[miker2013]

ok so long story short i am about to sell my 2013 335xi due to the following issues....

1- lack of steering feel at 12 o'clock position

2- play in steering wheel at 12 o'clock position

3- "bump" which can be heard and felt in the wheel if you move it quickly back and forth thru the 12 o'clock position, while the sound is low and the feel of it is low, it can be reproduced easily anytime you want while driving... this was noted by the tech who drove with me and admitted it was a problem and then recanted once he wrote his report

i have been going back and forth with dealer and they claim all the above issues are normal.. do any of you have the same issues? are any of these normal? how much play (before you feel the normal steering weight) should i have at the 12 o'clock position? i easily have several degrees of movement at 12 o'clock where i can move the steering wheel back and forth and the car does not move left and right at all its just slop in the steering

how can any of this be normal?

so besides improper torque on the u joints, play in the steering rack what else can it be? i have already had my intermediate steering shaft replaced when the car was brand new and it has never felt right and i am tired of it

any thoughts on this? has anyone else had to fight with bmw on steering feel? i am preparing my case for bmw canada but want to go thru the dealer as much as i can first

thanks

[John 070]

What a nightmare when E9x steering is close to perfect.....seems that racks leak eventually, I'd hate to have work done and then the steering feel changes...

[miker2013]

Originally Posted by John 070

What a nightmare when E9x steering is close to perfect.....seems that racks leak eventually, I'd hate to have work done and then the steering feel changes...

thats what happened to me, had intermediate steering column replaced and then the its just gotten worse and worse.... i feel like i am driving a soap box racer there is so much slop in the wheel, makes it almost impossible to keep straight

i know i am selling the car but just trying to put one last push to get it fixed

i have test drives at dealer next week where they plan to show me that "all bmws" have the exact same symptoms as mine... can't wait for that

[lug]

I had the same symptoms on my E46 that just needed the steering guibo (coupler) replaced, and it was an immense transformation in steering feel. I know the RWD E90s don't have this culprit prone coupler but not too sure about AWD F30s sorry.

The steering feel on those models is notoriously a step back from the E46 E90 golden era though...

[mjn77]

F30 steering is awful. Zero weight. Zero feedback.

[John 070]

Originally Posted by mjn77

F30 steering is awful. Zero weight. Zero feedback.

I have been driving a '16 loaner for 6 weeks. Everytime I take the E92 335 out of the garage (been working on the ABS) I think d*** that's near perfection. The F30 has an ok ratio, just zero feel, and so light.

[BruceJ]

I also replaced the steering guibo (aka rag joint) on my E46, to very noticeably improved tightness. But per realoem the OP doesn't have one in the steering column.

OP - the "BUMP" you hear/feel could be a ball joint going/gone south somewhere in the front suspension. But there are a couple other possibilities. In any event if you can feel and hear the "bump" a tech should be able to see something move when it shouldn't.

Personally, I would not go to the dealer, unless its under warranty. If not find an alignment shop with a good/great rep and go there. Explain what's going on and ask what their rate is to troubleshoot. I always try to talk directly to the tech. It may take 2 people, someone's got to turn the wheel and someone's got to look; if so its ok to volunteer, but remember you are paying them so let them do their job. They should be able to identify where the "bump" is coming from and determine the source of the play in your steering.

Good Luck
Bruce

[MightyMouseTech]

Your alignment could just have excessive toe in. Toe in will make the steering feel really numb.

[gunnerxq]

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...=256125&page=2

Look at post #30 in this thread. I had to do it a few times until finally I unscrewed the bolt a little put loc-tite on and screwed it back in tight and mean really tight. I've been problem free ever since.

Oh and you can do this job from the top by removing the air filter and moving the steering reservoir or whatever else is in the way in a 335i. You might have to turn the wheel a bit. It's not even a 30 min job.

Edit: Whoops didn't realize you have the F30. Yeah I don't think there's much you can do about the electric steering

[miker2013]

Originally Posted by John 070

I have been driving a '16 loaner for 6 weeks. Everytime I take the E92 335 out of the garage (been working on the ABS) I think d*** that's near perfection. The F30 has an ok ratio, just zero feel, and so light.

thats why i am so bummed, i bot the 335 so i could have that feel and since day 1 been disappointed

[miker2013]

Originally Posted by BruceJ

I also replaced the steering guibo (aka rag joint) on my E46, to very noticeably improved tightness. But per realoem the OP doesn't have one in the steering column.

OP - the "BUMP" you hear/feel could be a ball joint going/gone south somewhere in the front suspension. But there are a couple other possibilities. In any event if you can feel and hear the "bump" a tech should be able to see something move when it shouldn't.

Personally, I would not go to the dealer, unless its under warranty. If not find an alignment shop with a good/great rep and go there. Explain what's going on and ask what their rate is to troubleshoot. I always try to talk directly to the tech. It may take 2 people, someone's got to turn the wheel and someone's got to look; if so its ok to volunteer, but remember you are paying them so let them do their job. They should be able to identify where the "bump" is coming from and determine the source of the play in your steering.

Good Luck
Bruce

thanks... it has been doing it since new and it is still under warranty

i don't think it is suspension... they are telling me the " bump" is normal which i know is complete bs and i am not gonna let them get away with it

[miker2013]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Your alignment could just have excessive toe in. Toe in will make the steering feel really numb.

i will look into this thx

[miker2013]

Originally Posted by gunnerxq

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...=256125&page=2

Look at post #30 in this thread. I had to do it a few times until finally I unscrewed the bolt a little put loc-tite on and screwed it back in tight and mean really tight. I've been problem free ever since.

Oh and you can do this job from the top by removing the air filter and moving the steering reservoir or whatever else is in the way in a 335i. You might have to turn the wheel a bit. It's not even a 30 min job.

Edit: Whoops didn't realize you have the F30. Yeah I don't think there's much you can do about the electric steering

i have an e92 2013 coupe i don't know where the f30 came from earlier in this thread but i have a e92 2013 coupe

i will try this thanks, i had seen your thread before thanks for posting... did you have same symptoms as me?

[miker2013]

again guys i have an e92 not an f30... 2013 e92 coupe 335xi

[gunnerxq]

Originally Posted by miker2013

i have an e92 2013 coupe i don't know where the f30 came from earlier in this thread but i have a e92 2013 coupe

i will try this thanks, i had seen your thread before thanks for posting... did you have same symptoms as me?

Yep same thing. The bump issue might be inside the steering rack. But I'm pretty sure loosening, loc-tight and re-tightening the bolt should eliminate the dead feel IF it's not an alignment issue. But try this before you get an alignment.

[frenchi]

Originally Posted by gunnerxq

Yep same thing. The bump issue might be inside the steering rack. But I'm pretty sure loosening, loc-tight and re-tightening the bolt should eliminate the dead feel IF it's not an alignment issue. But try this before you get an alignment.

Same thing happed on mine and almost 100% fixed by loctighting this bolt.

[cybermgm23]

Originally Posted by miker2013

ok so long story short i am about to sell my 2013 335xi due to the following issues....

1- lack of steering feel at 12 o'clock position

2- play in steering wheel at 12 o'clock position

3- "bump" which can be heard and felt in the wheel if you move it quickly back and forth thru the 12 o'clock position, while the sound is low and the feel of it is low, it can be reproduced easily anytime you want while driving... this was noted by the tech who drove with me and admitted it was a problem and then recanted once he wrote his report

i have been going back and forth with dealer and they claim all the above issues are normal.. do any of you have the same issues? are any of these normal? how much play (before you feel the normal steering weight) should i have at the 12 o'clock position? i easily have several degrees of movement at 12 o'clock where i can move the steering wheel back and forth and the car does not move left and right at all its just slop in the steering

how can any of this be normal?

so besides improper torque on the u joints, play in the steering rack what else can it be? i have already had my intermediate steering shaft replaced when the car was brand new and it has never felt right and i am tired of it

any thoughts on this? has anyone else had to fight with bmw on steering feel? i am preparing my case for bmw canada but want to go thru the dealer as much as i can first

thanks

You might have a hard time selling the car like this, it's not like a buyer isn't going to notice if it's as bad as you say.

[miker2013]

thx for the replies guys, much appreciated

one more question, when a car is put on a lift at the dealer, what steering components can be seen or accessed from underneath?

the reason i ask is that i am trying to figure out what "big" diagnosis they did to tell me my car is fine... can you see play in steering rack or any other part of steering components by just putting on a lift? or do the parts have to be removed from vehicle?

thanks

[miker2013]

Originally Posted by cybermgm23

You might have a hard time selling the car like this, it's not like a buyer isn't going to notice if it's as bad as you say.

i will trade it in to another dealer

[cybermgm23]

Originally Posted by miker2013

i will trade it in to another dealer

and what? you hope they don't drive it during appraisal?

[miker2013]

Originally Posted by cybermgm23

and what? you hope they don't drive it during appraisal?

hows this, i wont trade it in to the dealership you own ok?

[cybermgm23]

Originally Posted by miker2013

hows this, i wont trade it in to the dealership you own ok?

hey, don't get pissy with me little man. I'm just trying to point out the reality of possible issues you may run into with your plan. but because of your nasty little comment, little man, now you're on your own.