2003 BMW Z4 complaints

AT ABOVE 80 DEGREE FAHRENHEIT TEMPERATURES, THE STEERING STICKS ON MY 2003 Z4, AND WORSENS AS THE HEAT INCREASES. IT IS VERY HARD TO CORRECT STEERING ON THE HIGHWAY AS IT TENDS TO STAY IN ONE POSITION AND WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM ON MANY Z4'S AND BMW DOESN'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. *TR

I SOMETIMES NOTICE AFTER MY 2003 BMW Z4 2.5I HAS BEEN PARKED, IT SEEMS AS IF THE TIRES AND STEERING WHEEL ARE MISALIGNED AND THE CAR DRIVES TO ONE SIDE AS IF ONE TIRE WAS FLAT. THIS ONLY HAS HAPPENED AT LOWER SPEEDS SOON AFTER I START DRIVING, AND EVENTUALLY SEEMS TO GO AWAY AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVING FOR A COUPLE MINUTES. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE NOW TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM BUT I PLAN ON GIVING BMW A CALL TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR ME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

EXPERIENCING VERY SIMILAR ISSUE AS DOCUMENTED UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE10020-STEERING/STEERING COLUMN/POWER ASSIST SYSTEM BECOMING DIFFICULT TO STEER WHILE DRIVING IN EXCESS OF 50MPH. CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND RECEIVED NO ASSISTANCE ONLY RECOMMENDATION TO TAKE TO SERVICE DEPT. *TR

STEERING WHEEL STIFFENS UP AND FEELS AS IF POWER STEERING TURNS OFF. HAPPENED ONCE, DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND IT TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

MY BMW Z4 2003 SUDDENLY HAS A STEERING PROBLEM WHERE THE WHEEL "STICKS" IN PLACE AND "CATCHES" BEFORE ALLOWING ME TO STEER PROPERLY. BMW DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM AND ASKED THAT I NOT DRIVE THE CAR BUT THAT I BRING IT IN FOR A LOOK. OBVIOUSLY THEY KNOW IT IS DANGEROUS FOR ME TO DRIVE!!! *TR

2003 BMW Z4 AT TIMES THE STEERING BECOMES VERY TIGHT. IT SEEMS THAT THE STEERING ON WARM DAYS BECOMES VERY TIGHT, WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS IN THE CENTER IT TAKES MORE FORCE THEN NORMAL TO TURN THE WHEEL, MAKING YOU OVER STEER THE CAR. WHEN THIS HAPPENS YOU FEEL LIKE THE CAR HAS A MIND OF IT'S OWN. *TR

2003 BMW Z4 ROADSTER HAS AN INTERMITTENT STICKY STEERING ISSUE THAT ADVERSELY AFFECTS THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE DIRECTION OF VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC. THE CONDITION IS DUE TO HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES OR AFTER PARKING CAR IN HOT WEATHER. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT ALLOW THE DRIVER TO STEER A STRAIGHT LINE WITHOUT CONSTANT, SUDDEN CORRECTIONS THAT REQUIRE USE OF THE ENTIRE LANE OF TRAFFIC. A BICYCLIST WAS ALMOST STRUCK BY VEHICLE WHICH PROMPTED THIS COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN IN WEATHER ABOVE 75 DEGREES F AND PARKED IN SUN. THE CONDITION WILL DISSIPATE WHEN CAR IS PARKED IN SHADE OR TEMPERATURES FALL FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD. BMW DEALER SERVICEWRITER WAS CONTACTED AND KNEW NOTHING ABOUT OTHER Z4 VEHICLES WITH ELECTRIC STEERING HAVING THIS ISSUE. DEALER ADVISES REPLACING THE ENTIRE STEERING UPPER COLUMN ASSEMBLY AND THE LOWER RACK AND PINION WITH AN ESTIMATE OF $4943.00. OWNER IS EXPLORING OPTIONS FOR REPAIR OR REPLACING VEHICLE WITH A NEWER MODEL. *TR

MY 2003 BMW Z4'S ELECTRIC POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING ON HOT DAYS. THE LOSS OF ASSIST GET WORSE AS SPEED INCREASES. YESTERDAY AT 97 DEGREES IT WAS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE STEERING IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS RELEASED, THE CAR DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER. *TR

I OWN A 2003 BMW Z4 ROADSTER THAT SEEMS TO HAVE AN INTERMITTENT STEERING PROBLEM. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE RISES, THE STEERING FEELS HEAVY, REQUIRING ADDED FORCE TO RETURN THE STEERING TO CENTER POSITION. THE RESULT IS JERKY STEERING AND SOME DIFFICULTY IN STEERING IN TIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES. MY DEALER DENIES ANY KNOWLEDGE OF OTHER COMPLAINTS. FOLLOWING INTERNET RESEARCH, I KNOW OTHER ARE HAVING A SIMILAR PROBLEM. *TR

ON A HOT DAY, THE STEERING SEEMS TO STICK WHEN YOU TURN THE WHEEL. THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER AFTER A TURN. IT MAKES THE CAR WANT TO WANDER ALL OVER THE ROAD, PARTICULARLY ON CURVING ROADS. *TR

STICKY STEERING COLUMN DURING HOT WEATHER ON A 2003 BMW Z4 2.5I. *TR

STICKY, NOTCHY STEERING FEELING WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO TEMPERATURE ABOVE 80F. CAR BECOMES MORE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. *TR

WHEN MY 2003 BMW Z4 IS LEFT OUT IN THE SUN DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, IT IS VERY HARD TO DRIVE AND ALMOST NON-RESPONSIVE. ADDITIONALLY AT TIMES THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING INDICATOR LIGHT WILL COME ON, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING CONTROL (AND THE SHUTOFF OF OTHER ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT IN THE CAR). THIS TYPICALLY IS ONLY FOR A FEW SECONDS, HOWEVER THAT CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *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

2003 BMW Z4 - STICKY STEERING IN HOT WEATHER. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM. THE STEERING SEEMS TO MOMENTARILY SEIZE ... VERY SCARY! NO ACTUAL ACCIDENT YET, BUT ONLY A MATTER OF TIME! *TR

STEERING PROBLEM THAT STEERING DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER. CONSTANT PROBLEM AND SEEMS WORSE IN HOT WEATHER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRIC STEERING WHEEL WAS RESISTANT WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHEN IT WAS EXTREMELY WARM OUTSIDE. BMW WAS NOT NOTIFIED REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE APPROXIMATELY 27,000.

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 ON THE VEHICLE STICKS ON HOT DAYS WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN LEFT OUT IN THE SUN. THIS MAKES IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT LINE ON THE HIGHWAY, AS THE STEERING EFFORT BECOME TOO HIGH. IT WAS THE WORST I'VE EXPERIENCED TODAY, AS THE TEMPERATURE IN NEW ENGLAND REACHED 102 DEGREES F. *TR

STEERING WHEEL WOULD STICK & WHEN IT WOULD FINALLY MOVE IT WOULD OVER CORRECT. NEARLY HAD AN ACCIDENT IT WAS VERY SCARY. *TR

MY 2003 BMW Z4 HAS A MAJOR STEERING PROBLEM. THERE IS NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA AND THE STEERING BECOMES VERY STIFF AND NON-RESPONSIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ITS LIKE DRIVING A CAR WITH A POWER STEERING PUMP THAT IS ABOUT TO FAIL. THE PROBLEM IS MUCH WORSE ON HOT DAYS OR AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN A LOT. I TOOK IT TO THE ONLY BMW DEALERSHIP AROUND HERE IN INDIANAPOLIS. THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM IN THE SHOP BUT IT SOUNDED LIKE A DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN. THE COST ON A NEW COLUMN IS $3500 PLUS MANY MAN-HOURS OF LABOR CHARGES TO INSTALL IT! I WENT ON LINE AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH Z4S. SO, HERE I SIT WITH A $13,000 CAR THAT I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX AND I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE MORE THAN A FEW MILES FROM HOME BECAUSE THE STEERING IS SO TIGHT/QUESTIONABLE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND BMW SHOULD BE MADE TO RECALL THIS ISSUE! *TR

PURCHASED A "LIKE NEW" 2003 BMW Z4 3.0I WITH 15,000 MILES WITH 1 OWNER LAST FALL FROM A DEALERSHIP IN VA AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY PUT THE CAR IN STORAGE. UPON REMOVAL FROM STORAGE THIS MONTH, STEERING STICKS DANGEROUSLY AT ALL SPEEDS. STEERING WHEEL REFUSES TO RETURN TO CENTER. WHEN ROUNDING A CORNER, STEERING WHEEL WILL MAINTAIN THE TURN AND NOT NATURALLY STRAIGHTEN. THIS CREATES A HIGHLY DANGEROUS SITUATION OF OVERSTEER AS YOU OVER COMPENSATE THE STEERING. ON A TWO LANE ROAD, IT IS EASY TO CROSS CENTERLINE. MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED FOR 2003, 2004, 2005, AND SOME 2006 MODELS. REPAIR SEEMS TO BE TO REPLACE STEERING COLUMN AT OWNER'S COST OF $3900. HOWEVER, SOME OWNER'S HAVE PAID FOR REPLACEMENT AND STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

2003 BMW Z4 2.5I. STEERING FEELS STICKY ON WARM AFTERNOONS. FEELS LIKE A "DEAD SPOT" IN THE STEERING GEAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO A PARKING SPOT AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD IDLE BUT IF HE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, IT WOULD STALL AGAIN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 50,100.

VEHICLE WINDSHIELD WIPER DRIVE FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY DURING A SEVERE RAINSTORM WHILE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING IN INSIDE LANE AT 65 MPH IN MODERATE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS ON I-65 AT LEE ST. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE INTERSTATE WITHOUT CRASHING. NOTE: DRIVE MOTOR FOR WIPERS OPERATES PASSENGER SIDE WITH LINKAGE TO DRIVER'S SIDE. NO INDICATION PRIOR TO FAILURE. DRIVERS SIDE BEARING FAILED ALLOWING LINKAGE TO DROP FROM DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER PIN. DESIGN SHOULD BE MODIFIED TO DRIVE THE DRIVERS SIDE RATHER THAN THE PASSENGER SIDE OR LINKAGE MODIFIED TO ALLOW GRAVITY TO SECURE THE LINKAGE TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE DRIVE PIN. *TR

BMW Z4 POWER STEERING FAILS WHEN OUTSIDE TEMP IS ABOVE 80 DEGREES. BMW ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM, BUT WILL NOT RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE UPDATED 05/14/10.*JB

STEERING WHEEL IS "STICKY" AND DIFFICULT TO HANDLE ON WARM DAYS (ABOVE 75 DEGREES). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. SHE STATED THAT THE CENTER, HIGH MOUNTED BRAKE LIGHT WAS FRACTURED IN THREE PLACES. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO HERS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WERE THERE ANY REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 25,000.

HAD BEEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY FOR OVER 45 MINUTES WHEN ALL OFF SUDDEN THE DRIVERS DOOR ON OUR 2003 BMW Z4 POPPED OPEN. BOTH OF MY HANDS WERE ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THIS OCCURRED. *TR

MY 2003 BMW Z4 2.5I HAS A STICKY STEERING WHEEL PROBLEM IN ALL TEMPERATURES. THE STEERING DOES NOT SELF CORRECT WHILE TURNING AND NEEDS TO BE FORCEFULLY RETURNED BACK TO CENTER. THIS "STICKINESS" HAS A DANGEROUS ELEMENT IN CHANGING LANES OR GOING AROUND CORNERS BECAUSE SMOOTH OPERATION IS NOT POSSIBLE. I MUST OVERCOME THE STICKY STUCK SENSATION AND AS A RESULT OVERSTEER BACK IN THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL. THIS IS VERY DISCONCERTING AND A DANGEROUS. *TR

2003 BMW Z4: WE HAVE NOTICED A STEERING ISSUE THAT OCCURS IN THE WARMER MONTHS OF THE YEAR. THE STEERING TENDS TO FEEL 'STICKY' OR 'GUMMY' WHEN DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT PATH. IN ORDER TO FREE THE STICKY STEERING, ONE MUST QUICKLY JERK THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT DIRECTION TO LOOSEN AND FREE UP THE STEERING FEEL. THERE HAVE BEEN NO ACCIDENTS AS OF YET, BUT THE SUDDEN JERK OF THE WHEEL AND RESULTS IN AN UNSAFE LANE CHANGE AND/OR NEARING A SIDE SWIPE SITUATION WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. AFTER A BIT OF ONLINE RESEARCH, IT APPEARS THAT MANY OTHER HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS UNSAFE CONDITION. BMW MOST LIKELY KNOWS ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE INSTALLATION OF THE UPDATED STEERING SHAFT FIXES THE PROBLEM. MANY OF US ARE OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE STEERING DEFECT IS NOT UNDER A CURRENT RECALL, THEREFORE BMW WILL NOT COVER THE FIX. MANY OF US CONSUMERS CANNOT AFFORD THE $3000 FIX, PER THE BMW SERVICE ESTIMATE AND HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE UNSAFELY. *TR

I HAVE A BMW Z4 WHICH THE STEERING STICKS CAUSING A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE NEARLY COLLIDED WITH OTHER VEHICLES ON THE FREEWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4 SERIES. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON FEBRUARY 22, 2010 WHEN SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. SHE CONTACTED BMW DIRECTLY AND THEY HAVE NOT DIAGNOSED THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000. UPDATED 03/26/10. *LJ UPDATED 05/11/10. *JB

I OWN A 2003 BMW Z4 DURING WARM WEATHER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE STEERING BECOMES STUCK ON CENTER. IN JULY OF 09 I ATTEMPTED TO SWERVE TO AVOID AN OBSTACLE ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAD THE YANK THE WHEEL SO HARD TO GET IT OUT OF THE "STUCK ON CENTER" ISSUE. I THEN RAN OFF THE ROAD AND INTO THE DITCH AND CAUSED ABOUT $1500 DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES IN THE WAY. *TR

DETAILS: STEERING PROBLEM AT 45+MPH WITH VEHICLE, STEERING IS VERY STICKY GOING STRAIGHT, CONSTANT CORRECTIONS CAUSE OVER STEERING, STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT RETURN TO NEUTRAL POSITION ON CURVES LEADING TO DANGEROUS CONDITIONS, TESTED TO 75 + MPH, GETS WORSE AT HIGHER SPEEDS OF FREEWAY DRIVING. JUST TOOK POSSESSION OF USED VEHICLE. I THINK ITS JUST LUCK NO BODY HAS BEEN KILLED FROM RUNNING OFF THE ROAD OR HITTING SOMEONE. PLEASE LOOK AT ALL THE COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME TROUBLE. *TR

1. FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS I HAVE NOTICED THAT SOMETHING HAS BEEN WRONG WITH MY 2003 BMW Z4'S STEERING. THE ONSET WAS VERY INSIDIOUS. I FIRST NOTICED A FEELING THAT THE STEERING WOULD STICK AND REQUIRE SLIGHT EXTRA FORCE TO MAKE MINOR ADJUSTMENTS. THIS SEEMED TO OCCUR AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN OUT SITTING IN THE SUN. AT THAT TIME IT WAS MORE OF AN ANNOYANCE THAN A PROBLEM. THE STEERING WOULD SOON RETURN TO NORMAL. I REMEMBER HAVING THE STEERING COMPLAINT MORE OFTEN OVER THE 2 YEAR PERIOD BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL A FEW WEEKS AGO THAT I KNEW THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE I NEEDED TO RESOLVE. 2. I WAS MAKING A 250 MILE DRIVE BACK TO ORLANDO ON THE TURNPIKE WHEN THE STEERING PROBLEM RETURNED. IT WAS WORSE THAN EVER. THERE WAS A DANGEROUS "LOCKED ON CENTER" FEELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. MINOR ADJUSTMENTS REQUIRED FORCE SUCH THAT THE STEERING JERKED AND THEN REQUIRED ANOTHER FORCEFUL JERK TO CORRECT. THE PROBLEM IS DANGEROUS IN THAT IT TAKES MUCH EFFORT TO KEEP THE CAR IN THE LANE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. WHEN I EXITED AND DROVE AT LOW SPEED THE STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL. I RESEARCHED THIS PHENOMENA AND FOUND MANY OTHER Z4 OWNERS WITH THE SAME STEERING PROBLEM. APPARENTLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM ON THE Z4. MY PROBLEMS REFLECTED THOSE OF OTHER OWNERS. THE "LOCKED ON CENTER" FEELING IS WORSE ON HOT DAYS AND AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE PROBLEM OCCURS EVERY TIME I DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY AND I HAVE SINCE STOPPED DRIVING THAT VEHICLE. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT ON THE HIGHWAY BOTH FOR MY

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

THE STEERING STICKS ON MY 2003 BMW Z4, AND WHEN I TRY TO COMPENSATE, IT SOMETIMES CAUSES OVERSTEERING TO CORRECT. THIS ON 2-OCCASIONS ALMOST PUT ME INTO A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH AN ONCOMING CAR. THE DEALER SAYS THIS WOULD REQUIRE AN EXPENSIVE STEERING COLUMN REPLACEMENT AT MY COST. *TR

STICKING STEERING. *TR

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.

WARM TEMPERATURES, OVER 80%, STEERING ON 2003 Z 4 STICKS AND CAUSES UNDER AND OVERSTEER. *TR

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

THIS COMPLAINT INVOLVES THE STEERING OF THE 2003 BMW Z4(BUILT 03/03). IT SEEMS IN HOT WEATHER (HIGH 80'S AND ABOVE) THE STEERING BECOMES VERY STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO MAKE MINOR ADJUSTMENTS. IT FEELS LIKE IT LOCKS IN PLACE AND WHEN ADJUSTMENTS ARE ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE STEERING, YOU ACTUALLY OVER ADJUST BECAUSE IT STICKS AND YOU HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME REMAINING IN YOUR LANE. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS 80'S OR ABOVE, AND BECOMES STIFFER THE HOTTER THE TEMPERATURE BECOMES. WE CONTACTED BMW AND THEY INFORMED US THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR US. WE FEEL THAT THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY BMW, AS WELL AS REPAIRED FOR FREE BY THEM. ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED IS THE AIRBAG LIGHTS (BOTH IN THE DASH AND ON THE CONSOLE) WERE ON. WE FOUND RECALLS FOR 2004-2005 BMW'S FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THEY WOULD NOT ADDRESS OUR VEHICLE SINCE IT IS A 2003, AND NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL. IT IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM THAT THE RECALL WAS FOR WHICH WAS THE PASSENGER SENSOR MAT PART #66-77-6-927-893 AND THE CONTROL UNIT AIRBAG PART #65-77-6-965-146. WE HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC, REPAIRS AND PARTS, TOTALING $1226.20. AGAIN WE FELT THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE WE PURCHASED THIS CAR BECAUSE IT HAD SIDE,FRONT AND KNEE AIRBAGS FOR SAFETY. WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHTS ON, WE DIDN'T KNOW IF THEY WOULD OR WOULD NOT WORK IN AN ACCIDENT. WE REQUESTED THE OLD PARTS BE RETURNED TO US, BUT THEY WERE NOT. AFTER DOING MUCH RESEARCH ON T

2003 BMW Z4 HAS A GLITCH IN THE STEERING THAT OUR DEALERSHIP DOES NOT KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING. ON HOT DAYS ESPECIALLY THE STEERING BECOMES SO JERKY IT IS HARD TO DRIVE THE CAR. YOU CAN TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THERE WILL BE A PAUSE BEFORE THE STEERING CATCHES AND TURNS THE CAR. WE TOOK THE CAR INTO THE BMW DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAD TWO OTHER CARS, SAME MODEL AND YEAR WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. IF YOU GOOGLE IT, YOU RECEIVE MANY PAGES OF PEOPLE HAVING THE PROBLEM SO BMW IS DEFINITELY AWARE OF IT BUT TO THIS POINT HAS DONE NOTHING. THESE CARS HAVE LOW MILEAGE, 15,000 TO 20,000 RANGE SO IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAS WORN OUT; IT IS DESIGN FLAW THAT HAS CAUSED ON GOING PROBLEMS THAT BMW HAS CHOSEN TO IGNORE TO THIS POINT. WE HAVE NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENT, WE HAVE QUIT DRIVING IN HOT WEATHER, BUT, I AM SURE THE STEERING HAS CAUSED SOME ACCIDENTS FOR OTHERS. I ASSUME BMW FIGURES IT IS CHEAPER TO PAY THE LAW SUITS SINCE THERE ARE NOT THAT MANY Z4S MADE THAN TO HAVE A RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM. IT IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT AFFECTS NOT ONLY THE DRIVERS OF THE CARS INVOLVED BUT EVERYONE SHARING THE ROAD WITH A CAR WITH STEERING PROBLEMS. *TR

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

WHEN THE WEATHER GETS HOT OR THE CAR GETS HOT JUST SITTING IN THE SUN THE STEERING GETS STICKY AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. IT FEELS LIKE THERE IS A NOTCH IN THE STEERING ON BOTH SIDES OF DEAD CENTER AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO STEER TO THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT. THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AS DOCUMENTED IN PUMA CASE NUMBER 5387507 AND OTHERS. *TR

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

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

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

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