Steering Colum

Ranger_Vet68 · 06-09-2015, 01:24 PM

I have a 2003 3.0i Z4. I need to get a new Steering Colum. I have been looking at prices, and they seem to jump around a lot> Could someone Please help me out with this issue and hopefully suggest a good place to buy one, and what the price would be...

Thank You.

Steeler · 06-09-2015, 04:20 PM

Why do you need a new steering column?

Ranger_Vet68 · 06-09-2015, 06:06 PM

My steering Colum, or Steering rack is starting to make "Grinding Sounds" when I turn the care in any direction....

Steeler · 06-09-2015, 06:25 PM

Does it do it all the time or just intermittently? Mostly when the weather is hot...........
Are you aware of the sticky steering syndrome our cars suffer from?

BruceJ · 06-09-2015, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ranger_Vet68

My steering Colum, or Steering rack is starting to make "Grinding Sounds" when I turn the care in any direction....

Not to lecture but.......Column and rack are two different things in this car. And in the MY of yours the column has had its own infamous issue (sticking when cabin temps heat up).

Is the noise from within the cabin or under the hood? Does the steering seem sticky? You might get lucky and it be the rack or some other underhood steering component. Columns are not cheap on parts or labor.

Good luck
Bruce

Ranger_Vet68 · 06-09-2015, 06:36 PM

It started little by little last month. I took it in to my mechanic thinking that the fluid might be low. But he told me that it's the Steering Rack. Because now, no matter what type of weather, every time I turn I get that grounding sound........So tell me What is the going price for a Steering rack (Steering Colum) Just the part.

Thank You.

Ranger_Vet68 · 06-09-2015, 06:40 PM

I hear it inside the car. Your correct, he told me it was the Steering Rack. Steering seems to be getting sticky as well.

WestCDA · 06-09-2015, 08:10 PM

If you have an issue with the steering rack, address that first and assess the results before even thinking about any possible steering column problems. I haven't heard of the steering rack causing much trouble, but it's a relatively inexpensive part - Rock Auto shows a complete remanufactured EPS rack unit for 130.00 (+core), including inner tie rods. I would imagine other suppliers are similar.

Ranger_Vet68 · 06-10-2015, 04:30 PM

It's the steering rack that needs to be replaced, not the colum. So I suppose that saves me a ton of money. Strange though. Even though it's an '03, it has less then 70k on the car. I wouldn't expect the issue that I'm having now until it was up around 130k.

BruceJ · 06-10-2015, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ranger_Vet68

I hear it inside the car. Your correct, he told me it was the Steering Rack. Steering seems to be getting sticky as well.

Here's a test for the BMW Z4 sticky steering column.
1. Leave the car out in the summer sun all day with windows up.
2. Go drive it w/o turning on the AC. Do you have sticky/notchy steering?
3. If yes, turn on the AC and cool down the interior for a good 30-45 min. You may need to cool it down for several hours, ie put it in the garage, you are trying to get cabin temp down and ultimately cool down the steering column that's in the cabin
4. Does it go away or seem to lessen?

Or you can do the above vice versa, I.e. drive it morning after car has been in a cool garage all night, then leave it out all day and drive it, etc....

Good luck
Bruce

Ranger_Vet68 · 06-10-2015, 09:41 PM

Well this what happens in the morning. All is good, no sound. Drive it to a couple of meetings, then head back home. By the time I get back home I begin to hear it again. But like the other day when I was out and it was hot, I had the AC running and that seemed to make it worse and start to get sticky. Oh and without the AC I get the same noise and sticky steering. But I was told again that it was not the column but the Steering Rack.

BruceJ · 06-11-2015, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ranger_Vet68

Well this what happens in the morning. All is good, no sound. Drive it to a couple of meetings, then head back home. By the time I get back home I begin to hear it again. But like the other day when I was out and it was hot, I had the AC running and that seemed to make it worse and start to get sticky. Oh and without the AC I get the same noise and sticky steering. But I was told again that it was not the column but the Steering Rack.

There is a bunch of discussion over sticky/notchy steering and the steering column. Here's a few:
https://www.bmwcca.org/forum/index.p...-mystery.5921/
http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...y-Steering-Fix

That being said with this kind of mileage your mechanic could be dead on. If it bothers you then you need to try something. Easiest, cheapest first. That's probably the steering rack. If you are mech inclined its just parts and sweat. Probably don't need to tell you this will require an alignment when through.

Good Luck
Bruce

Ranger_Vet68 · 06-11-2015, 01:23 PM

Thank you for the info...

Ranger_Vet68 · 06-11-2015, 09:59 PM

One more question. If I don't fix the Steering Rack, will that lead to having to replace the steering column latter on???

06-09-2015, 01:24 PM	#1
Ranger_Vet68 Private First Class 25 Rep 170 Posts Drives: 2003 Z4 3.0i E85 Roadster Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	Steering Colum I have a 2003 3.0i Z4. I need to get a new Steering Colum. I have been looking at prices, and they seem to jump around a lot> Could someone Please help me out with this issue and hopefully suggest a good place to buy one, and what the price would be... Thank You.
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06-09-2015, 04:20 PM	#2
Steeler Colonel 2428 Rep 2,704 Posts Drives: Built not Bought 04 Z4 VF Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Kitchener Ontario Canada iTrader: (2)	Why do you need a new steering column? __________________ W2A Intercooled Vortech V3Si, custom ducting, Alpha N, 60# Bosch,2.62 pulley, multi port WMI, Severn Tuning(pokeybritches), Tial, magnaflow,SS race muffler, 42 design,3.91LSD, H&R, Hotchkis,ST coils,Konis, Megan camber arms, AKG SS, Nylon mounts, Poly bushings, Carbon interior, CF Aero.APEX
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06-09-2015, 06:06 PM	#3
Ranger_Vet68 Private First Class 25 Rep 170 Posts Drives: 2003 Z4 3.0i E85 Roadster Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	My steering Colum, or Steering rack is starting to make "Grinding Sounds" when I turn the care in any direction....
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06-09-2015, 06:25 PM	#4
Steeler Colonel 2428 Rep 2,704 Posts Drives: Built not Bought 04 Z4 VF Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Kitchener Ontario Canada iTrader: (2)	Does it do it all the time or just intermittently? Mostly when the weather is hot........... Are you aware of the sticky steering syndrome our cars suffer from? __________________ W2A Intercooled Vortech V3Si, custom ducting, Alpha N, 60# Bosch,2.62 pulley, multi port WMI, Severn Tuning(pokeybritches), Tial, magnaflow,SS race muffler, 42 design,3.91LSD, H&R, Hotchkis,ST coils,Konis, Megan camber arms, AKG SS, Nylon mounts, Poly bushings, Carbon interior, CF Aero.APEX
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06-09-2015, 06:36 PM	#6
Ranger_Vet68 Private First Class 25 Rep 170 Posts Drives: 2003 Z4 3.0i E85 Roadster Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	It started little by little last month. I took it in to my mechanic thinking that the fluid might be low. But he told me that it's the Steering Rack. Because now, no matter what type of weather, every time I turn I get that grounding sound........So tell me What is the going price for a Steering rack (Steering Colum) Just the part. Thank You.
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06-09-2015, 06:40 PM	#7
Ranger_Vet68 Private First Class 25 Rep 170 Posts Drives: 2003 Z4 3.0i E85 Roadster Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	I hear it inside the car. Your correct, he told me it was the Steering Rack. Steering seems to be getting sticky as well.
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06-09-2015, 08:10 PM	#8
WestCDA Second Lieutenant 7 Rep 273 Posts Drives: 2006 Z4R 3.0si Join Date: May 2011 Location: Calgary, Alberta iTrader: (0)	If you have an issue with the steering rack, address that first and assess the results before even thinking about any possible steering column problems. I haven't heard of the steering rack causing much trouble, but it's a relatively inexpensive part - Rock Auto shows a complete remanufactured EPS rack unit for 130.00 (+core), including inner tie rods. I would imagine other suppliers are similar.
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06-10-2015, 04:30 PM	#9
Ranger_Vet68 Private First Class 25 Rep 170 Posts Drives: 2003 Z4 3.0i E85 Roadster Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	It's the steering rack that needs to be replaced, not the colum. So I suppose that saves me a ton of money. Strange though. Even though it's an '03, it has less then 70k on the car. I wouldn't expect the issue that I'm having now until it was up around 130k.
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06-10-2015, 09:41 PM	#11
Ranger_Vet68 Private First Class 25 Rep 170 Posts Drives: 2003 Z4 3.0i E85 Roadster Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	Well this what happens in the morning. All is good, no sound. Drive it to a couple of meetings, then head back home. By the time I get back home I begin to hear it again. But like the other day when I was out and it was hot, I had the AC running and that seemed to make it worse and start to get sticky. Oh and without the AC I get the same noise and sticky steering. But I was told again that it was not the column but the Steering Rack.
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06-11-2015, 01:23 PM	#13
Ranger_Vet68 Private First Class 25 Rep 170 Posts Drives: 2003 Z4 3.0i E85 Roadster Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	Thank you for the info...
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06-11-2015, 09:59 PM	#14
Ranger_Vet68 Private First Class 25 Rep 170 Posts Drives: 2003 Z4 3.0i E85 Roadster Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	One more question. If I don't fix the Steering Rack, will that lead to having to replace the steering column latter on???
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