Problems with 2003 BMW Z4 STEERING

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 bmw z4. the contact stated that while driving in hot weather, the steering wheel was difficult to center, making it difficult to drive. the failure is more noticeable while driving at 70mph and higher. while driving in cooler weather the failure did not occur. the vehicle was not inspected by a dealer or repaired. the manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. the failure and current mileages were 54,527.

2003 bmw z4 sticky steering. when i drive my 2003 bmw z4 during warm weather, the steering wheel sticks. it is hard to turn the steering wheel. this leads to very dangerous driving conditions. it is sometimes hard to turn the steering wheel, as it feels like it is sticky/stuck. *tr

Steering problem that steering does not return to center. constant problem and seems worse in hot weather. *tr

If the car is left in the sun or is used on a hot day (seems to be above 85f degrees), the steering wheel is very heavy and "sticky" +/- 5 degrees off center. the car will not travel straight without constant correction and the steering wheel feels locked without extra effort to move its position. driving the car in this state is unnerving and unsafe. it has led to multiple overcorrection on public roads when attempting to turn the wheel due to the extra effort. bmw na has not acknowledged a defect and will not attempt to correct it.*tr

Car is 2003 bmw z4 3.0 litre engine. at temperatures above approximately 78 degrees, the electronic steering feels as if it is binding, and feels disconnected from the car. when you return the wheel to center position it feels as if there is a lag before the car responds. this affects the cars handling in traffic, as the car will not handle as it should. this effect is not evident at lower temperatures. *tr

Steering problem with 2003 bmw z4. constant problem causing it to be difficult to turn the wheel. being repaired today ( 10/14/2010). elect. motor on the power steering. *tr

2003 z4 3.0i has become unsafe with increases in steering sticking and notchiness. to make matters worse the symptoms vary with ambient temperature so the overall steering feel will vary from morning to noon to night. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 bmw z4. the contact stated that when driving at various speeds, the steering wheel would seize abnormally. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the current and failure mileages were 74,000.

The steering in the 2003 bmw z4 is extremely notchy, or sticky. the issue is considerably worse on warmer days, however, it is not limited to only happening in warm weather. recently, the steering has become much worse, almost locking in place while turning. even while attempting to make minor corrections in steering due to curves in the road, the wheel will lock up and then jerk the car violently when it does allow the correction to be made. it is only a matter of time before this issue causes a fatality. bmw has denied any issue or recall and has refused to comment regarding others' complaints of the same problem. *tt

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 bmw z4. while driving 60mph his vehicle shut off in traffic. the road conditions were not a factor. the vehicle was accelerating at the time the engine shut off. he was able to maintain control of the vehicle but there was no power steering and the brakes failed. it became was very difficult to steer the vehicle. there were no warnings prior to the failure. he was able to operate the vehicle normally after 20 minutes. the following day when the vehicle started there was a bubbling noise in the engine area that lasted for approximately 2 minutes. no problem. the dealer and manufacturer confirmed that the vehicle was not a part of the recall. he was also advised that he would have to pay $152 for a diagnosic check. the failure mileage was 41,000.

2003 z-4 bmw electronic power steering (eps) failed during motor vehicle operation while performing a right turn traveling at approximately 15 to 20 miles per hour. the driver avoided collision with other motor vehicles making the turn at the same time, stationary obstacles (telephone pole, street signs, curbs), and pedestrians on the sidewalk by gaining control through manual effort. the entire steering column must be replaced by a bmw authorized repair center at a cost exceeding $3700 due to the proprietary security coding for theft prevention. used units are not acceptable once they have been coded to a specific vehicle. *tr

My vehicle is a 2003 bmw z4. the 'eps' electric power steering seems to bind on hot days. this could result in a collision and to date bmw is not fixing the problem. *tr

On hot days(>75 f) the steering is very sticky. i feel unsafe to drive, especially on highway, because i'm afraid the car will lock on me. replacing the entire column is bit too expensive so i limit my driving to colder days only, which doesn't make sense when you have convertible. it seems like many owners of 2003 bmw z4 have similar issue. i've been hoping for years that bmw will have recall for this problem. this is such a nice car, and at the same time huge disappointment if it comes to performance and lack of response from the bmw to fix the problem.

Basically the steering becomes stiff in warm weather. the stiffness occurs in my car after a half an hour or so of driving at temperatures over about 75 to 80 degrees. i believe it's dangerous, especially when changing lanes on the highway at speed during heavy traffic, and am very surprised that there hasn't been a recall so far. it also takes most of the pleasure out of driving in warm weather with the top down, which is the reason i bought the z4 in the first place. *tr

Sticky, grabby, tight steering. no correction to center. heavy feel and notchy. this problem occurs on hot days, especially after the car sits in the hot sun for a couple hours. most noticeable driving at highway speeds. after sitting overnight, in the morning when it is cool, the steering is fine. *tr

Steering is sticking badly. inspected by independent mechanic and told is defective and unsafe. with the vehicle under 20,000 miles the mechanic said is clearly a defect with the electronic steering. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 bmw z4. the contact stated while driving 65 mph the steering failed and the contact was unable to completely make a turn which caused her to swerve into the next lane. the failure occurred intermittently and the hot weather was a factor. the vehicle was taken to a bmw specialist who located the failure within the steering column. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 25,000 and the current mileage was 35,000.

2003 z4 3.0i bmw steering locks up while driving in hot weather. problem does not exist in cool weather. my vehicle first experienced the problem in the summer of 2009 with 19,000 miles. the car is unsafe to drive in temperatures above 80 degrees. *tr

I have finally decided to file my complaint after experiencing this problem for two consecutive summers. i have put off filing a complaint in hopes that the numerous complaints on this very same issue by other z4 owners would result in some remedial action on the part of bmw. this does not appear to be happening. when the outdoor temps hit the high 80's the steering in my 03 z4 begins to "stick" under normal driving conditions. this has caused me to come close to over-correcting on several occasions when turning the steering wheel to "unstick" il. it is extremely dangerous on interstate highways where there is little margin for error. this sticking problem is not only unsafe but it detracts from what otherwise is a beautiful piece of machinery. the vehicle is out of warranty and i can't see where z4 owners should be responsible for covering the cost of repairing a manufacturing defect which, surprisingly, has not resulted in any fatalities. *tr

In hot weather the steering wheel becomes harder to turn seems to stick at times. 2003 z4 3.0i it has been this way as long as i have owned the car. bmw refused to repair it under warranty and now the warranty has run out. *tr

Steering becomes sticky when outside temps reach 85+ degrees. the car does not feel safe to operate at highway speeds when this is occurring. basically it feels like there is an invisible barrier that must be broken past when turning from center to left or right, excessive force is required to move past center to other directions and can lead to steering the car further in either direction than desired. bmw has done nothing to address the issue on their own and from what i understand it is a very expensive fix. *tr

During warmer weather the steering is jerky and the car does not track straight causing the car to wander back and forth on the road. if the road has a crown it causes the car to pull to one side or the other sending it toward the oncomming traffic occasionally. the steering also feels 'center locked' so that an amount of force greater than normal is required to change course of the vehicle, then once it starts turning (should be gradual as for course corrections), the car lunges in the direction that you are trying to gradually take. as mentioned earlier, this occurs in warmer weather and is not as noticible in cooler weather. *tt

Vehicle has electric power steering. intermittently, and without warning, power assist unit fails. consequently, driver must use a firm grip and substantial force to control vehicle, especially at slower speeds. unit fails either at engine start or while driving. vehicle has only 45,000 miles. steering torque fault was cleared during diagnostic check by independent bmw technician but fault has since recurred. nearest authorized bmw service center also has checked vehicle. owner was informed that fix would require replacement of upper steering column at cost to owner of $2,360 plus diagnostic fee. bmw north american contacted for assistance. they, in concert with the dealer, declined to offer any financial assistance to owner to replace defective components. problem remains unresolved. owner feels this vehicle has a defective part which creates a significant highway safety risk, especially to those unsuspecting of the potential fault. date of incident below is first occurrence of problem, while owner was pulling into a parking spot. *tr

Sticky steering when the car is warm or ambient temperature is greater than about 75 or 80f. as the temperature increases, the car is more difficult to steer smoothly. it experience a stick/slip behavior which causes continual over corrections. this has been a known issue for years. i have noticed the steering issue since buying it second hand in 2007. bmw dealership says the only way to fix it is to replace the entire steering column at my expense. i won't let anyone drive the car in warm weather.

When operating vehicle after about 2 hours, normally in hot weather, the steering gets sticky and feels catchy. the vehicle is moving, at any speed when this happens. after letting sit for a couple hours it is fine. drive for another few hours and it happens again, repeatable. happens going straight, turning is fine.

Steering became difficult. when trying to turn the steering wheel it would stick or become hard to move the wheel. then the steering wheel would stick in another position and become hard to turn again. this did not occur all the time but enough to be annoying. this problem may cause an accident. *tr

For several years my z4 has had steering sticking issues. i thought it was a problem with my car until i joined a national bmw z4 owners club and discovered that the years 2003 through 2005 all have this issue when the weather is very warm . the steering will be affected and will be difficulty to manage steering on the highways. i was told bmw is aware and opted to ignore. my grandaughter drove my car in new york and the temperature was over 80 degrees and she oversteered and almost went off the highway due to oversteering and almost caused an accident on the expressway. she will not drive my car now due to this issue. this is a safety issue and this cars must be recalled and repaired. numerous owners have complained and no recall has been implemented. how can we proceed to repair this without an expense that that is more than the car's worth and not related to misuse. i have done a survey and the symptoms are always the same. please look into this safety issue and advise my how to share with my fellow bmw z4 owners how to proceed as it appears it is a safely issue and due to deficits with manufacturing of our vehicles. i affects the steering and will pass inspection as the car is not always driven in hot weather at speeds to notice the defect. i thank you in advance for looking into this issue that could affect other drivers on the road and their safety.

Steering locks, resist, jerks, and stiffens up on hot days. this day my steering almost completely locked while changing lanes on the highway. i was across two extra lanes before it let go. *jb

The steering sticks and is hard to control. the steering seems to have lobes/sticking points in the steering and sticks at certain points and then lets go making it hard to control. the vehicle is very hard to steer and has jerky catching points as you move the wheel while going down the road. *tr

My 2003 bmw z4 should have initially been recalled for defective steering. from the first day i had it, the steering would periodically act up and made the car dangerous to drive. when i brought it in to be fixed i was charged $3001.31 to align the wheels, change the steering rack, replace a tire, two wheels, and some suspension components, and then another $150 alignment. (perhaps some of these components actually needed replacement, but i have my doubts.) you know what that didn't fix the steering which i finally traced to acting up on hot days. and the car drove exactly the same as it did before the "repairs." after doing some on-line research i discovered that others had this problem and that bmw had a solution all along. but was my car recalled and fixed? no. i found the actual part number of the new steering column and i had to insist on a free repair even though it was out of warranty. that fixed it fine, but why did i have to go through all this and spend $3001.31 when bmw knew there was a problem in the 2003 model and redesigned the steering column for the subsequent model years? my initial complain was on 08/18/06 at 23023 miles and my subsequent complaint was on 04/28/08 at 28274 miles. links to similar complaints: http://www.leftlanenews.com/nhtsa-probes-bmw-z4-mazda3-over-steering-issues.html http://bimmer.roadfly.com/bmw/forums/e85/8909755-1.html http://bmwcca.org/forum/archive/index.php/t-152.html. *tr

During hot weather (90 degrees and above) the steering becomes very heavy a sticky making it difficult to accurately steer the vehicle. the dealer states that the factory is aware of the problem but has not determined a solution even though the problem has been recognized for over a year. i don't feel that the car is entirely safe to operate when the problem occurs and the dealer a factory have been non responsive in correcting it. *jb

I purchased the vehicle new and 3 years after purchasing the vehicle, the steering became extremely tight with a lot of resistance in the steering wheel while driving. this "sticking" steering wheels makes the vehicle difficult to drive and hard to keep from wandering. i took it to the dealer, it was still under warranty, and the steering mechanism was found to be defective and was replaced. several years later and now out of warranty, i noticed this same problem started back up. it should be noted that i would rarely drive the vehicle and have only put 4000 miles since 7/06) the past several years. at this point, i do not drive the vehicle due to this problem the problem seems to be worse as the outside temperature increases. this defect makes the vehicle dangerous to drive since the vehicle tends to wander back and force due to the steering wheel sticking. the repair is in the thousands of dollars and i have been hoping for a recall since i have read of many other owners experiencing this same dangerous problem. *tr

Warm temperatures, over 80%, steering on 2003 z 4 sticks and causes under and oversteer. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 bmw z4. the contact stated that the steering wheel was difficult to maneuver in a straight position when driving at highway speeds of 60 mph and above. the failure recurred most often when driving in warmer weather. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer on numerous occasions and various repairs were performed. the steering box was replaced, but the failure continued. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered no assistance. the failure mileage was 12,000.

While driving the steering sticks and is very stiff. not fluid steering but jerking and is uncomfortable to drive. this is a danger on road.

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 bmw z4. when the weather was warm the steering wheel was shaking excessively. it became difficult to keep the vehicle in the middle of the road especially while driving over 30 mph or more. the vehicle was taken to the dealer on several occasions regarding the failure. the dealer stated that nothing was wrong with the vehicle. a report was filed with the manufacturer who stated that they were not aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 10,000 and the current mileage was 18,000. updated 10/20/10 *bf updated 10/22/10

The steering is "sticky" when driving with interior heater on full/hot. if car interior temps cool down the problem goes away. i have to over steer to get the car to move in the direction i want and this causes a safety concern as the car will move too far in that direction. this issue is known to bmw and other owners. *jb

Auto was exhibiting a knocking sound when approaching a full lock position. dealer upon second complaint replaced the "lower steering column joint assembly part # 32-30-6-769-265". after the parts replacement the steering of the car has been noticeably impaired and exhibits steering that is very vague and exhibits a looseness on rough roads or during sharp turns such as parking or a u-turn. dealership states that there are appropriate technical bulletins but chose not to release information in them. *jb car is parked awaiting bmw regional technical service inspection. *jb

Steering sticks after temperature gets warmer. will almost over steer on curves or narrow roads. harder to steer at higher speeds. when first started steering feels pretty normal, but gets harder to steer the further you go. will not my family members drive, could be very dangerous. happens in all weather conditions wet or dry.

Growing steering difficulties with 2003 bmw z4 purchased new. dealership acknowledges there is a problem and says bmw is trying to determine a fix (this was months ago). bmw says sorry - refer to dealership, i believe this is a serious potential safety hazard which should be investigated for possible re-call. *jb

This issue has been ongoing since i purchased the car used in october of 2005. i reported to dealer and several mechanics since then, that the steering sticks when car is hot or on a hot day after driving a short distance. they all indicated there was nothing wrong with the vehicle after inspection. this continues to plague my vehicle and causes me to keep the car under wraps on hot days (which is almost impossible in florida) because if i start to adjust steering as i drive, the wheel appears to lock and continue in that direction. i have to force it to keep it straight. it's a nuisance and a safety hazard and should have been fixed when i initially reported the issue because it's clear that bmw is well aware of this issue. shame on them. i have owned 4 bmw's and the z4 is the only one with that particular issue. i love the vehicles but am saddened that i can't take my z out for a nice summer drive for fear of getting into an accident.

Car sat in hot sun all day. entered car to drive home and noticed steering was hard as speed increased upwards to 30 mph. as speed increased steering became very hard, requiring torque on steering wheel. at a stop the steering was normal, wheel could turn as always. at higher speeds up to 55 mph, when car wheels turned, the action was "choppy" or in increments rather than smooth and with the precision car normally had. it almost seemed like heavy weight on front of car. checked run flat tires. no problem. parked car at home. two days later took vehicle to dealer and steering was normal. dealer recognized a problem. had same year and model with similar problem occurring daily. could not duplicate the problem. told me factory service bulletins said do not replace parts unless problem duplicated! dealer suggested i drive car until problem returned and then bring it in. they would do nothing until they could duplicate problem to perform diagnostic. dealer not open 24 hours a day, other cars at same dealership with problem. car was unsafe to drive when problem recurred. according to dealer, manufacturer is aware of problem, has technical bulletin out, but no parts replaced until failure occurs at dealership. car being parked in sun by dealer to see if problem will duplicate. car unsafe to drive!!! other cars there, same model and year with same problem. *ak

I previously submitted a complaint with confirmation number 10135197. since submitting that complaint, i have been on bmw related message boards and discovered the problem with high temperature "sticking" steering on 2003 bmw z-4 roadsters is not only well known to bmw, but they have come up with a repair. unfortunately, bmw is not recalling, not notifying and they are insisting that a car owner wait until a complete part failure that can be verified at the dealer to take any action under the car warranty. this problem comes and goes with outside heat. a dealership is not always around to verify the issue. i have talked with bmw usa headquarters in new jersey and they throw me back to the dealer. if you took what bmw usa says at face value, they have no control over this issue. that is not turning out to be the case. unfortunately, the dealer says they cannot act without bmw authorization and that requires the replacement of a verifiable failed part. the dealer is caught in the middle. there has been nothing but double talk from the people in new jersey at bmw headquarters. the internet postings on this problem indicate how severe the issue is. the problem is world wide on 2003 z-4's. it occurs in high outside temperatures and can, according to some postings, come on with no notice at high speeds. one driver described how he narrowly averted putting his car into the center divider of a highway. feel free to check these boards, one of them is "roadfly.com" where a whole thread exists to discuss this problem. another is "z4um.com." apparently the entire steering column must be replaced with one updated from original specs. the part number is 32-30-6-766-486. it is dangerous, unsafe and a risk of life for people to be driving these cars when the steering wheel handling hardens and control of the car is placed in jeopardy. bmw should be required to recall all of these cars and replace the defective part with the improved one. *jb

When vehicle is in the sun and heats up the steering becomes sticky, making it difficult to maintain correct alignment on roadway. over steering occurs and gives impression of weaving while crossing into oncoming traffic. near miss of other vehicle occurred. this sticking has occurred on several occasions each summer in warm to hot weather.*ak

I have had the same problem for the past two summers regarding the steering when the car sets in the heat all day (except that it was worst this past summer, it now happens at about 85 f, instead of 90 f). the problem is that the car resists turning from center and when it does it will not return to center on its own; you must turn it back. this is a fairly dangerous problem if you are not aware of it and do not pay close attention. *nm

In the heat the steering on my 2003 bmw 4 becomes erratic and i lose proper control of the vechile

2003 bmw z4. the steering binds when the outside temperature is above 80 degrees. this is dangerous when i have to overcorrect to keep the car on the road. the dealer says that this is a know problem, but not a safety issue and there is not a fix available. this is definitely a safety issue.

1. hot ambient temperatures (roughly plus 85 degrees fahrenheit) with the car outside in the sun all day preceding my drive home after work. this has happened on 5 occasions. the last occasion, prior to filing this report, is the date used below as the incident date. the previous occasions were each of the preceding 4 business days. 2. steering control is difficult and uneven causing problems keeping car on intended course of travel. 3. appointment scheduled with dealer for 7/11/05.

Steering sticks and resists turning briefly in hot temperature. 90f+

We have a 2003 bmw z4, 3.0l, auto. ever since it was new, it has exhibited an irregularity in the (electric) steering. it only manifests itself when the outside temerature is fairly hot, say over 85 degrees. the issue is that the steering exhibits a "sticking" or "notchiness" that may be or become a safety issue for drivers if the car no longer responds to steering inputs in the same manner it does when this issue is not present. to-date this issue has been experienced and documented by owners throughout the country on an owners forum at http://bimmer.roadfly.com/bmw/forums/e85/. after 2 trips to the dealership for service, where this issue was brought to their attention,we've been informed that bmwna has not recognnized that there is an issue and therefore there is no "fix' in the works.