2003 BMW Z4 Complaint Log

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

FROM DAY ONE I HAD AIRBAG PROBLEM FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE. AIR BAG NEVER WORKED. BMW HAD RECALL AND EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 10 YEARS, BUT THEY DON'T ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY STEERING COLUMN HAS PROBLEMS TOO

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

2003 BMW Z-8. A NUMBER OF OWNERS HAVE REPORTED DAMAGE TO THE ALUMINUM FRAME AT THE SHOCK TOWERS. AS THIS AFFECTS THE SUSPENSION AND STEERING THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENTS RESULTING FROM THIS DAMAGE. BMW HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM FOR A WHILE AND IS NOT RESPONDING WITH A FIX NOR IS IT NOTIFYING OWNERS OF THIS CONDITION. I BELIEVE BMW HAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH OTHER MODELS. NOTE THAT THE Z8 MODEL IS NOT LISTED IN YOUR DATABASE SO I CHOSE Z4 FROM THE PULL DOWN LIST. *NM

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.

THERE IS A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT SHOCK TOWER SUPPORTS AND FRONT CHASSIS ASSEMBLY ON THE BMW Z8. IT IS PRONE TO DEFORMATION OF THE SHOCK TOWERS AND FLEXING OF THE FRONT CHASSIS ASSEMBLY, LEADING TO STEERING PROBLEMS AND ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN KNOWN BY BMW AG IN GERMANY SINCE AT LEAST NOVEMBER 2005, BUT AS OF TODAY, THERE HAS BEEN NO OFFICIAL RESPONSE FROM BMW AG OR BMW IN THE USA TO THE OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE FRAME / CHASSIS OF THE BMW Z8 IS MADE OF ALUMINUM, AND AS SUCH, CAN UNDERGO A GREATER DEGREE OF FATIGUE. FAILURE SHOULD THERE BE A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN, MATERIALS OR BOTH. THIS DEFECT COULD LEAD OR HAS ALREADY LEAD TO THE FRONT STRUT / SHOCK TOWER ASSEMBLY DEFORMING AT ITS ATTACHMENT POINTS, AND WILL OR COULD LEAD TO A FAILURE OF THE ATTACHMENT, CAUSING A SERIOUS OR FATAL ACCIDENT. THUS FAR, BMW HAS NOT RESPONDED TO COMPLAINTS. THIS WAS A LIMITED PRODUCTION LUXURY SPORTS CAR OF WHICH 5,550 WERE PRODUCED AND ABOUT 2,550 WERE SOLD HERE IN THE USA. BASED ON PRELIMINARY DATA FROM OUR ON-LINE CLUB MEMBERSHIP IT APPEARED THAT AT LEAST 1 IN 3 VEHICLES WERE AFFECTED BY THIS DEFECT. WHAT WE DO NOT KNOW IS WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS OR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE? BMW IS SILENT AS FAR AS THEIR CUSTOMERS ARE CONSIDERED, AND WE NEED HELP TO INVESTIGATE THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY CONCERN.*AK

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

I TOOK MY CAR IN TO THE BEVERLY HILLS BMW REGARDING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NO. 04V247000 AND ASKED THAT THE DEALER/SERVICE CENTER CHECK OUT MY AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT PROCESSORS AS MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN JUNE OF 2003 AND APPEARS TO BE COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. THEY REFUSED TO PERFORM THE SERVICE SAYING THAT THEY HAD NO RECORD OF THE RECALL FROM BMW OF NORTH AMERICA. I THEN TELEPHONED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND ASKED ABOUT THE RECALL. I SPOKE WITH "JASON" AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECORD OF THE RECALL ANYWHERE AND THAT BMW WOULD NOT CHECK OUT MY CAR OR THE AIR BAG PROCESSORS. *NM

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

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.

IN THE HEAT THE STEERING ON MY 2003 BMW 4 BECOMES ERRATIC AND I LOSE PROPER CONTROL OF THE VECHILE

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED 2003 BMW Z4 SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL WHILE GOING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, ON JULY 7, 2005. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND SHE WAS TOLD IT WAS FIXED. THE SECOND TIME SHE HAD BEEN IN THE VEHICLE FOR A WHILE AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON JULY 18, 2005, WHILE GOING 65-70 MPH. SHE CONTACTED A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS. SHE HAS NOT CONTACTED BMW. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO BACK INTO GEAR WHEN ITSHIFTED TO NEUTRAL. SHE PULLED OVER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES. THE VEHICLE GOT SCRATCHED WHILE ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY.*AK

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.

CAR WAS PARKED UNCOVERED FOR ABOUT EIGHT HOURS EACH DAY DURING A ONE WEEK PERIOD AND UPON RETRIEVAL OF THE VEHICLE STEERING WAS NOTICEABLY MALFUNCTIONING. IT WAS STIFF AND REQUIRED EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO TURN. A COUPLE OF DAYS IT HAD MORE OF A NOTCHY FEEL AND WOULD TURN IN INCREMENTS WITH ADDITIONAL PRESSURE. *JB

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT BOTH REAR TIRES BULGED WHILE PARKED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO CONFIRMED THAT BOTH INSIDE SIDEWALLS WERE BULGING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK *SB *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD POP OPEN INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PULL OVER TO CLOSE THE DOOR. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT ID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE FIXED UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 04V-182000, BUT THE RECALL FAILED. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE DRIVING AT EITHER A SLOW SPEED SUCH AS 35 MPH OR 65 MPH AND WHEN HE MADE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER POSITION WHENEVER IT LOCKED IN ORDER TO ALLOW IT TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO NOR WAS THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

1.VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE; UNABLE TO MAINTAIN STEERING OR KEEP VEHICLE ON THE ROAD SAFELY. 2.VIBRATIONS WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE 3.MANUAL GEAR BOX; SHIFTING THROUGH GEARS NOT SMOOTH, NOT ENGAGING SMOOTHLY 4.WATER LEAKING INSIDE OF VEHICLE TRUNK AND REAR SEAT AREAS. VEHICLE TRUNK AREA WAS SATURATED WITH WATER AFTER RAINING; FILLING WATER OVER THE BATTERY BOX AND CARPETS, SHORTING OUT ELECTRONICS. 5.OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE; PLASTIC COMPONENTS EARLY DETERIORATION; FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER AREA BLACK PLASTIC COWL AND ANTENNA. INSIDE OF VEHICLE BLACK PLASTIC COVER FOR CONVERTIBLE TOP 6.RAIN SENSOR INOP 7.DOOR LOCKS INOP/INTERMITTENT 8.WINDOWS REGULATORS PLASTIC BROKEN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS ABOVE 60 MPH OR WHEN DRIVING IN HIGH TEMPERATURES ABOVE 80 DEGREES THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE DEALER DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,000. UPDATED 8/29/11 *CN THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE. UPDATED 09/26/11

STEERING BECOME - NOTCHY/STICKY. THIS MAKES SMALL STEERING CORRECTIONS VERY DIFFICULT DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE TEMPERATURE RELATED IN MY CASE. WITH COLDER THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES, THE BEHAVIOR IS DELAYED UNTIL THE A LONGER DRIVING DURATION HAS OCCURRED. THIS PROBLEM WAS EVIDENT WITHIN ONE YEAR OF MY PURCHASE. I DID NOT NOTICE IT VERY OFTEN, SINCE I WAS ONLY DRIVING TO AND FROM MY WORK, LOW MILEAGE AND SHORT TIMES. AS I HAVE NOW BEEN DRIVING THE CAR MORE OFTEN, I HAVE FOUND THIS PROBLEM EVIDENT ON ALL TRIP. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR (NEW). THEY INFORMED ME THAT I WOULD NEED A COMPLETE STEERING COLUMN REPLACEMENT AT MY EXPENSE (APPROXIMATELY $4000). THE ALSO SUGGESTED THAT I CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE. I DID AND BASICALLY GOT A NULL RESPONSE. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED, NO ACCIDENTS, PARKED IN A GARAGE AND HAS LESS THAN 57000 MILES. THE WARRANTY OF COURSE HAS EXPIRED. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THE SOLUTION TO MY PROBLEM IS DUE TO ANY TYPE OF NORMAL WEAR AND AGE. I HAVE ALSO FOUND THAT THERE ARE NOW NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THE SAME STEERING ISSUE. THE CAR IS DRIVABLE, HOWEVER WITH EXTREME CAUTION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE ISSUE IS CONTROL OF THE CAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS - WHEN CHANGING LANES OR EVEN ATTEMPTING TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT PATH WITHIN THE LANES. AS THE TEMPERATURES INCREASE IN LONGER DRIVES, THE STEERING DIFFICULTY BECOMES WORSE. WHEN THE PROBLEMS STARTS, THE SMALLEST CONTROL CORRECTIONS FOR THE STEERING IS MORE THAN 5 DEGREES. THIS CAUSES A LARGE EFFECT ON THE CARS PATH AND MAKING IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STAY IN THE DRIVING LANE. I WOULD LIKE BMW TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AT THEIR EXPENSE. IN MY VIEW, THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT INTRODUCED BY BMW. *TR

DURING EXPOSURE TO HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE MID 1990'S FARENHEIT THE STEERING BECOMES STIFF, UNRESPONSIVE WITH A TENDENCY TO "STICK" WHERE IT IS SET. ONLY SEEMS TO OCCUR AFTER VEHICLE HAS SAT IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT ON HOT DAYS.*AK

WHEN MY VEHICLE IS PARKED IN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES EXCEEDING ROUGHLY 85 DEGREES, FOR PERIODS OF AN HOUR OR MORE, THE CAR'S POWER STEERING BEGINS TO MALFUNCTION. THE STEERING TAKES ON AN EXTREMELY HEAVY FEEL, AND IS OFTEN DIFFICULT TO TURN. ADDITIONALLY, IN A GENTLE TURN, THE WHEEL DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY RETURN TO THE CENTER POSITION WHEN IT IS RELEASED. THE CAR CONTIUNES TO TURN INDEFINITELY. AS LONG AS TEMPERATURES REMAIN HIGH, THE PROBLEM PERSISTS.*AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED TEMPORARILY WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE WOULD OCCUR AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

STEERING PROBLEM - STEERING BINDS AND LOCKS REQUIRING EXCESS EFFORT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTION RESULTING IN OVERCORRECTION AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK

I HAVE A 2003 BMW Z4 2.5I ON WEDNESDAY JUNE 9, 2004 THE AMBIENT TEMP IN CT WAS IN THE MID 90'S WHILE DRIVING MY CAR THE STEERING FELT LIKE IT WAS BINDING, WAS STIFF TO TURN AND DID NOT AUTOMATICALLY RETURN TO A CENTER POSITION. THE STEERING LOST THE SMOOTH GRADUAL ROTATION AS I TURNED THE WHEEL THE FOLLOWING DAY WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS COOLER THE PROBLEM DID NOT REPEAT ITSELF. *AK

IF CAR IS PARKED OUTSIDE IN THE SUN AND IT GETS HOT (AND UNTIL YOU DRIVE IT AND HAVE THE A/C ON LONG ENOUGH TO COOL OFF THE CAR) THE STEERING STICKS. IT MAKES STEERING JERKEY AND HARD TO HANDLE. IT DOES THIS EVERY TIME IT GETS HOT.

WHEN MY VEHICLE HAS SAT OUT IN THE 90F+ TEMPERATURE FOR A FEW HOURS, THE STEERING BECOMES ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE IN THAT THE STEERING "STICKS" AND IS NO LONGER SMOOTH IN ITS ROTATION. TO GET THE STEERING TO GO THE OTHER WAY AFTER TURNING OR CHANGING LANES, YOU LITERALLY HAVE TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE FOR IT TO HAPPEN. MY ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN/ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I'VE CONFIRMED THIS ISSUE WITH Z4 OWNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND AM BEGINNING TO FEEL THIS IS AN OVERALL DESIGN ISSUE. AGAIN, THIS IS A TEMPERATURE DEPENDENT ISSUE AS THE CAR DRIVES NORMALLY AGAIN AT NIGHT OR WHEN IT'S NOT OVER 85 F.*AK

1. STEERING DEFECT OCCURS DURING HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. 2. STEERING WHEEL BECOMES HEAVY TO TURN AND HAS A "LOCKED ON CENTER" FEEL. 3. DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERING SYSTEM. THIS DID NOT FIX PROBLEM.*AK

DT: CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL 04V182000 CONCERNING THE FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE; DELIVERY; FUEL PUMP. HE SAID THIS VEHICLE WAS DOING EXACTLY THE SAME THING AS MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. IT WAS A PROBLEM THAT LED TO ENGINE SHUT DOWN. WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE DIED. WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF. CONSUMER FELT THAT THIS CAR SHOULD FALL WITHIN THE RECALL, BUT THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER TOLD HIM CAR DID NOT FALL INTO THE RECALL.*AK

CENTER HIGH MOUNTED STOP LAMP (THIRD BRAKE LIGHT) EASILY CHIPS/BREAKS THAT WOULD ALLOW WATER FROM RAIN OR WASHING TO SIP INTO THE REAR COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE WHERE THE BATTERY AND OTHER ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS ARE LOCATED. WATER COULD SHORT THE ELECTRICAL WIRES AND CAUSE A FIRE, OR STALL THE VEHICLE WHILE IT IS IN MOTION, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. BROKEN THIRD BRAKE LIGHT INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED AND DISCUSSED IN BWM INTERNET FORUMS. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH IN HOT WEATHER, THE STEERING BINDED AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SWITCH LANES ON THE HIGHWAY. ALSO, THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE CONTACT COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HE HAD TO MAKE SUDDEN MANEUVERS TO AVOID POTENTIALLY LOSING CONTROL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000. UPDATED 10/14/08 *BF UPDATED 10/23/08. *JB

ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. *JB

MY CAR STALLED ON THE ROAD GOING FIFTY MILES AN HOUR ON UNIVERSITY CITY BLVD. IN CHARLOTTE NORTH CAROLINA. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE BUT LUCKILY THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID ME. I HAVE NEVER BEEN THAT SCARED IN MY LIFE. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THE CAR HAD BROKEN DOWN IN NINE MONTHS. THE FIRST TIME BEING MAY 27, 2003. THE SECOND BEING OCTOBER 25, 2003. AND THE THIRD TIME BEING JANUARY 16, 2004 (THIS IS THE TIME IT STALLED GOING 50 MILES ON THE ROAD). THE DEALERSHIP, BMW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, AND THE MANAGERS AT HENDRICK IMPORTS WERE ALL AWARE THAT MY CAR HAD STALLED ON THE ROAD! BEING THAT MY LIFE WAS AT ISSUE I WAS UPSET AND THEY ASSURED ME THAT IT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. I EVEN LET THEM KEEP THE CAR AN EXTRA FEW DAYS TO MAKE IT SURE THE PORBLEM WAS CORRECTED. THIS IS WHY I DID NOT TAKE ANY PREVIOUS ACTION. NOW ON MARCH 5, 2004 ABOUT SIX WEEKS LATER THE CAR BROKE DOWN AGAIN WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE FIRST THREE TIMES. THIS TIME IT STALLED WHILE DRIVING IN MY APARTMENT WHICH IS NOT A BIG DEAL BECAUSE THERE IS NO TRAFFIC!! WHAT IF I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AND IT STALLED AGAIN, I WOULD NOT BE WRITING THIS LETTER TO YOU I WOULD BE IN THE GROUND! THEY JUST WANT TO FIX IT AND PUT ME ON THE ROAD AGAIN, BUT I KNOW THE CAR IS UNSAFE BUT THEY DO NOT SEEM TO CARE. I JUST WANTED TO LET THE NHTSA KNOW ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE!! THANK GOD I AM STILL ALIVE TO WRITE THIS LETTER TO YOU!*AK

NOTE: THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.... WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL, MY CAR BEGAN TO REV UNCONTOLLABLY AT SPEEDS SO HIGH I THOUGH THE ENGINE WOULD BLOW. AS HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME, I PRESSED AS HARD AS I COULD SO AS NOT TO LUNGE FORWARD. I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF BUT UPON STARTING, IT WAS STILL OUT OF CONTROL. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS THAT STOPPED THIS PROBLEM AS ONE GETS PRETTY MUCH PANICKED WHEN ONE CAN'T CONTROL THE SITUATION. *AK

SEAT BELT LOCKS AND WILL NOT RELEASE. *JB

WHEN TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY, THE CAR STEERING IS VERY HARD TO HOLD STRAIGHT, VEERING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. I ONLY HAVE 32,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND IT STILL HAPPENS. SERVICE REPS VERIFY THAT ALL STEERING COMPONENTS ARE WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. *TR

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE ENGINE WOULD DIE. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SHOWED ENGINE "EML" MEANING ENGINE ELECTRONIC PROBLEM, BUT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT REGISTERED IN THE CAR COMPUTER. THEREFORE DEALER CAN NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *PH

TRAVELING BETWEEN 5-10 MPH, TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY. WAS JUMPING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR FOR ABOUT 4 TO 5 SECONDS AND NEVER ENGAGING THE CLUTCH IN EITHER GEAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST 2 MONTHS.*AK

DRIVING SLOWLY ABOUT 10MPH AND TURNING, TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL BY ITSELF WHILE SHIFTER SHOWS CAR WAS IN DRIVE. TRANSMISSION IS THE BMW SMG (SEQUENTIAL MANUAL GEARBOX). *AK

WHILE DRIVING WEST ON I-70 NEAR EXIT 218 (ELEV 10,300', WEST OF DENVER) MY 2003 BMW Z4 STALLED. AFTER NUMEROUS RESTARTS, I WAS ABLE TO GET IF OFF THE ROAD AND ONTO THE EXIT. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE HAULED TO THE BMW DEALER IN DENVER. THEY REPORTED TO ME THAT A SCREEN ON THE BOTTOM OF THE FUEL PUMP HAD COLLAPSED, CUTTING OFF THE FUEL SUPPLY. THE REPLACED THE PUMP. AT THAT TIME THE CAR HAD ABOUT 5000 MILES ON IT. IN EARLY AUGUST 2005 I WAS DRIVING THE CAR WEST ON US 6, CROSSING SOLDIER SUMMIT (ELEV. 7400'), WEST OF PRICE, UT. AGAIN THE CAR STALLED, ACTING LIKE IT WAS A FAILED FUEL PUMP. AFTER SPENDING ABOUT 20 MINUTES ON THE PHONE WITH THE SALT LAKE CITY BMW DEALERSHIP, I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AND DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER CHECKING OUT THE CAR AT MURRAY MOTORS, THEY THOUGHT THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE HIGH ALTITUDE AND HIGH TEMPERATURE (IT AS ABOUT 75 DEGREES ON SOLDIER SUMMIT.) SINCE THE CAR HAD NOT HAD PROBLEMS THE PREVIOUS WEEK AT HOME (ELEV. 8050', TEMPERATURES UP TO 90), I QUESTIONED THAT DIAGNOSIS THEY SAID THAT BMW HAD DESIGNED A NEW FUEL PUMP FOR THE CAR, AND BMW AGREED TO INSTALL A NEW ONE, BUT THERE WERE NONE IN SLC. THEY TOLD ME TO DRIVE ON TO PORTLAND, OR, WHERE A NEW ONE WOULD BE INSTALLED. I DROVE TO PORTLAND AND IT WAS INSTALLED. DOES BMW HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE Z4 FUEL PUMP? WE GOT NO RECALL NOTICE. MY WIFE IS HESITANT TO DRIVE THE CAR, IN CASE IT SHOULD STALL IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. IT SEEMS UNUSUAL FOR A CAR TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP TWICE IN 40,000 MILES. *NM

DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IN MY JUNE 2003 PRODUCTION BMW Z4 3.0I ROADSTER. THE CAR SUDDENLY DIES AT 65 MPH. THE "EML" LIGHT COMES ON, BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON, RPM NEEDLE SURGES, THROTTLE IS UNRESPONSIVE, AND THE FOOT BRAKES ARE FROZEN AND CANNOT BE DEPRESSED. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO SWERVE OFF THE INTERSTATE, ACROSS THE SERVICE ROAD, AND INTO A PARKING LOT WHERE I HAD TO USE THE HAND BRAKES TO GET THE CAR TO STOP COMPLETELY.*AK

2003 BMW Z4 3.0 WITH THE SMG TRANSMISSION (W/ SPORT PACKAGE). THE FOLLOWING INSTANCE HAS HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN THE CURRENT 2,600 MILES ON THE NEW VEHICLE. WHILE IN THE "MANUAL MODE" IN THE SMG TRANSMISSION AND DOWNSHIFTING TO FIRST GEAR (AT A 4-WAY STOP INTERSECTION), WHILE WAITING TO ACCELERATE OUT INTO THE INTERSECTION THE TRANSMISSION "SLIPPED" INTO NETURAL WITHOUT MYSELF (DRIVER) KNOWING, SO WHEN IT WAS TIME TO ACCELERATE THROUGH THE INTERSECTION I WAS VERY SUPRISED TO FIND I DID NOT MOVE BUT HEARD THE ENGINE JUST REV WHILE I STAYED PUT!! AFTER WAVING OFF (HOLD ON A MINUTE) TO THE CARS WAITING BEHIND ME, I HAD TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND PUT THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, WAIT.., THEN PUT THE VEHICLE IN NETURAL, WAIT.., THEN PUT THE VEHICLE IN FIRST GEAR, WAIT.. IT ENGAGED AND I PROCEED FROM THERE. THE SECOND INCIDENT WAS VERY SIMILIAR BUT WAS AT A 4-WAY TRAFFIC LIGHT, AND WAS A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT TO GET BACK INTO FIRST GEAR (ALSO, OTHER VEHICLES BEEPING HORNS, ETC.). I HAVE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED THIS TO THEM AND THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF THE PROBLEM AND COULD NOT FIX A PROBLEM THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE AND/OR HAD NO INFORMATION FROM BMW ABOUT A FIX? I FILED A FORMAL COMPLIANT THROUGH BMWNA ON FRIDAY AUGUST 22ND, 2003. THROUGH FORUMS ON WEB-SITES, I HAVE FOUND I'M NOT ALONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I FEAR THAT A DRIVER COULD BE PUT IN A VERY COMPROMISING POSITION, SUCH AS WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN IN A LEFT TURN LANE, EMERGENCY AVOIDANCE, GIVING RIGHT OF WAY TO EMERGENCY VEHICLES, ETC.). POSSIBLLY A QUICK TEMPORARY SOLUTION SUCH AS AN "AUDIBLE TONE" WHEN GENERATED WHILE THE SMG TRANSMISSION "AUTOMATICALLY" SLIPS INTO NETURAL FROM FIRST GEAR? THANK YOU.*AK