperature above 80 degrees f. this condition has occurred intermittently over the last 3 years. *tr

After car had been sitting in the sun on a 90+ degree day, my steering became very difficult and "notchy". wheel would not return to center position when i let go of wheel. *tr

Steering gets heavy and "sticky" at high speeds. *tr

My bmw z4 2003 suddenly has a steering problem where the wheel "sticks" in place and "catches" before allowing me to steer properly. bmw dealer was notified of the problem and asked that i not drive the car but that i bring it in for a look. obviously they know it is dangerous for me to drive!!! *tr

When my 2003 bmw z4 is left out in the sun during the summer months, it is very hard to drive and almost non-responsive. additionally at times the electric power steering indicator light will come on, resulting in the loss of power steering control (and the shutoff of other electrical equipment in the car). this typically is only for a few seconds, however that can be extremely dangerous. *tr

2003 bmw z4 - sticky steering in hot weather. this is a recurring problem. the steering seems to momentarily seize ... very scary! no actual accident yet, but only a matter of time! *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 bmw z4. the contact stated that the electric steering wheel was resistant when he attempted to drive the vehicle. the failure only occurred when it was extremely warm outside. bmw was not notified regarding the failure. the failure and current mileage were approximately 27,000.

The steering on the vehicle sticks on hot days when the car has been left out in the sun. this makes is extremely difficult to maintain a straight line on the highway, as the steering effort become too high. it was the worst i've experienced today, as the temperature in new england reached 102 degrees f. *tr

On a hot day, the steering seems to stick when you turn the wheel. the steering wheel does not return to center after a turn. it makes the car want to wander all over the road, particularly on curving roads. *tr

2003 bmw z4 at times the steering becomes very tight. it seems that the steering on warm days becomes very tight, when the steering wheel is in the center it takes more force then normal to turn the wheel, making you over steer the car. when this happens you feel like the car has a mind of it's own. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 bmw z4. the contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph, the vehicle would pull to the left and the vehicle was difficult to turn. the failure was intermittent. the vehicle had not been inspected by the dealer. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 30,000. updated 02/03/11*lj updated 03/17/11

The steering mechanism often becomes sticky and jerky, making the car less predictable to drive. it occurs most often with the temperature above 80 degrees f. this condition has occurred intermittently over the last 3 years. the following information regarding this issue was found on a bmw site: nhtsa called me today! they are investigating...bmw has advised them it is due to expansion of a gear in the steering column due to heat. they know about the problem and corrected it in late 2006 models. not treating this as a serious issue however have repaired "under warranty" those still under warranty and not repairing others with the $2-3,000 repair. nhtsa says probably not going to be successful based on findings to date. there have not been that many complaints to them. this issue is not driver or wear related and should be covered by the manufacturer. to force the car owners to pay retail for parts and labor to fix a design flaw that is dangerous is wrong. *tr

Steering wheel would stick & when it would finally move it would over correct. nearly had an accident it was very scary. *tr

Steering becomes intermittently "sticky". first symptom is that when i turn the wheel normally nothing happens. as a result, i turn the steering wheel more and then suddenly the car turns. immediately, i have to turn the wheel back the other way to avoid going off the road. the problem is repeated when i turn back in the other direction and i essentially end up weaving down the road. when i brought the vehicle in to have it checked after the first occurrence, the symptom couldn't be reproduced by the servicemen who looked at it. in retrospect, i've realized that i was always having the car checked when it was cool out (mornings & i lived near lake superior), but the problem seems to occur only when it is hot outside (over 70 to 80 degrees). since i couldn't solve the problem, i have dramatically reduced my driving with this vehicle. however, after recently moving to a different part of the country, i mentioned the problem to a new serviceman last month. he said this was a well known problem with the z4 steering bearings. after spending some time searching on the internet, i was shocked to see how many people have reported this same problem (including to this website). i have never heard of a similar problem with any other vehicle; it certainly seems to me this is some sort of design flaw. it is hard to imagine steering bearings wearing out due to normal "wear and tear" with only 34,000 miles on the vehicle. please recall this vehicle asap and force bmw to fix the problem before someone is killed! *tr

My 2003 bmw z4 has a major steering problem. there is noise in the steering column area and the steering becomes very stiff and non-responsive at highway speeds. its like driving a car with a power steering pump that is about to fail. the problem is much worse on hot days or after the car has been driven a lot. i took it to the only bmw dealership around here in indianapolis. they told me they couldn't duplicate the problem in the shop but it sounded like a defective steering column. the cost on a new column is $3500 plus many man-hours of labor charges to install it! i went on line and found out that this is a common problem with z4s. so, here i sit with a $13,000 car that i can't afford to fix and i'm afraid to drive more than a few miles from home because the steering is so tight/questionable. this is a safety issue and bmw should be made to recall this issue! *tr

The electric steering on my 2003 bmw z4 will stick and i must jerk the wheel to get it to turn back when the car is drifting. my dealer says they do not know what is causing this to happen. it seems to happen when the temperature is above 80 degrees. i feel this is a dangerous situation because it causes oversteering when the wheel has to be jerked back. *tr

2003 bmw z4 2.5i. steering feels sticky on warm afternoons. feels like a "dead spot" in the steering gear. *tr

At above 80 degree fahrenheit temperatures, the steering sticks on my 2003 z4, and worsens as the heat increases. it is very hard to correct steering on the highway as it tends to stay in one position and will eventually lead to an accident. this is a serious problem on many z4's and bmw doesn't acknowledge the problem. *tr

Sticky, notchy steering feeling when the car has been exposed to temperature above 80f. car becomes more difficult to control at freeway speeds. *tr

I have been having difficulty with the steering system on my z4. this began several years ago and has been intermittent at first but the degree of difficulty in the steering has been increasing from month to month and where it now is beginning to feel unsafe. the steering sticks while navigating through curves and does not always return to neutral position. othertimes, it sticks and one needs to pull it back to correct the steering. it is quite unsafe and my wife and i are very concerned, not only for our safety, but also others who may be victimized by head on collisions. after checking out my compliant with my bmw certified mechanic, he tells me there is a real problem with the steering mechanism on this car and checking through the mechanic's web site, there appears to be no one that knows how to repair the system, short of taking out the entire steering column and replacing with a new one. the cost of this would amount to $3,000.00 or more. the mechanics feel this is a poor steering design and should be fixed by bmw. he told me to be very careful when driving this car for it is possible the entire system could break down at any moment. *tr

Purchased a "like new" 2003 bmw z4 3.0i with 15,000 miles with 1 owner last fall from a dealership in va and almost immediately put the car in storage. upon removal from storage this month, steering sticks dangerously at all speeds. steering wheel refuses to return to center. when rounding a corner, steering wheel will maintain the turn and not naturally straighten. this creates a highly dangerous situation of oversteer as you over compensate the steering. on a two lane road, it is easy to cross centerline. many, many complaints have been submitted for 2003, 2004, 2005, and some 2006 models. repair seems to be to replace steering column at owner's cost of $3900. however, some owner's have paid for replacement and still experiencing the same issue. *tr

Steering is sticky during warmer weather and sticks on center and is difficult to turn from center. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 bmw z4. while traveling 10 mph the contact noticed that the steering wheel will suddenly lock and that the power steering warning light would appear on the dashboard . the vehicle had not been diagnosed. the contact noticed prior that the failure tends to occur during warm weather. the failure mileages was 28000 and the current mileage was 30000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 bmw z4. while the vehicle was being serviced by an authorized dealer for routine maintenance, the contact was advised that the air bag warning light would illuminate sporadically. the vehicle was not repaired for the failure nor was a diagnostic performed. the failure recurred sporadically for approximately one year. later, while driving approximately 45 mph, the steering wheel became stuck and difficult to turn. the failure was intermittent and the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for the failure. the manufacturer was not contacted regarding the failure. the failure mileage was 19,881 and the approximate current mileage was 22,000.

Bmw z4 power steering fails when outside temp is above 80 degrees. bmw acknowledges the problem, but will not recall for this issue updated 05/14/10.*jb

Steering wheel is "sticky" and difficult to handle on warm days (above 75 degrees). *tr

Sticky steering wheel on 2003 bmw z4. feels as if its hard to change directions when the car is warmed up or when it has been sitting in the sun. its almost like a magnetic resistance. the force required to turn the wheel is 3-4x normal and is intermittent so it is a major safety problem imo. if you are in a corner and don't expect it, it can be quite hard to change directions on the wheel, and possibly can overcorrect. *tr

My 2003 bmw z4 2.5i has a sticky steering wheel problem in all temperatures. the steering does not self correct while turning and needs to be forcefully returned back to center. this "stickiness" has a dangerous element in changing lanes or going around corners because smooth operation is not possible. i must overcome the sticky stuck sensation and as a result oversteer back in the direction of travel. this is very disconcerting and a dangerous. *tr

2003 bmw z4: we have noticed a steering issue that occurs in the warmer months of the year. the steering tends to feel 'sticky' or 'gummy' when driving in a straight path. in order to free the sticky steering, one must quickly jerk the wheel to the left or right direction to loosen and free up the steering feel. there have been no accidents as of yet, but the sudden jerk of the wheel and results in an unsafe lane change and/or nearing a side swipe situation when driving in traffic. after a bit of online research, it appears that many other have experienced this unsafe condition. bmw most likely knows about this safety issue since the installation of the updated steering shaft fixes the problem. many of us are out of warranty and the steering defect is not under a current recall, therefore bmw will not cover the fix. many of us consumers cannot afford the $3000 fix, per the bmw service estimate and have to continue to drive unsafely. *tr

I have a bmw z4 which the steering sticks causing a significant decrease in control of the vehicle. i have nearly collided with other vehicles on the freeway at highway speeds. *tr

Details: steering problem at 45+mph with vehicle, steering is very sticky going straight, constant corrections cause over steering, steering wheel does not return to neutral position on curves leading to dangerous conditions, tested to 75 + mph, gets worse at higher speeds of freeway driving. just took possession of used vehicle. i think its just luck no body has been killed from running off the road or hitting someone. please look at all the complaints with the same trouble. *tr

Issues with the power steering intermittently shutting off and then back on. if it were to occur at the wrong time or in the wrong situation, it would have dire results. *tr

Power steering column failed in 2003 bmw z4 3.0i with less than 45,000 miles. best way to describe the steering was that it became magnetic and twitchy. this would usually happen after driving the car for a period of time at highway speeds. i first experienced this driving back from orlando, fl to jacksonville, fl on i-95. bmw dealer coped the part ($3,000.00) but made me pay for labor ($600.00). i was not happy as i truly felt that this was a safety issue. i pushed, but was told that was their best offer so i took it. car was out of factory bmw warranty. *tr

In temperatures below 45 f and above 75 my steering hangs up just off center so when i drive down the freeway it looks like i zigzag from side to side, and around turns it becomes especially dangerous because when it catches i have to use a bit more force to un jam it and at high speeds it almost throws me into a spin or crash into the guard rail. the previous owner had mentioned this problem but says he rarely drove the car it didn't seem to bother him. i cannot afford the 2600- 3600 price tag for the repair and since bmw has known about this problem since 2003 and has failed to recall this problem myself along with several thousands of other bmw z 4 owners deserve a free correction for this problem.. instead bmw is fleecing the poor fools who happen to own a z4 model ,, do i have to die behind the wheel of this car before bmw does something about it. *tr

Difficulty steering the car when the steering sticks. the warmer the temperature, the steering feels stuck and with the least movement of the steering wheel, the car feels like it loses control. it is fine in the morning and when it is cool but when the temperature is over 80, i feel like i have no control of the steering. no accidents yet!!!!! it has been happening for at least a year. *kb

1. for about 2 years i have noticed that something has been wrong with my 2003 bmw z4's steering. the onset was very insidious. i first noticed a feeling that the steering would stick and require slight extra force to make minor adjustments. this seemed to occur after the car had been out sitting in the sun. at that time it was more of an annoyance than a problem. the steering would soon return to normal. i remember having the steering complaint more often over the 2 year period but it wasn't until a few weeks ago that i knew that this was an issue i needed to resolve. 2. i was making a 250 mile drive back to orlando on the turnpike when the steering problem returned. it was worse than ever. there was a dangerous "locked on center" feeling at highway speed. minor adjustments required force such that the steering jerked and then required another forceful jerk to correct. the problem is dangerous in that it takes much effort to keep the car in the lane at highway speed. when i exited and drove at low speed the steering returned to normal. i researched this phenomena and found many other z4 owners with the same steering problem. apparently there is a problem with the electronic power steering system on the z4. my problems reflected those of other owners. the "locked on center" feeling is worse on hot days and at high speeds. the problem occurs every time i drive on the highway and i have since stopped driving that vehicle. i don't feel safe driving it on the highway both for my safety and that of other drivers on the road. 3. the car has yet to be repaired. the other z4 owners suggested i file this complaint, as they have had much trouble convincing their bmw dealerships of the design flaw/failure of the eps system. *tr updated 01/25/10 *bf updated 01/26/10

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 bmw z4. while driving approximately 35 mph, the contact noticed that the steering wheel would not return to the center position. the contact had to jerk the steering wheel to the center. the failure recurred intermittently at temperatures under 45 degrees and over 75 degrees at different speeds. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostics and the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 70,000. updated 09/21/11*lj updated 11/02/11

Bmw z4 developed a notchy or sticky feel as i was driving on the highway. it feels like the steering wheel locks in place and extra effort is required to turn the wheel. there is no warning before this occurs. problem was very sporadic at first but seems to be getting worse as i my driving time increases. *tr

The steering sticks on my 2003 bmw z4, and when i try to compensate, it sometimes causes oversteering to correct. this on 2-occasions almost put me into a head-on collision with an oncoming car. the dealer says this would require an expensive steering column replacement at my cost. *tr

Experiencing very similar issue as documented under nhtsa action number pe10020-steering/steering column/power assist system becoming difficult to steer while driving in excess of 50mph. contacted bmw customer relations and received no assistance only recommendation to take to service dept. *tr

Sticky steering column during hot weather on a 2003 bmw z4 2.5i. *tr

Sticking steering. *tr

2003 bmw z4 has a glitch in the steering that our dealership does not know what is causing. on hot days especially the steering becomes so jerky it is hard to drive the car. you can turn the steering wheel and there will be a pause before the steering catches and turns the car. we took the car into the bmw dealership and they had two other cars, same model and year with the same complaint. if you google it, you receive many pages of people having the problem so bmw is definitely aware of it but to this point has done nothing. these cars have low mileage, 15,000 to 20,000 range so it is not something that has worn out; it is design flaw that has caused on going problems that bmw has chosen to ignore to this point. we have not been in any accident, we have quit driving in hot weather, but, i am sure the steering has caused some accidents for others. i assume bmw figures it is cheaper to pay the law suits since there are not that many z4s made than to have a recall and fix the problem. it is an ongoing problem that affects not only the drivers of the cars involved but everyone sharing the road with a car with steering problems. *tr

This complaint involves the steering of the 2003 bmw z4(built 03/03). it seems in hot weather (high 80's and above) the steering becomes very stiff and difficult to make minor adjustments. it feels like it locks in place and when adjustments are attempted to correct the steering, you actually over adjust because it sticks and you have a difficult time remaining in your lane. this occurs when the temperature is 80's or above, and becomes stiffer the hotter the temperature becomes. we contacted bmw and they informed us that there was nothing they could do for us. we feel that this is definitely a safety problem that should be addressed by bmw, as well as repaired for free by them. another problem that we have encountered is the airbag lights (both in the dash and on the console) were on. we found recalls for 2004-2005 bmw's for this problem, but they would not address our vehicle since it is a 2003, and not covered in the recall. it is the exact same problem that the recall was for which was the passenger sensor mat part #66-77-6-927-893 and the control unit airbag part #65-77-6-965-146. we had to pay out of pocket for the diagnostic, repairs and parts, totaling $1226.20. again we felt that this was a safety issue since we purchased this car because it had side,front and knee airbags for safety. with the airbag lights on, we didn't know if they would or would not work in an accident. we requested the old parts be returned to us, but they were not. after doing much research on the internet, both of these items seem to be very common problems with these vehicles and we feel that bmw should address them both and make the vehicles safe to drive. *tr

When the weather gets hot or the car gets hot just sitting in the sun the steering gets sticky and difficult to turn. it feels like there is a notch in the steering on both sides of dead center and it is difficult to steer to the right or the left. this is not a new problem with these cars as documented in puma case number 5387507 and others. *tr

I own a 2003 bmw z4 during warm weather at highway speeds the steering becomes stuck on center. in july of 09 i attempted to swerve to avoid an obstacle on the highway and had the yank the wheel so hard to get it out of the "stuck on center" issue. i then ran off the road and into the ditch and caused about $1500 dollars worth of damage to the vehicle. fortunately there were no other vehicles in the way. *tr

My 2003 bmw z4 has sticky and/or binding electric power assisted steering control when the temperatures are 75 degrees or warmer, making the car difficult and dangerous to steer. because of this, oversteering results, which causes the vehicle to lunge into the next lane or onto the shoulder. this becomes a serious safety issue when changing lanes or making minor steering corrections. the problem goes away overnight when cooler temperatures prevail and the power steering unit has had a chance to cool down. *tr

Steering is sticking on my bmw z4 when the weather is warm. i live in the mountains of north georgia and do not feel safe driving under these conditions. based on looking at the online information into this problem this seems to be a defect in the z4. why would this not be recalled? the dealership immediately asked at what temperature this occurs. the dealership has quoted $3200 to fix the problem. this is not acceptable when it looks as if there are alot of z4 owners with the same problem. the car is out of warranty and the mileage is low. please help us who own these cars to get something done before someone gets seriously hurt or even killed. *tr

The power steering becomes dangerous when the car is exposed to heat 80+ degrees/sun. the steering wheel "sticks" in certain spots and is hard to move. it will randomly stop "sticking" giving an unexpected push in any given direction. looks to be a frequent complaint. car is unsafe to drive in the heat. *tr