Sticky steering

[Chaz Ricorn]

Back in January I was traveling up to @t-tony from Portsmouth, after about 1.5hrs I noticed the steering seemed a bit strange, any movement of the wheel was slightly resistance before the wheel moved. It wasn't much but felt odd, that continued for the rest of the journey.

The next morning it was fine and the trip back was ok, however the same thing occurred several times since. The ambient temperature was quite cold, but obviously the interior of the car was warm.

Over the last few very sunny & warm days I've done a couple of longish (2+hrs) journeys without it reoccurring.

Yesterday I had moved it out of the garage, however when I went to move it back in I turned the wheel and it kicked back in my hands and the EPS warning light came on and I lost all power to the steering.

I turned the ignition off and restarted the car and it was fine again and the EPS light was off.


I've done a bit of reading on the subject the most likely culprit seems to be the C-EPS unit.

I've found a couple of places that
https://www.ecutesting.com/product-catalogue/bmw/z4/power-steering-eps-electric-power-steering/

and

https://www.power-steering.co.uk/power-steering-pumps-racks-boxes/

Anyone got any experience/thoughts on using the services, if positive then how much of job is it to get the column out

I checked the error codes and got 00611C Error code 16 Steering torque

 

[t-tony]

Sorry Ian, no experience of that here. I've heard of a "tight spot" occurring in the column but not that it put a fault code up or the EPS light on.

Tony.

 

[Chaz Ricorn]

Cheers Tony, bit of a bummer.

 

[Nodzed]

Back in January I was traveling up to @t-tony from Portsmouth, after about 1.5hrs I noticed the steering seemed a bit strange, any movement of the wheel was slightly resistance before the wheel moved. It wasn't much but felt odd, that continued for the rest of the journey.

The next morning it was fine and the trip back was ok, however the same thing occurred several times since. The ambient temperature was quite cold, but obviously the interior of the car was warm.

Over the last few very sunny & warm days I've done a couple of longish (2+hrs) journeys without it reoccurring.

Yesterday I had moved it out of the garage, however when I went to move it back in I turned the wheel and it kicked back in my hands and the EPS warning light came on and I lost all power to the steering.

I turned the ignition off and restarted the car and it was fine again and the EPS light was off.


I've done a bit of reading on the subject the most likely culprit seems to be the C-EPS unit.

I've found a couple of places that
https://www.ecutesting.com/product-catalogue/bmw/z4/power-steering-eps-electric-power-steering/

and

https://www.power-steering.co.uk/power-steering-pumps-racks-boxes/

Anyone got any experience/thoughts on using the services, if positive then how much of job is it to get the column out

I checked the error codes and got 00611C Error code 16 Steering torque

The dreaded sticking z4 steering. This was the bain of my e85 ownership. Ask @Lee for the fix.

 

[Lee]

Hi chaz, the steering feel is adjustable. I did a big article on the Z4 forum, it explains how to adjust it. Too tight means a sticking feeling, too loose makes it feel like its wandering.

 

[Chaz Ricorn]

Hi Lee
But its not always sticky, most of the time its fine, just those few occasions when it sticks and then that worrying complete loss yesterday.

Is that the same as what you are referring to ?

 

[Nodzed]

Mine got worse as it got hotter really hot days it was worse. Running the heater made it worse and the AC made it better as the heater pipes run over the motor and steering box. It makes it feel intermittent.

 

[Chaz Ricorn]

Good point, on all occasions it was after the car had been running for well over an hour, except for when it died completely yesterday

 

[Lee]

Yeah as Niall says, the longer you drive the car the worse it gets. Just needs to be loosened a little.

 

[Chaz Ricorn]

Hi @Lee
Thanks so much for pointing me at your excellent article.
I had a go on saturday tapped it clockwise about 5mm and took it for a spin. couldnt really feel any difference so took it out to 10mm.
What a difference!! The steering is much more positive and responsive.

I haven't been able to test what happens when it gets hot, I guess that going to have to wait a while, but hopefully this will have sorted that one.

Great article and having done it I can't believe what a doddle it was, its very tight under there and I used an 8mm ratchet spanner to loosen the bolts as i couldn't get a torx socket in there, but the ring tapped round easily, thanks again mate, much appreciated.

 

[Lee]

Your welcome mate.

 

[Ferron]

I had terrible with my 2004 Z4 when I purchased it, after about an hour the stickyness appeared, it was not temperature dependant and just as likely on cold days. Purchased a second hand colum from a 2006 model and swopped it. The steering has been good for the last 20,000 miles.