2004 BMW Z4 complaints

2004 BMW Z4 3.0. STEERING GETS VERY LOOSE AND ONE CAN NOT STEER THE CAR ACCURATELY AT TIMES. VERY SCARY WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND ONE LOSES ALL CONFIDENCE N THE CAR. *TT

MY 2004 BMW Z4 3.0I HAS DIFFICULTY WITH STEERING WHEN THE TEMPERATURES EXCEED 95 DEGREES. THE CAR STEERING IS "STICKY" FOR LACK OF A BETTER DESCRIPTION. IT IS SCARY TO DRIVE HOME FROM WORK AFTER IT HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE SUN. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ, THIS IS A FAILURE OF THE STEERING COLUMN. *TR

STEERING IS STICKY NOT ALLOWING STEERING WHEEL TO RETURN TO CENTER. TAKES CONSTANT PRESSURE TO STEER AND KEEP CENTERED. VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP IN CENTER OF LANE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

WRITES: I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. 2004 BMW Z4 WITH 23,500 MILES! DEALER IWILL REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN FOR A COST OF $3,700! WHERE CAN I FIND HELP IN FIXING THIS PROBLEM BEING A SENIOR CITIZEN ON LIMITED INCOME THE $3,700 REPAIR BILL IS A PROBLEM IS THERE A NUMBER TO CALL BMW TO ISSUE A COMPLAINT THANKS 2004 BMW Z4 ROADSTER VIN THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMP GET INTO THE 90'S. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE STEERING COLUMN BEGAN STICKING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,500. UPDATED 8/30/11 *CN UPDATED 09/27/11

AFTER THE CAR SITS OUTSIDE ON A HOT DAY WHEN DRIVING HOME ON THE HIGHWAY BETWEEN 55-60, THE STEERING PULLS TO EITHER THE RIGHT OR LEFT AND FEELS LIKE IT ISN'T GOING TO UNSTICK. IT TAKES A LOT OF EFFORT TO CORRECT THE PULL. IT IS VERY SCARY AND DEFINITELY FEELS LIKE SOMETHING IS TERRIBLY WRONG WITH THE STEERING. THREE DIFFERENT DAYS AFTER SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT IT DID THIS WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME. NEVER DOES IT WHILE DRIVING TO WORK IN THE MORNING FROM THE GARAGE AND HAS NEVER DONE IT WHILE DRIVING IN THE EVENING OR AT NIGHT. WE JUST BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A DIFFERENT OWNER AND OF COURSE SHE DID NOT MENTION ANY PROBLEMS. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT TO WORK NOW BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE IT WILL GET PERMANENTLY LOCKED UP AND I'LL END UP IN THE DITCH. *TR

NORMAL DRIVNG. CLUNKING SOUND IN 2004 BMW Z4 STEERING COLUMN. 11500 MILES. NOTHING DONE TO DATE. *KB

LACK OF STEERING CONTROL. *KB

BMW Z4 ROADSTER 23000 MILES STEERING COLUMN STICKS WHICH HAS THE POSSIBILITY OF CAUSING A CRASH WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *TT

STEERING STICKS IN STRAIGHT POSITION. BROUGHT TO DEALER A FEW YEARS AGO AND TOLD NOTHING IS WRONG. STARTED DRIVING AGAIN AFTER A FEW YEARS DUE TO SURGERY, PROBLEM PERSISTS BROUGHT TO REPAIR SHOP, BAD STEERING SYSTEM. ACTS UP MORE IN WARM WEATHER MORE SO THEN IN COOL MORNING. ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR ON HIGHWAY, PROBLEM STAYING IN LANE. TOLD THIS IS NORMAL AND HAS BEEN APPROVED BY NHTSA. DEALER WANTS ALMOST $5,000 TO FIX, I WILL HAVE TO SELL CAR. *TR

STEERING PROBLEMS WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMP. IS HOT (85+) THE STEERING STICKS AND REQUIRES CONSIDERABLE FORCE TO KEEP FROM RUNNING INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC OR OFF THE ROAD I FIRST NOTICED IT AFTER I BOUGHT IT TWO WEEKS AGO AROUND 7-1 THE CAR HAS ABOUT 50,500 MILES ON IT

VEHICLE HAS A STEERING ISSUE WHERE IT BECOMES 'STICKY'; IT HOLDS VERY TIGHTLY TO THE CENTER POSITION AND IS DIFFICULT TO TURN. ONCE IT 'BREAKS FREE', IT TURNS SUDDENLY AND IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE BEHAVIOR IS INTERMITTENT AND TENDS TO EXHIBIT ITSELF ON HOT DAYS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IDLE FOR LONG PERIODS, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BECOME TIGHT AND WOULD NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. WHEN THE CONTACT WAS FINALLY ABLE TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL IT WOULD ONLY MOVE IN ONE DIRECTION. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON AND WARM, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD OPERATE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PERSONAL MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN, BUT WAS NON-REPAIRABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

THE STEERING HAS A LOUD POPPING SOUND WHEN TURNED TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. STEERING HAS BECOME STIFF. A MECHANIC IS DOING A THOROUGH INSPECTION AND WE ARE AWAITING HIS FINAL ANALYSIS OF THIS PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 3,000 MILES BUT BECAUSE IT IS A 2004, BMW WILL NOT COVER THIS DEFECT. PLEASE NOTIFY ME IF FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE AT THIS TIME.

WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY, I ENCOUNTERED THAT THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING BECAME STUCK SEVERAL TIMES WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE. THIS ONLY SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS HIGH (<80 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT), ESPECIALLY DURING THE SUMMER SEASON. THIS REOCCURRING PROBLEM HAS CAUSED SEVERAL SITUATIONS THAT COULD HAVE LEAD TO POTENTIAL CRASHES.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO FIX A 2004 BMW Z4 THAT HAS NOTCHY/STICKY STEERING THE CAR HAS 23000 MILES ON IT APPEARS TO HAPPEN WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVEN FOR 15-20 MILES (IS TEMP A PROBLEM) AND WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON AND COSTLY IN THE $3500-4000 RANGE THE STEERING COLUMN HAS TO BE REPLACED THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AT BMW OF CHATTANOOGA TENN IN APRIL OF 2010 NOW I BELIEVE THE CAR WAS SOLD TO ME WITH THE STEERING PROBLEM IT COULD EASY CAUSE A HEAD ON CRASH OR YOU ASKED THIS BMW QUESTION ON 6/24/2011 FOR $18. *TR

THE POWER STEERING BECOMES "STICKY" IN WARM WEATHER. THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING IN COOL WEATHER. I KEEP THE CAR IN COVERED PARKING AT MOST TIMES MAKING THE STEERING ONLY SLIGHTLY STICKY ALTHOUGH ENOUGH TO MAKE FREEWAY DRIVING A CONSTANT STATE OF OVER-CORRECTION TO KEEP THE CAR IN A LANE. ON ONE OCCASION I LEFT THE CAR PARKED IN FULL SUNSHINE ON A 100 DEGREE DAY AND THE POWER STEERING DID NOT WORK AT ALL AT HIGHWAY SPEED MAKING THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

MY 2004 BMW Z4 EXPERIENCES STEERING PROBLEMS WHEN THE WEATHER IS HOT. THE STEERING BECOMES STICKY AND DIFFICULT TO MANAGE. IT RETURNS TO NORMAL AFTER IT SITS INT HE SHADE. IT IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE WHEN THE WEATHER IS HOT. ALTHOUGH I AM REPORTING THIS TODAY IT HAS BEEN OCCURRING OFF AND ON FOR OVER A YEAR. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2009 AND DO NOT DRIVE IT VERY MUCH-5,000 MILES SINCE PURCHASING IT. WOULD DRIVE MORE IF STEERING WAS NOT AN ISSUE. *TR

1. STEERING STICKS WHEN THE TEMP. IS AROUND 80 DEGREES. 2. THE STEERING BECOMES VERY STICKING OR SLIGHTLY LOCKED AND REQUIRES EXTRA FORCE TO CORRECT, WHICH SENDS THE CAR OFF COURSE. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN IN WARMER TEMPS AND HIGHER SPEEDS. 3. NOTHING HAS YET TO BE DONE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER BUT THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE IT. THIS SEEMS LIKE IT SHOULD BE A NO BRAINER TO HAVE A RECALL. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO HAVE YOUR WHEEL LOCK ON YOU WHEN YOU'RE TRAVELING 55MPH. *TR

ON MY 2004 BMW Z4 3.0I, ON HOT DAYS MY STEERING WANTS TO STICK AND I HAVE TO USE MUCH MORE FORCE THAN I USUALLY HAVE TO MAKE THE STEERING MOVE. IN THE WINTER I TEND TO NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM AS MUCH, BUT IN THE SUMMER (I LIVE IN TEXAS) IT GETS VERY HOT AND THE STEERING WANTS TO STICK MORE. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED!! THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHER Z4 DRIVERS THAT HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AS ME. *TR

STEERING BECOMES UNSAFE IN HOT WEATHER, STEERING WILL NOT CENTER, AND CAR IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL, WHEN YOU TURN RIGHT OR LEFT STEERING WILL STICK AND CAUSE YOU TO OVER STEER, AND CAUSES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

2004 BMW Z4. ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ON WARM DAYS WILL BECOME CHUNKY OR NOTCHY IN FEELING AND REQUIRES EXCESSIVE EFFORT TO STEER THE CAR. THIS CAN CAUSE MORE STEERING INPUT THAN IS REQUIRED AND WHEN THE STEERING CATCHES UP THE CAR CAN REACT MORE THAN INTENDED. VERY DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED EVEN FOR MULTIPLE OWNER CARS. *TR

2004 BMW Z4. ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ON WARM DAYS WILL BECOME CHUNKY OR NOTCHY IN FEELING AND REQUIRES EXCESSIVE EFFORT TO STEER THE CAR. THIS CAN CAUSE MORE STEERING INPUT THAN IS REQUIRED AND WHEN THE STEERING CATCHES UP THE CAR CAN REACT MORE THAN INTENDED. VERY DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED EVEN FOR MULTIPLE OWNER CARS. *TR

SEVERAL YEARS AGO, I NOTICED THAT MY 2004 BMW Z4 LOST ITS OTHERWISE SMOOTH STEERING AFTER BEING PARKED IN THE SUN ON HOT DAYS. THE STEERING WOULD BECOME STICKY AND REQUIRED EXTRA AND INCONSISTENT EFFORT TO MAKE LOW-SPEED AS WELL HIGHER-SPEED TURNS. THIS OCCURRED MOST FREQUENTLY DURING THE INITIAL PART OF THE TURN RATHER THAN WELL INTO IT. THESE EVENTS WERE INFREQUENT AS I RARELY PARK OUT IN THE SUN, BUT VERY DISCONCERTING. WHEN I HAD THE CAR IN FOR REGULAR SERVICE TO THE DEALER I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE PHENOMENON BUT ALWAYS GOT THE ?CAN?T REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM? AND ?IT?S NORMAL? RESPONSE. THIS SPRING, HOWEVER, I HAVE HAD THE ?STICKY? PROBLEM ON SEVERAL OF THE HOTTER DAYS EVEN THOUGH I PARK IN A GARAGE WHICH HAS ME VERY CONCERNED THAT THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE. INTERNET RESEARCH HAS REVEALED THAT NHTSA HAS AN ACTIVE INVESTIGATION INTO THIS ISSUE AND VARIOUS FORUMS REPORT SIMILAR OR MORE SEVERE EXPERIENCES. I READ THAT BMW HAS RESPONDED TO NHTSA THAT THIS IS PRIMARILY A ?COMFORT? ISSUE, BUT I STRONGLY DISAGREE. DRIVING IS HIGHLY INSTINCTUAL, DEVELOPED THROUGH EXPERIENCE ? HAVING YOUR STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY HIT A STICKY POINT IN MID-TURN CAN EASILY TRIGGER AN ADVERSE REACTION SUCH AS FORCING OVER-STEERING RESULTING IN LEAVING THE ROADBED. ALTHOUGH I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO NOT EXPERIENCE THAT, I MUST BE MUCH MORE DILIGENT, ALERT AND ON-EDGE. *TR

STICKY STEERING PROBLEM MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. *TR

I HAVE AN '04 BMW Z4 AND AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING. I'VE BEEN READING ONLINE THAT MANY OTHER Z4 OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT I AM WHICH INCLUDE; DIFFICULTY KEEPING THE WHEEL STRAIGHT, HAVING TO USE A LOT OF FORCE TO MAKE STEERING ADJUSTMENTS, AND CONSTANT PULLING TO THE RIGHT/LEFT WHILE DRIVING. THESE PROBLEMS OCCUR EVERY TIME I DRIVE MY VEHICLE. I RECENTLY TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO SAID THE PROBLEM WAS PRETTY BAD. I AM WAITING TO HEAR HIS EXACT DIAGNOSIS AND SHOULD HEAR FROM HIM ON MONDAY 5/23/11 AS I DROPPED IT OFF FRI 5/20/11. I HAVE NOT WRECKED THE VEHICLE DUE TO THESE PROBLEMS HOWEVER I HAVE HAD SOME CLOSE CALLS. FORTUNATELY I AM A VERY ATTENTIVE DRIVER OTHERWISE THERE MAY VERY WELL BEEN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

BMW Z4 2004 VEHICLE EXHIBITS STICKY AND NOTCHY STEERING AT HIGH (85 OR 90DEG F +) OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE. STEERING BECOMES EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS. THE ISSUE ONLY EFFECTS OWNERS IN LOCATIONS WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES AND DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS AND THEREFORE THE OCCURRENCE OF THE ISSUE IS INTERMITTENT AND DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BECOME A RECALL AS IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION EVEN IF IT IS ONLY HAPPENING TO A MINORITY OF Z4 OWNERS. *TR

PUSHED BRAKES HARD FOR A NEAR EMERGENCY STOP AND THE VEHICLE CAREENED TO THE RIGHT AND ALMOST RAN OFF THE ROAD. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD MANY INSTANCES OF ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE ITSELF OFF THE ROAD, THE TERMINOLOGY FOR GROUPS WITH THIS TYPE OF CAR IS "TRAMLINING". I THOUGHT IT ODD THAT SO MANY PEOPLE COULD HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM THAT A TERM WOULD BE APPLIED TO THE PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THIS DEFECT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE A SERIOUS AND POSSIBLY FATAL ACCIDENT.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED HE WOULD HAVE DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. THE VEHICLE WOULD RESPOND SLOWLY WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE FAILURE RECURRED MORE OFTEN WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT WAS BEING OPERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,878. UPDATED 06/06/11 *BF UPDATED 01/24/2012 *LN *TR

BEGINNING EARLY IN 2010, WE BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT THE STEERING, PARTICULARLY AT SPEED, WAS 'STICKY'; EG, IT WOULD TAKE MORE FORCE TO TURN THE WHEEL AND THEN IT WOULD BREAK FREE OF THE STICKY AND TURN. IT BEHAVES AS THOUGH IT STICKS WHEN THE WHEEL ISN'T BEING TURNED, BUT THEN MOVES FREELY ONCE IT TURNS. THE RESULT IS ERRATIC STEERING, PARTICULARLY IN A HIGHWAY SITUATION WHERE SMALL CORRECTIONS ARE NEEDED. IN TRAFFIC, ON A MULTILANE HIGHWAY, THIS BEHAVIOR CAUSES THE CAR TO BE HARD TO KEEP SMOOTHLY IN LANE; THERE WERE SEVERAL TIMES THAT THE RUMBLE STRIP WAS ENCOUNTERED DUE TO OVERCORRECTING THE STEERING. WARMER TEMPERATURES TEND TO MAKE THE PROBLEM WORSE. I HAVE READ ON NUMEROUS BMW FORUMS OF OTHERS HAVING VERY SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THIS WITH THIS VINTAGE OF Z4; APPARENTLY THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE A $2500 STEERING UNIT IF THE DEALER CAN BE CONVINCED THERE ACTUALLY IS A PROBLEM. I HAVE JACKED THE VEHICLE UP AND 'FELT' THE STEERING WITH THE CAR 'OFF', BUT THE SWITCH ON TO RELEASE THE WHEEL LOCK, AND THAT STICTION (MY PHYSICS BACKGROUND IS SHOWING) WAS SOMEWHAT EVIDENT (TO A MUCH SMALLER LEVEL THAN EXPERIENCED IN NORMAL DRIVING ON A WARM DAY) EVEN WITH NO LOAD ON THE STEERING AND AT A NORMAL ROOM TEMPERATURE. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND I HESITATE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION.

MY Z4 IS A 2004 3.0I WITH 22120 MILES... OUT OF NOWHERE MY STEERING BECAME LESS FLUID AND SMOOTH. SOMETIMES I THINK I DON'T HAVE POWER STEERING. ALMOST COULDN'T AVOID BEING CUT OFF BY A TAXI IN MANHATTAN I'M AFRAID I MAY DIE WHILE DRIVING OR POSSIBLY HARM OTHERS. THIS IS MY ONLY CAR AND I CAN'T JUST WAIT FOR A RECALL. *TR

MY 2004 BMW Z4 STEERING STICKS SPECIAL Y WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE TO EXERT EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO CORRECT IT. IT'S NO LONGER A PLEASURE DRIVING MY CAR THAT I LOVE SO MUCH. *TR

MY 2004 BMW Z4 STEERING STICKS WHEN TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 85F. SO FAR IT HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE MORE FREQUENT AND HAPPENING AT LOWER TEMPERATURES THAN LAST SUMMER. THE CAR HAS 58,000 MILES. *TR

I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN YOUR INVESTIGATION PE10020. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE STEERING WHEEL OF MY 2004 Z4, STICKS AND I AM REQUIRED TO EXERT EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO CORRECT IT OR TO TURN THE WHEEL. SPEED DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A FACTOR, IT HAPPENS AT BOTH SLOW AND FASTER SPEEDS, BUT IT IS MORE PRONOUCED AT HIGHER SPEEDS BECAUSE THE CAR TRAVELS MUCH FURTHER BEFORE I CAN CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIS ONLY HAPPENS IN THE SUMMER WHEN IT IS VERY HOT IN TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR THE PAST TWO SUMMERS. I SAW THE INVESTIGATION ON YOUR WEBSITE AND DECIDED TO WAIT UNTIL THERE WAS A RECALL BEFORE TAKING IT TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, SUMMER IS APPROACHING AGAIN, SO I THOUGHT I WOULD ADD MY COMPLAINT TO THE OTHERS IN HOPES OF EXPEDITING A RE-CALL. THIS CAN BE A DANGEROUS CONDITION AND IF IT RECURS WHEN THE WEATHER GETS HOTTER, I WILL HAVE TO GET IT REPAIRED, RECALL OR NOT. *TR

THE STEERING MECHANISM IN MY CAR "STICKS" WHEN DRIVING. IT HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR GETS WARMED UP. WHEN I GO TO WORK, NO PROBLEM. WHEN I LEAVE IN THE AFTERNOON AND I AM DRIVING HOME, I HAVE A HARD TIME KEEPING THE CAR IN THE LANE BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO "STICK." I MEAN, I AM LITERALLY HAVING TO FIGHT WITH THE CAR TO KEEP IT FROM GOING INTO ANOTHER LANE. TIRES ARE NEW SO THAT IS NOT THE PROBLEM. PLUS, I SEE THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF THESE CARS. I BOUGHT THE CAR DECEMBER, 2010 WITH 79,442 MILES ON IT. I NOW HAVE A LITTLE OVER 81,000 MILES. I DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR MUCH... MOSTLY WEEKENDS, BUT WHAT A MAJOR PROBLEM IT IS TO DRIVE AND HAVE THE CAR NOT STEER PROPERLY. *TR

AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR 20 OR SO MINUTES, WHEN IT STARTS TO WARM UP, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTS TO STICK. IT TAKES A LITTLE MORE PRESSURE TO TURN THE WHEEL CAUSING ME TO OVER STEER AND SWERVE A LITTLE BIT. IT GETS WORSE THE LONGER DISTANCE I HAVE TO DRIVE. *TR

READING BMW FORUMS I READ THAT OTHER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AS ME.. I HAVE A BMW 2004 Z4 WITH 43K MILES AND THE STEERING NOTCHES OR STICKS A LOT AS I DRIVE. THERE SEEMS TO BE A STEERING PROBLEM THAT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS WRECK. ARE THERE ANY RECALLS ON THE PROBLEM? *TR

WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL RIGHT OR LEFT IT STICKS WHEN YOU TRY TO TURN BACK TO CENTER AND REQUIRES EXTRA EFFORT TO MOVE THE WHEEL. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO GET WORSE WHEN TEMPERATURES GET WARMER (75 DEGREES OR HIGHER). I'M CONCERNED THAT I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL IF THIS PROBLEM GETS WORSE AND I'M NOT SURE IF THE CAR IS SAFE ENOUGH TO DRIVE, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS.

MY 2004 BMW Z4 EXPERIENCES "STICKINESS" IN STEERING. IT HAS 59,000 MILES AND THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN GRADUALLY INCREASING. I HAVE NOT NOTICED ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE STEERING RESPONSE WITH INCREASED AMBIENT HEAT, BUT IT DOES SEEM TO BE WORSE WHEN AT HIGHER SPEEDS. *TR

STEERING EXTREMELY STICKY WHEN CAR TEMPERATURE IS HOT. STEERING WILL NOT SELF CENTER. *TR

I HAVE READ REPORTS THAT NHSTA HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS REPORTS OF 2003-2004 BMW Z4'S WITH POWERSTEERING ISSUES. MY 2004 Z4 HAS THIS ISSUE AS WELL. THE STEERING SEEMS TO BIND AND THE SEVERITY IS INCREASED AS SPEED INCREASES. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY ON A RECENT TRIP I HAD TO EXERT A GOOD AMOUNT OF FORCE TO STAY OUT OF THE OTHER LANES. I AM 5'10 - 200 LBS. MY CONCERN IS THAT SLIGHTER PERSONS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE STEERING PROBLEMS. I FEAR SOMEONE MIGHT BE INJURED IF THE ISSUE IS NOT FIXED IMMEDIATELY. HOPEFULLY A RECALL CAN BE GENERATED BEFORE CASUALTIES OCCOUR. *TR

DRIVING THE CAR ON A RELATIVELY WARM DAY (70 DEGREES) WITH TOP DOWN, THE POWER STEERING BECAME VERY STIFF AND STEERING THE CAR BECAME DIFFICULT. A NOISE WAS ALSO HEARD WHEN TRYING TO STEER THE CAR. 20 MINUTES AFTER THIS THE CHECK TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I STOPPED AT A SERVICE STATION TO CHECK TIRE PRESSURE BUT IT WAS FINE. STOPPED, STARTED THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT ANY HELP. NEXT MORNING, THE PROBLEM DISAPPEARED COMPLETELY. I MANUALLY RESET THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT AND SINCE THEN THE PROBLEM HASN'T COME BACK.

STICKY STEERING WHEN TEMPERATURE IS ELEVATED. WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED IN THE SUN AND WARMS UP, THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES STICKY LEADING TO AN INCREASED EFFORT TO MOVE THE WHEEL AND MAKES IT EASY TO OVERCORRECT. *TR

IN THE FALL, 2010, MY BMW 2004 Z4 STOPPED AUTOMATICALLY OPENING AND CLOSING THE CONVERTIBLE TOP. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE MOTOR ASSOCIATED WITH IT. THE MAIN MOTOR GETS WATER TRAPPED INSIDE THE PLASTIC HOUSING WHCIH CAUSES THE MOTOR TO FAIL. I NEED TO REPLACE THE MOTOR, AS MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE. BMW KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND SHOULD DO A RECALL/REPLACEMENT WITH IT'S UPDATED PLASTICE HOUSING OF THE MOTOR. IT WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $3000 TO FIX IT. IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT. *TR

I OWN A 2004 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR LAST EVENING I NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL FELT LIKE IT WAS STICKING AS I TRIED TO TURN THE WHEEL. I T WAS SO BAD AT ONE POINT THAT I STRUGLED TO STEER THE CAR AROUND A CURVE. WHEN IT STUCK, IT CAUSED ME TO OVERSTEER THROWING MY CAR INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY NO CARS WERE COMING AND A DISSASTER WAS AVOIDED. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURED. IT APPEARS TO BE INTERMITTENT. THE BMW DEALER CAN NOT FIND ANY THING WRONG. A SOURCE OF THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE DETERMINED BEFORE PEOPLE GET KILLED. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 BMW Z4 WITH 67,517 MILES. EVER SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT, IT HAS HAD A "TWITCHY" FEEL TO THE STEERING, WHICH I HAVE BEEN TOLD IS DUE TO ELECTRIC STEERING IN THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME MORE PRONOUNCED LATELY. ANY UNEVENNESS IN THE SURFACE OF THE ROAD WILL CAUSE THE TIRES TO JERK TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER, REQUIRING CONSTANT STEERING ADJUSTMENTS TO KEEP THE CAR GOING WHERE YOU WANT IT TO. THE ONLY WAY IT WILL TRACK IN A STRAIGHT LINE IS ON A PERFECTLY SMOOTH ROAD. I HAVE TRIED JACKING UP THE CAR AND FLEXING THE TIRES BACK AND FORTH MANUALLY TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING, BUT I HAVEN'T FOUND ANY. I'M AFRAID THAT ONE DAY I WILL FIND MYSELF ON A REALLY ROUGH ROAD AND BE UNABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR. I HAVE NOTED THAT LOTS OF OTHER Z4 OWNERS HAVE REPORTED STEERING PROBLEMS, SO BMW NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL TO ADDRESS IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ENTERING HER VEHICLE AND STARTING IT, SHE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO ANY GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED YET THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN 32,000 MILES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST WITH REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 41,900.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND TRYING TO MAKE A TURN, IT SUDDENLY BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE POWER STEERING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 28,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

2004 BMW Z4 - REGARDLESS OF THE CONDITIONS, THE STEERING WHEEL IS "NOTCHY" OR STICKY WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD. NATURALLY, WHEN DRIVING DOWN A ROAD, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO MAKE MINOR ROTATIONAL MOVEMENTS WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TO REMAIN IN A DRIVING LANE. IN ORDER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN THE LANE WITH THIS STICKY STEERING WHEEL, EXTRA FORCE IS REQUIRED TO ROTATE THE STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO SWERVE SLIGHTLY. THIS PROBLEM IS A MAJOR CONCERN AS SOMETIMES IT BECOMES PROBLEMATIC AND DANGEROUS WHEN THE WHEEL STICKS AROUND TURNS AND NARROWS LANES. DEALERSHIP STATES THIS IS "NORMAL" AND HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *TR

2004 BMW Z4 'STICKY STEERING'; FOLLOW UP TO EARLIER COMPLAINT, IN RESPONSE TO BMW LETTER OF 9/24. BMW DESCRIBES THE CONDITION AS A GRADUAL INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT NOTICEABLE WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST DRIVEN OFF, AND NOT A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN EFFORT. THIS IS INCORRECT. NOT A GRADUAL INCREASE IN EFFORT, BUT AN UNEXPECTED 'CATCH' THAT OCCURS, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN CHANGING LANES. *TR