Power Steering.....how difficult should it be to turn the wheel when stationary?

[Rosco]

I've had my car (2002 3.0 59k) for a few months now and one thing that I'm not sure about is the steering.

My car is off the road for the winter - but it was a decent day today so I took it for a blast. I drove about 150 miles; at speed (40 mph+) the steering is fantastic, but in town it's hard work.

But how do you measure power steering?? When stopped I can't turn the steering wheel with one finger - something I can do easily on my E85 Z4 or my F31 330d. But what's normal for the Z3?

From the history - which is full BMW - I can't see the steering fluid ever having been changed. So I might give this a try - and swap the reservoir, which I think contains a filter.

But how do others find the steering on the your cars?

 

[andyglym]

I've had my Z3 for coming on 8 years now and by modern standards it's not even close mate. That said, a fluid change and a check of the universal Joints for movement won't hurt.

 

[Pond]

I think the Z4 has electric steering (certainly the E89 onwards do), the Z3 doesn't, it has hydraulic.
Being stiff at low speeds is part of the fun, so I'm told.

 

[t-tony]

The E85/6 does have electric power steering. Some people have gone to the extreme of ditching it and fitting hydraulic power steering. But for the life of me I don't understand why.
Maybe just because they could?

Tony.

 

[Pond]

I am old enough to have been taught that turning the steering whilst stationary is a 'no no'. It puts a great deal of strain on the steering linkages and doesn't do the tyres any good, either!
I have been recently teaching my daughter to drive and that is one thing I have told her not to do (especially as she has a Mini which breaks at the slightest opportunity)!

 

[Rosco]

I am old enough to have been taught that turning the steering whilst stationary is a 'no no'. It puts a great deal of strain on the steering linkages and doesn't do the tyres any good, either!
I have been recently teaching my daughter to drive and that is one thing I have told her not to do (especially as she has a Mini which breaks at the slightest opportunity)!

Yes, me too. And that was the days before power steering. I was going to include on my post that turning the wheel while stationary wasn't something that should be encouraged - but I stopped myself from being "that guy" .

The challenge is not about turning the wheel while stationary, it was, for me, how to express how much force was required to turn the wheel, and whether that was normal.

 

[AntStark]

It’s normal..but as @andyglym says a good service won’t hurt. Also replacing the track rod ends improved mine no end.

 

[KASPar]

I can recount the days when the steering wheel came off going down Medmenham hill on the A4155 toward Henley, at speed. https://www.google.com/maps/@51.561...pitch=0&thumbfov=100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

Also on the hairpins on Quarry Wood Road https://www.google.com/maps/@51.561...pitch=0&thumbfov=100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu after collecting a pair of brake callipers from a motor parts shop at Cookham that was open on Sunday

In the days when motoring was fun.

 

[Pond]

I can recount the days when the steering wheel came off going down Medmenham hill on the A4155 toward Henley, at speed. https://www.google.com/maps/@51.5616794,-0.7603181,3a,75y,270h,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sNwsNHnemSFmJD-7z5Qzgwg!2e0!6shttps://streetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com/v1/thumbnail?panoid=NwsNHnemSFmJD-7z5Qzgwg&cb_client=search.revgeo_and_fetch.gps&w=96&h=64&yaw=73.85838&pitch=0&thumbfov=100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

Also on the hairpins on Quarry Wood Road https://www.google.com/maps/@51.5616794,-0.7603181,3a,75y,270h,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sNwsNHnemSFmJD-7z5Qzgwg!2e0!6shttps://streetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com/v1/thumbnail?panoid=NwsNHnemSFmJD-7z5Qzgwg&cb_client=search.revgeo_and_fetch.gps&w=96&h=64&yaw=73.85838&pitch=0&thumbfov=100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu after collecting a pair of brake callipers from a motor parts shop at Cookham that was open on Sunday

In the days when motoring was fun.

My part of the world (originally). I was brought up very near to Marlow and lived around there for 40 years!
Scared myself witless once in my Lotus on Medmenham Hill when I was young!

 

[Stevo7682]

Steering is weighty on the z3 also unlike a lot of modern vehicles it is not speed sensitive most modern cars give more assistance at low speeds ( to help with parking etc) and less assistance at speed to give a more controlled drive more direct feel.
As Andy has said service checks would not go amiss.
Main culprits ( as andy has already said) fluid change and column universal joint section in engine bay.
But dont be expecting the one finger turn as you will never get it that light.
Stephen.