2005 BMW Z4 Complaint Log

REPEATING PROBLEM. THE STEERING ON MY 2005 BMW Z4 3.0 WILL OCCASIONALLY STICK WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE LINEAR FEEDBACK DISAPPEARS AND I CAN MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL BUT THE CAR DOESN'T REACT INITIALLY. THEN IT WILL SUDDENLY "GIVE" AND CATCH UP TO WHERE I HAD THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS IS ALARMING AS OFTEN IT WILL CAUSE AN OVER CORRECTION WHICH COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. *TR

THE STEERING WHEEL ON MY 2005 BMW Z4 3.9 LITER 6MT TENDS TO STICK WHEN THE OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE IS HIGH. THIS REDUCES THE SMOOTH MOTION THAT IS TYPICALLY DISPLAYED BY A STEERING WHEEL. THE STICKINESS MAKES IT VERY HARD TO MAINTAIN THE CAR IN A STRAIGHT LINE AND CAUSES A DELAY IN RESPONSE TO STEERING WHEEL INPUT. I READ ONLINE THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR

I'M EXPERIENCING VERY STIFF OR STUCK STEERING. IT SEEMS TO ONLY OCCUR DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, BUT MAINLY WHEN MY CAR IS LEFT OUT IN THE SUN AT WORK, THE DRIVE HOME IS QUITE AN ADVENTURE. KEEPING THE CAR DRIVING STRAIGHT IS NO EASY TASK, TRYING TO MAKE A SMALL CORRECTION RESULTS IN THE STEERING WHEEL MOVING A GREAT DISTANCE AS ONE HAS TO APPLY MORE FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL TO OVERCOME THE "STUCKNESS". THIS RESULTS IN A OVER CORRECTION OF STEERING AND PUSHES THE CAR TO OPPOSING LANES AT THE EXTREME, OR OTHERWISE JUST MAKES THE CAR JERK FROM SIDE TO SIDE. I'VE HAD NIELLO BMW OF SACRAMENTO LOOK AT THIS, AND THEY FOUND NOTHING NOR ADMITTED THIS WAS A PROBLEM. AS THE SUMMER MONTHS COME AROUND, MY STEERING IS GOING BACK TO IT'S USUAL JERKINESS. *TR

STICKING STEERING HAS OCCURRED WHEN TEMPERATURES RISE, TYPICALLY ABOVE 85F. STEERING BECOMES DIFFICULT TO DETECT THE WAY IN WHICH THE CAR WILL REACT AND THE LEVEL OF RESISTANCE THAT WILL OCCUR AND NEED TO BE DEALT WITH. *TR

WHEN MY BMW Z4 2005 HAS BEEN STANDING IN WARM WEATHER IT DEVELOPS A CONCERNING HABIT. WHEN I START DRIVING I FEEL RESISTANCE IN THE STEERING WHEEL - IT NEEDS MORE FORCE TO BE TURNED AND TO BE TURNED BACK TO STRAIGHT AHEAD. IT IS CONCERNING TO FEEL THAT THE STEERING FEEL CHANGES CHARACTERISTICS - WITH ONE THOUGHT IN BACK OF MY HEAD: WHAT HAPPENS IF IT CHOOSES TO STICK ALL TOGETHER? DEPENDING ON THE TEMPERATURE THE SYMPTOMS WILL BE MORE OR LESS BAD. *TR

I EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF POWER-ASSISTED STEERING. THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS, BINDS OR LOCKS UP, REQUIRING INCREASED STEERING EFFORT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND INCREASING THE POTENTIAL TO OVER-STEER THE VEHICLE. *TR

THE STEERING ON MY 05 BMW Z4 GETS CHOPPY OR STICKS OR VERY HARD TO STEER WHEN RUNNING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND CITY SPEEDS. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD . IF STEERING LOCKS BAD NEWS NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE COST THE DEALER WANTS TO REPAIR IT. I DON'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE MUCH BECAUSE OF FEAR OF STEERING LOCKING UP AND CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, VEHICLE ONLY HAS 25,833 MILES ON IT. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 BMW Z4 3.0I AND HAVE 'STICKY' STEERING AT SPEEDS ABOVE ~40MPH (MAINLY HIGHWAY). ON WARMER DAYS WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE SUN, GOING PAST ~40MPH THE STEERING WILL BEGIN TO 'BIND' OR 'STICK' CAUSING ME TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. ONCE THE VEHICLES STEERING STOPS 'STICKING', THE ADJUSTMENT IS TOO MUCH AND CAN SOMETIMES LEAD TO LANE WANDERING AND OTHER UNWANTED CHARACTERISTICS. *TR

2005 BMW Z-4 POWER STEERING FAILURE 7-5-2010 CAR HAS 7,000 MILES ON IT, BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY ,LOST STEERING. *TR

2005 BMW Z4 POWER STEERING FAILURE. STEERING WHEEL TENDS TO STICK IN PLACE AND NOT WANT TO TURN. STARTED ACTING THIS WAY ON JULY 3, 2010. TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 93 AND THE PROBLEM WAS NOTED AT MANY DIFFERENT SPEEDS. WAS AT A RESTAURANT IN PANAMA CITY, FL. CAME OUT, STARTED THE CAR AND HEARD STRANGE KNOCKING SOUNDS FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR LIKE SOMEONE KNOCKING ON WOOD. PULLED OUT OF THE RESTAURANT AND NOTICED THAT THE STEERING DIDN'T WANT TO TURN UNLESS ADDITIONAL ABNORMAL PRESSURE WERE APPLIED TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS WAS AN IN-TOWN SITUATION BUT HAS CONTINUED SINCE. DROVE THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 70 MILES TO GET BACK HOME AND COULD FEEL THE ABNORMALITY THE REST OF THE TRIP WHICH INCLUDED FREEWAY SPEEDS UP TO 70MPH. HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR 3 TIMES SINCE THEN AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AS OF JULY 7TH, 2010. *TR

STARTED ENGINE ON HOT DAY AND HAD NO POWER STEERING. TURNED OFF ENGINE AND RESTARTED AND POWER STEERING WAS BACK AS NORMAL. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ACCIDENT ARE GREAT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME UNRESPONSIVE WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE HAD TO USE EXTRA FORCE IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,500. STEERING WHEEL IS STICKY WHEN TURNING TRYING TO MAKE MIRROR CORRECTIONS TO STEER. THIS SOMETIMES LEADS TO SLIGHT OVER CORRECTION TO STEERING DIRECTION. UPDATED 09/14/2011 *LN UPDATED 12/05/11 *TR

THE STEERING FEELS NOTCHY AND HARD TO TURN MOST OF THE TIME. AT TIMES IT'S HARD TO MAINTAIN THE CAR IN THE LANE THAT I'M DRIVING IN ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE ARE SLIGHT CURVES ON THE ROAD AND IT GETS WORST WHEN TAKING BIG CURVES. I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN TO AVOID DRIVING IN BETWEEN LANES WHEN CARS ARE ON MY LEFT AND RIGHT THEREFORE I AM NOT ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR DUE TO THE ERRATIC STEERING AND WHICH MIGHT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE STEERING AT TIMES LOCKS OR STAYS IN ONE SPOT AND IT'S HARD TO STRAIGHTEN IT WITHOUT FORCING IT BACK TO THE CENTER. ONE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NORMAL, I'VE DRIVEN MANY CARS IN MY LIFE AND NEVER FELT SO UNSAFE DRIVING A CAR LIKE I DO WITH THIS ONE. *TR

2005 BMW Z4 PROBLEM WITH STICKY STEERING. OCCASIONALLY THE STEERING WILL STICK WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS WARM OUTSIDE. CAR BECOMES DIFFICULT TO MOVE OFF LINE. *TR

ON JUNE 28, 2010 I LEARNT THAT THE NHTSA ODI OPENED INVESTIGATION PE10020 INTO SAFETY ISSUES WITH 2003 TO 2005 BMW Z4 POWER STEERING SYSTEMS. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM EXACTLY DESCRIBES THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RECURRING PROBLEM I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING WITH MY 2005 Z4, IN THAT THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS, BINDS OR LOCKS UP, AND REQUIRES INCREASED STEERING EFFORT RESULTING IN DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE SUCH AS THE POTENTIAL TO OVER-STEER WHEN MAKING HARD AND ABRUPT STEERING WHEEL MOVEMENTS. THE FAILURES TYPICALLY OCCUR AT HIGHER VEHICLE SPEEDS (45 MPH OR GREATER) AND IN WARM/HOT WEATHER (75 F OR HIGHER). IN MY CASE, THIS HAS NOT RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT YET, BUT I) AVERTS DRIVER ATTENTION FROM FOCUSING ON THE ROAD AND SURROUNDINGS TO CONSCIOUSLY THINK ABOUT AND PHYSICALLY OVERCOME THE STEERING MECHANISM RESISTANCE, AND II) HAVING TO OVER-CORRECT SHARPLY ON TURNS TO AVOID OTHER VEHICLES. I HAVE CORRELATED THIS MOSTLY WITH DRIVING IN HIGHER TEMPERATURE, WHERE ON DAYS OVER 85F THE STEERING IS VERY STIFF, HOWEVER I WOULD SAY THAT AS A FIVE TIME BMW OWNER, IT IS STIFF/NOTCHY EVEN AT 68F. *TR

STEERING STICKS ON 2005 BMW Z4. *TR

I PURCHASED MY 2005 BMW Z4 3.0I LAST YEAR IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER. INTERESTING TIME TO SELL A CAR WITH A MAJOR STEERING DEFECT THAT IS TEMPERATURE DEPENDENT. AS THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE INCREASES THE ABILITY TO STEER AND CONTROL MY 2005 BMW Z4 BECOMES MORE DANGEROUS. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON A DAY ABOVE 75 DEGREES THE WHEEL APPEARS TO BE STUCK. WHEN IT FINALLY DOES MOVE THE RESULT IS RAPID LANE SHIFTING, NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WHILE DOING THIS. IN FACT I AM UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON HOT DAYS AND LEAVE IT HOME, THE STEERING IS NOT PREDICTABLE. SPOKE WITH MY BMW DEALER WHO STATES THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. THIS SEEMS UNUSUAL GIVEN THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS I CAN FIND ON LINE. THIS EVENT OCCURS EACH AND EVERY DAY WHERE THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE GETS ABOVE 75 AND WILL NOT CORRECT ITSELF UNTIL THE CAR COOLS DOWN. CLEARLY A TEMPERATURE RELATED ISSUE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL "SET" IN A SPOT - DOES NOT MATTER IF YOU ARE IN A TURN, OR IN A STRAIGHT LINE, THE EFFORT TO MOVE THE WHEEL FROM THE SPOT IS VERY DIFFICULT. LIKE TRYING TO PULL TWO MAGNETS APART - THAT KIND OF EFFORT - STRONG MAGNETS. THIS A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE STEERING DOES NOT FUNCTION IN A LINEAR PREDICTABLE MANNER. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 BMW 3.0 W/AUTO TRANSMISSION. MY CAR HAS HAD TWO RECURRING ISSUES FROM TIME TO TIME STARTING WITH THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING LIGHT ENGAGING WITH THE POWER STEERING GOING DEAD AT IDLE OR AT CORNERS. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THAT MY CAR HAS STALLED WITH THE CAR SHUTTING DOWN THRICE ON I-95 AND ON LOCAL ROADS. NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT WAS A LIFE AND DEATH SITUATION TWICE WITH MY GIRLFRIEND SWEARING NEVER TO DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN. HOW IT HAPPENS? AT SPEEDS OF 40MPH OR LESS, EPS, ABS, BRAKE, DTC COMES ON AND OFF WITH THE NAVIGATION SCREEN OPENING AND CLOSING. THEN ABUPTLY AT SLOW SPEEDS, THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF. REMEDY: PULL OVER, OFF THE CAR AND ON IT BACK AGAIN AND GO.

ON WARM DAYS (> 75 DEGREES) AND WHEN SITTING IN HOT SUN FOR PERIOD OF TIME, STEERING WILL STICK OR FEEL NOTCHY WHEN DRIVING. WHILE GENTLY TURNING IT FEELS AS IF THE STEERING GOES THROUGH GATES AND GETS HUNG UP WHEN TURNING. STEERING INPUT FEELS MUSHY IN COMPARISON TO COOLER DAYS. I HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS AND THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE. I DO NOT LIKE DRIVING MY CAR ON WARMER DAYS EVEN THOUGH THAT IS WHEN THE CAR IS MEANT TO BE DRIVEN. *TR

RECENTLY PURCHASED 2005 BMW Z4, 40800 MILES, EXHIBITS ERRATIC STEERING CONTROL WHEN OUTSIDE TEMP EXCEEDS 85 DEGREES. THE STEERING WHEEL RESPONDS AS IF ITS LAST POSITION HAS A GROVE OR NOTCH REQUIRING EXCESSIVE FORCE TO CORRECT OR SET A NEW DIRECTION. THE RESULT IS THE CAR LURCHES DOWN THE ROAD FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE WORST IS IN GRADUAL TURNS, THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT FEED BACK TO STRAIGHT AS THE CAR CONTINUES ANY ARC ONCE SET ... THE CAR TRIES TO DRIVE ITSELF OFF THE ROAD. DISCOVERY OR THIS "FEATURE" IS VERY DISAPPOINTING AND CAN BE QUITE SCARY. THE DEALERS REFUSAL TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM IS PROVING VERY DISAPPOINTING ALSO. THERE SHOULD BE A MANDATORY RECALL AND CORRECTION OF THIS OBVIOUS SAFETY DEFECT COMMON TO '03-'05 Z4'S. *TR

WHEN YOU DRIVE THE CAR FOR A DISTANCE IN HOT WEATHER THE STEERING GETS HARD AND STICKS. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE OF THAT IN HOT WEATHER. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. *TR

MY BMW Z4 2005 2.5 AUTOMATIC HAS DEVELOPED A STICKY STEERING WHEN IS HOT. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS, OVER-CORRECTING AND UNDER-CORRECTING .THE STEERING ACT LIKE IF DON'T HAVE A DEAD CENTER.YOU FEEL LIKE SOMETHING IS TEARING THE CAR. WHEN YOU MAKE A VERY WIDE CURVE THE STEERING STAY PUT IN THAT PARTICULAR DIRECTION. IT FEEL VERY UNSAFE AND IS VERY EXHAUSTING IN LONG TRIPS. *TR

THE STEERING ON MY BMW Z4 2005 MODEL STICKS TO THE POINT OF BEING UNSAFE ON WARM DAYS. IT IS VERY SLUGGISH TO RESPOND FOLLOWED BY ERRATIC OVERCOMPENSATION. IF THE TEMPERATURE IS COOL (<80-85 DEGREES) THERE IS NO DETECTED PROBLEM. WE CAN LEAVE IN THE MORNING AFTER THE CAR BEING GARAGE AND IT HANDLES LIKE A DREAM- 2 HOURS LATER AFTER BEING DRIVEN IN OR SITTING IN THE HOT SUN THE STEERING IS LIKE ITS IN MUD. WHETHER TAKING AN EXIT OR SIMPLY CHANGING LANES ON THE INTERSTATE. IT IS UNSAFE AND SHOULD REQUIRE IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION. *TR

STEERING ON MY VEHICLE BECOMES "STUCK" AND UNRESPONSIVE IN HEAT ABOVE APPROX 85 DEGREES. IT OVERCOMPENSATES IN CORNERS REGARDLESS OF HOW SHARP, A SIMPLE ON/OFF RAMP BECOMES A "TIGHTWALK". IT IS VERY SCARY AND UNNERVING TO THE POINT OF NOT WANTING TO DRIVE ON WHAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE A PERFECT "TOP DOWN" DAY. EVEN CHANGING LANES ON THE INTERSTATE IS FEARFUL AS IT ACTS AS IF THE TIRES ARE IN MUD AND THEN QUICKLY OVERCORRECTION. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN WARMER TEMPERATURES, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK ABNORMALLY, THEN RELEASE, FOLLOWED BY A JERKING OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

STEERING STICKS AT TIMES WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, MY 2005 BMW EXHIBITS STIFF AND ERRATIC STEERING AS FOLLOWS: STEERING WHEEL IS VERY TIGHT, AND DOES NOT TURN UNLESS INORDINATE PRESSURE IS APPLIED. THIS MAKES STEERING VERY STRANGE AND QUICK MOVEMENT IS DIFFICULT TO ENACT. A RECENT OCCURRENCE WAS JULY 24, 2011 ON HIGHWAY 101 IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA. A CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME UNEXPECTEDLY, AND AT FIRST THE STEERING WOULD NOT TURN. THIS DELAYED MY ACTION TO STEER AND FORCED A MORE VIOLENT MOVEMENT FROM ME. THIS THEN CAUSED MY PASSENGER TO SHIFT SUDDENLY IN HER SEATING, AND CUT HER LEG ON THE DASHBOARD CUP HOLDER WHICH HAD BEEN EXTENDED. THE MALFUNCTION APPEARED SOON AFTER I PURCHASED VEHICLE. HOWEVER IT IS ONLY PRESENT AT OVER 40 MPH, AND IS PRONOUNCED DURING HOT WEATHER. MOST OF MY USE FOR THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN FOR SHORT LOCAL TRIPS (ONLY 1800 MILES ON ODOMETER CURRENTLY). I NOW RECOGNIZE HOW SEVERE THIS STEERING MALFUNCTION IS, AS I HAVE BEEN USING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY MORE OFTEN.

STICKY STEERING ON WARM DAYS OR COOLER DAYS WITH THE HEATER ON. I NEED TO USE MORE FORCE THAN USUAL TO MOVE STEERING WHEEL TO NEGOTIATE LANE CHANGES OR CURVES ON HIGHWAY. I NEED TO STEER THE CAR STRAIGHT AFTER TURNING OFF CENTER. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT BUT STILL UNNERVING. *TR

BMW 2005 Z4 3.0 - STICKY ELECTRONIC STEERING THAT CAUSES STEERING OVER REACTION WHEN IT UNSTICKS. OCCURS AFTER VEHICLE IS SITTING THE SUN ON A HOT DAY DURING THE SUMMER. ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH DURING THE LAST OCCURRENCE. BMW JUST ADVISED THERE WAS NOTING WRONG WITH THE STEERING AS THERE WERE NO FAULTS. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. *TR

I HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING WHEEL OF MY 2005 BMW Z4 3I, PURCHASED AS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED CAR FROM A BMW DEALER. IT HAD ABOUT 11K MILES ON IT. SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM DESCRIBED BELOW. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENT WITH IT, BUT THIS IS A COMPLAINT THAT THERE MAY ME A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL OF THE CAR. 1)IT KEEPS PULLING TO THE LEFT, OR TO THE RIGHT ESPECIALLY AT LOWERS SPEEDS SAY BELOW 60 MI/HR. IT REQUIRES CONSTANT ADJUSTMENTS SO THAT I COULD KEEP THE CAR ALIGNED, OR CENTERED WHILE DRIVING. 2) THE CAR PULLS ME TO THE LEFT, OR TO THE RIGHT SUDDENLY WHEN THE ROAD SURFACE IS SLIGHTINGLY UNEVEN, ESPECIALLY IN LOWER SPEEDS. I CAN NEVER PREDICT WHICH WAY THE CAR PULLS ME. IT CAN BE VERY STRUGGLING TO KEEP THE STEERING UNDER CONTROL WHEN STOPPING AT ANY RED LIGHTS BECAUSE OF THESE SUDDEN JERKS IN THE STEERING, OR PULLS IN THE STEERING WHEEL. 3) SOMETIMES, THE STEERING FEELS LIKE IT IS STUCK, OR LOCKED IN A WAY THAT I FEEL LIKE I COULD NOT CONTROL IT. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN THE WEATHER IS HOT, OR AT HIGHER HUMIDITY. 4) I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER TWO YEARS AGO WHEN I STILL HAD THE WARRANTY, AND THEN THEY REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN AND ALIGNMENT WAS MADE AFTER THE REPLACEMENT. HOWEVER, THE SYMPTOMS DID NOT GO AWAY AT ALL. I TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER DEALER; I WAS TOLD THAT IT JUST REQUIRED AN ALIGNMENT WHICH WAS ALREADY DONE AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. SO, THERE SHOULD NOT BE AN ALIGNMENT RELATE PROBLEM. IF THE ONLY PROBLEM WAS THE ALIGNMENT PROBLEM, THE CAR SHOULD HAVE PULLED EITHER TO THE LEFT, OR TO THE RIGHT, NOT TO THE BOTH DIRECTIONS. 5) I BELIEVE IF ANY ELDERLY PERSON, OR SOMEONE WITH SLOWER REFLEX, TRIES TO DRIVE THIS CAR WITH SUCH PROBLEMS MAY END UP HAVING A CATASTROPHIC CRASH. MAINLY BECAUSE, THE DRIVER MUST PAY LOTS OF ATTENTION TO KEEP THE CAR CENTERED, OR THE STEERING UNDER CONTROL. OTHERWISE, AT ANY SECOND YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF SOMEWHERE OFF THE ROAD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 40-65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN RIGHT OR LEFT. WHEN THE WHEEL IS RELEASED, IT OVERTURNS AND FORCES THE DRIVER TO STRUGGLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 7-8 TIMES. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURS AT HIGH TEMPERATURES, SUCH AS 80'S AND 90'S. THEY DEALER STATED THAT THE UPDATED SOFTWARE PROGRAM FAILED. THE PROGRAM WAS INSTALLED AND THE VEHICLE REBOOTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON ANOTHER HOT DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,490 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 23,177. UPDATED 09/23/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING BINDS ON DAYS WHEN TEMPERATURES EXCEED 85 DEGREES. WHEN THE STEERING DOES RELEASE, IT COMES WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN THE LANE. THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT RETURN TO THE CENTER POSITION WITHOUT ADDITIONAL EFFORT. UPDATED 09/29/09.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE POWER STEERING BECAME STUCK IN POSITION AND AS IT WAS FORCED TO MOVE IT MADE THE VEHICLE LUNGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 26,500.

STEERING STICKS WHEN HOT, HAS BECOME MUCH WORSE THAN WHEN FIRST IDENTIFIED AND REPORTED TO BMW. MY FIRST REPORTS WERE DURING THE FREE YEAR 3 AND YEAR 4 SERVICES AND IN THE WARRANTY PERIOD. NOW WHEN DRIVING DOWN A STRAIGHT ROAD, THE CAR WILL NOT GO STRAIGHT AND SWERVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE IN ITS LANE. MY FEAR IS THAT THE STEERING WILL GET SO HARD THAT IT MAY SIDE SWIPE AN VEHICLE IN THE NEXT LANE. MY BMW DEALER HAS VERIFIED THE PROBLEM BUT BMW REFUSES TO FIX IT. *TR

ON AUGUST 7, 2007 I TOOK MY CAR TO STERLING BMW IN NEWPORT BEACH, CA BECAUSE I NOTICED THE AIRBAG MALFUNCTION LIGHTS WERE ON ALONG WITH OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES. AFTER THEY HAD INSPECTED MY VEHICLE FOR THREE DAYS I WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIRBAG/ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY THE BMW FACTORY WARRANTY, AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDED THAT I FILE A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE CARRIER. OBVIOUSLY MY INSURANCE COMPANY DENIED THE CLAIM, BECAUSE AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE DOES NOT COVER LOSS DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR, MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL BREAKDOWN/FAILURE. IN ADDITION, STERLING BMW CHARGED ME $260.00 FOR THE LOANER CAR THEY PROVIDED FOR THE THREE DAYS WHILE MY CAR WAS BEING INSPECTED. STERLING BMW GAVE ME A VERBAL ESTIMATE OF APPROXIMATELY $10,000.00 IN ADDITIONAL WORK NEEDED TO REPAIR ALL THE ELECTRICAL/AIRBAG ISSUES. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO IRVINE BMW FOR ANOTHER ESTIMATE, THEY ADVISED ME THAT THEY COULD TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER AFTER THREE DAYS I WAS AGAIN INFORMED THAT THEY THE AIRBAG/ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. I MOVED TO CALIFORNIA ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO AND PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON FROM EXCALIBUR IMPORTS IN STUDIO CITY, CA ON MARCH 28, 2006. ALTHOUGH MY PREVIOUS VEHICLE WAS A MERCEDES BENZ, I DECIDED TO PURCHASE A BMW AND BENEFIT FROM THE EXTRAORDINARY CUSTOMER SERVICE OF BMW. THIS IS, IN FACT, MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH BMW. I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN EXCELLENT CARE OF MY CAR; IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED, AND MAINTAINED BY BMW DEALERS. I HAVE ALWAYS USE PREMIUM GAS TO ENSURE QUALITY OF PERFORMANCE AND MAINTENANCE. TO MY REGRET, I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THIS CAR FOR OVER A YEAR WITHOUT AIRBAG PROTECTION. THE NATURE OF MY JOB REQUIRES ME TO COMMUTE OVER 100 MILES PER DAY ON THE FREEWAY. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT MY FAMILY AND I ARE EXTREMELY WORRIED ABOUT THE RISKS THAT I AM TAKING BECAUSE OF BMW'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY MAINTAIN MY VEHICLE. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF THREE AND FIND I AM NOW AFRAID OF DRIVING BECAUSE OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF AN ACID. *TR

I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING STEERING PROBLEMS WITH THE 2005 BMW Z4 SINCE JULY 2007. AT SPEEDS OVER 50 MPH AND WHILE THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS OVER 75 DEGREES, THE STEERING BECOMES VERY STIFF. IT IS ALMOST AS IF I AM DRIVING ON TRAIN TRACKS AND HAVE DIFFICULTY STEERING RIGHT OR LEFT. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO STEERING PROBLEM. *TR

CAR'S STEERING STICK ON CENTER POSITION MAKING NORMAL STEERING CORRECTIONS NOTICEABLY DIFFICULT. AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF FORCE NEEDS TO BE APPLIED TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO MAKE THE NECESSARY STEERING CORRECTION WHICH CAN CAUSE AN OVER-CORRECTION. ONCE OFF CENTER, IT IS THEN DIFFICULT TO RETURN THE WHEEL TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED REPETITIVELY, MOST OFTEN IN HOT WEATHER. DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR AND WHO DOES REGULAR MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, OR SO THEY SAY. BMW USA HAS BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THE PROBLEM; AND, THEIR RESPONSE WAS "TAKE IT TO THE DEALER." BY WHAT I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET, I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. I AM READY TO SEEK ADVICE FROM MY ATTORNEY. *JB

OCCASIONALLY, WHEN BRAKING AND PRESSING CLUTCH, RPMS JUMP AND ENGINE REVS UP.

EXPERIENCED WHAT APPEARS TO BE KNOWN PROBLEM WITH ERRATIC STEERING AT ANY SPEED. DESIGN FLAW KNOWN TO BOTH BMW NA & REPORTED NUMEROUS TIMES TO YOUR ORG BASED ON THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AT URL BELOW: HTTP://WWW.BMWCOOP.COM/2010/07/06/STEERING-PROBLEMS-FOR-BMW-Z4-IN-THE-U-S/#COMMENT-87602. PROBLEM RECURRED 3 YRS AGO AND I SIMPLY GARAGED IT & USED MY SUBARU. LAST WEEK HAD CAR TOWED TO LOCAL SERVICE CENTER WHICH ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND ALERTED ME TO THE NUMEROUS WEBSITES DOCUMENTING THIS DESIGN FLAW. HAVING CAR TOWED TO BMW DEALERSHIP TODAY AS I REFUSE TO DRIVE IT. BUT BECAUSE THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL WHICH THERE SHOULD BE I AM ON THE HOOK TO PAY FOR ITS DESIGN FLAW OR I CAN GARAGE IT OR SELL IT. BTW, CAR ONLY HAS 4400 MILES ON IT DUE IN LARGE PART TO THIS RECURRING DEFECT. I CANNOT BELIEVE NO ONE HAS NOT BEEN KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED DUE TO THIS DEFECT. AFTER THE TAKATA AIRBAG DEBACLE IT IS MY HOPE THAT NHTSA TAKES THESE NUMEROUS CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS RE: Z4 DANGEROUS STEERING COLUMN DESIGN FLAW SERIOUSLY & ACTS QUICKLY.

2005 BMW Z4 3.0I FAULTY FUEL PUMPS. I HAVE HAD 3 FUEL PUMPS REPLACED ON MY CAR AND STILL HAVE THE VERY SAME PROBLEM. MY CAR STALLED, THE IDLING DROPS, THE FUEL PUMP MAKES A LOUD VIBRATING RUMBLING NOISE. MANY OTHERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM, THE YRS AFFECTED ARE FROM 2003 - 2009. *TR