2003 BMW Z4 Complaint Log

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

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. AFTER HE REPLACED THE BATTERY, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT SINCE HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL #08V384000 ( AIR BAGS: FRONTAL), HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $1,500.00 FOR THE REPAIR. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. DEALERSHIP SAYS IT'S FAILED SEAT SENSOR AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE SEAT. *TR

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

12-31-08 MY CAR FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHILE I WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE BETWEEN 55-65 MILES PE HOUR. I WAS TRAPPED IN THE MIDDLE LANE BUT WAS ABLE TO CRUISE TO THE OUTER LAND BUT WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. TAFTER 10 =15 MINUTES MY CAR STARTED, AND THE FLORIDA STATE TROOPER ASSIST ME TO THE NEXT EXIT. AFTER I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO MY HOME 45 MILES AWAY.... IT COST ME $197.00 BUT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY PAID 70 DOLLARS OF THE FULL COST..... BMW HAVE A RECALL ON CERTAIN 2003 Z4 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT HAS REFUSED TO RECALL MY CAR AFTER IT IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE CANNOT INTERNALLY OR EXTERNALLY OPEN THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE FAILURE WOULD PREVENT HIM FROM EXITING THE VEHICLE IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 30,000.

THE SRS AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ON, BROUGHT IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY DETERMINED IT IS BECAUSE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR THAT FAILED. *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.

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

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

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

I OWN A 2003 BMW Z4 AND HAVE HAD TWO FUEL PUMPS AND FILTER REPLACEMENTS. THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 21,500 MILES. THE FIRST FAILURE WAS JUNE 2008. THE SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED WITHIN 1,000 MILES OF THE FIRST REPLACEMENT. BMW DEALER MAINTAINS IT IS ETHANOL IN THE PREMIUM GAS I BUY, WHICH IS FROM CHERVRON. THE FUEL PUMP IS SUPPOSEDLY SUBJECT TO FAILURE IF THE ETHANOL CONTENT EXCEEDS 10% OR MORE. I HAD THE CHEVRON FUEL TESTED AND IT FALLS WITHIN THE 10% LIMIT. ALL FUELS IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST CONTAIN UP TO 10% ETHANOL. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT BMW CANNOT DESIGN A FUEL PUMP TO HANDLE THE FUELS SOLD IN THE U.S. I SUPECT THE FUEL PUMP DESIGN IS FAULTY. ANYWAY I AM OUT ABOUT $2000 AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR VERY FAR FROM TOWN. *TR

PASSENGER AIRBAG DEACTIVATED ON IS OWN. I WAS UNABLE TO RESTORE IT TO AUTOMATIC. THE DEALER HAD TO RE-SET USING THE FACTORY COMPUTER. *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

I purchased this BMW Z4 from a private seller on Thursday (3/10/22) located in Myrtle Beach, SC. On the way home (187 mile trip), about ¾ of the trip, I was driving about 55 mph on 701 North and the steering felt as if it was sticking to the point where moving the wheel took a effort to unstick it which put me into oncoming traffic in the other lane. I almost was involved in a head-on collision! The vehicle has only 39K miles on it. The previous owner had this issue in April of 2008 and took it to a BMW dealer who advised them that the repair would cost $2,950.00. The previous owner declined the repair because they couldn’t afford it and the dealer told them that BMW will probably issue a recall AS HUNDRES OF Z4 OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE. The vehicle also drifts to the left and attempts by the previous owner to have the vehicle aligned to correct this have failed. The vehicle had only 13K on the odometer at the time BMW advised of the faulty steering column.

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.

BMW Z4 ENGINE FAILURE. *TR

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

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF ALL VEHICLE POWER. AFTER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE ENGINE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

AFTER SOME INVESTIGATION MY Z4 IS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING 'STICKY WHEEL' EVIDENTLY THIS WAS FOUND IN MANY Z4'S IN OR AROUND MY YEAR OF CAR. I WAS SURE THAT I WOULD SEE A RECALL FOR MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE BUT NEVER RECEIVED ONE. MY VEHICLE HAS HAD THE ISSUE FOR MANY YEARS, BUT THE BMW DEALERSHIPS SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. WHEN I LEARNED OF THIS RASH OF 'STICKY WHEEL' ISSUES WITH MANY Z4'S ... I QUESTIONED BMW. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE (BASED ON MY VIN #) WAS NOT RECALLED WHILE OTHERS WERE. I ONLY USE THE CAR AROUND TOWN AT SLOW SPEEDS AS I AM IN FEAR TO USE IT ON THE HIGHWAY. THE PROBLEM OCCURS AT ALL TIMES WHEN STEERING BUT IS WORST AS SPEED INCREASES. I FEAR THAT I COULD EVEN LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AT SOME POINT.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH ON DRY ASPHALT ROADS, A VIBRATION WAS HEARD IN THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. UPON INSPECTION OF THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE, THE CONTACT DETERMINED THAT THE SIDE OF THE TIRE CLOSEST TO THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO HAVE RUBBED AGAINST THE SHOCK ABSORBER, AND THE CORDS WERE VISIBLE WHERE THE TREAD MET THE SIDEWALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE.

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 PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE TO TAYLOR BMW 4180 WASHINGTON RD, EVANS, GA 30809 WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC DETERMINED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS INOPERABLE AND NEEDED TO BE SERVICES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V247000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

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.