2004 BMW Z4 complaints

A YEAR OR SO AGO I NOTICED THE STEERING ON MY BMW Z4 WOULD GET "NOTCHY" AND FEEL "STICKY" AT THE END OF THE DAY. EVENTUALLY I WAS ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR WHEN PARKED OUTSIDE IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT. I FOUND IT ODD THIS WOULD BE BROUGHT ON BY TIME IN THE SUN, BUT AFTER SOME RESEARCH ONLINE DISCOVERED MANY PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. UNFORTUNATELY IT APPEARED EXPERIENCES WITH BMW SERVICE VARIED, AND SINCE MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY A "FIX" WOULD BE A REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AT THE TUNE OF 3-4 THOUSAND DOLLARS. WHEN I HEARD THIS ISSUE WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION I DECIDED TO WAIT FOR A DECISION AS IT SEEMED LIKELY SUCH ISSUES WITH STEERING WOULD BE ADDRESSED. I HAVE FOLLOWED THE CASE CLOSELY AND HAVE BEEN READING BMW'S RESPONSES TO NHTSA. SEVERAL OF THEIR ARGUMENTS AGAINST ADDRESSING THIS ARE ESPECIALLY DISTURBING. BMW APPEARS TO RECOGNIZE THE ISSUE, BUT CLAIMS THE EFFECT IS "MINOR". I AM NOT AN EXPERT AND CANNOT SAY WHETHER IT PRESENTS RISK, BUT AS A DRIVER I CAN TELL YOU ANY STEERING EFFECTS ARE DISTURBING AND DISTRACTING. BMW CLAIMS THE EFFECT ONLY OCCURS DURING SPECIFIC/LIMITED CONDITIONS - HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES AND DIRECT SUNLIGHT. WHAT REALLY UPSETS ME ABOUT THIS STATEMENT IS THAT IT'S A CONVERTIBLE SPORTS CAR MARKETED FOR THESE CONDITIONS, SO WHILE THEY MAY BE "SPECIFIC AND LIMITED", THEY ARE PRIMARY CONDITIONS FOR THIS CAR. FINALLY, BMW CLAIMS THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE OF SAFETY, BUT ONE OF QUALITY. FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THERE ARE SOME SUBSYSTEMS WH

WHEN CAR SITS OUT IN THE HOT SUN 100 DEGREES OR BETTER FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, IS DIFFICULT. STEERING WHEEL STAYS IN A TUNING POSITION AND DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER, IT STICKS IN WHATEVER TURN YOU PUT IT IN. YOU MUST MANUALLY FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO CENTER. JUST TODAY 10/26/2010 ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED WHILE DRIVING AND THE CAR WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS. *TR

WHEN DRIVING IN HOT WEATHER, THE STEERING WHEEL GET VERY STICKY AND NEED EXTENSIVE FORCE TO BE MANEUVER. I WENT TO MY DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY NEED TO CHANGE THE EPS AND THAT ITS NOT COVER SINCE IT HAPPENED 1 MONTH AFTER THE END OF THE WARRANTEE. ITS SEEM THAT A LOT OF OWNER HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THEIR IS STILL NO RECALL FROM BMW. I NOW LIVE IN CANADA BUT MY CAR IS FROM THE STATE AND I AM FILLING A COMPLAINT SO THAT BMW WOULD BE FORCE TO ACT ON THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM.

THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS, IT FEELS LIKE IT IS BINDING WHICH REQUIRED INCREASED STEERING EFFORT THAT MADE IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO OVER-STEER WHEN MAKING HARD AND ABRUPT STEERING WHEEL MOVEMENTS. THE FAILURE IS MORE NOTICEABLE AT HIGHER VEHICLE SPEEDS (HIGHWAY SPEEDS) AND IN WARM/HOT WEATHER (85 F). *TR

2004 BMW Z4 - STEERING PROBLEM: I JUST RECENTLY MOVED TO SOUTH FLORIDA FROM DENVER AND NOW HAVE NOTCHY/STICKY STEERING WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (60 MPH) WHEN IT IS WARM (70 DEGREES). MAKING SMALL CORRECTIONS REQUIRES A LARGE INPUT CAUSING THE CAR TO GO OUTSIDE OF IT'S LANE. HAVE HAD SEVERAL VERY CLOSE CALLS. TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER, BMW SOUTH IN SOUTH MIAMI AND THEY WANT TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN FOR $3,200. THIS PROBLEM IS A MATTER OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND SOON A DRIVER OR THE PUBLIC WILL BE HURT OR KILLED. BMW NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND MAKE THE STEERING SAFE OR THE NHTSA NEEDS TO DIRECT THEM TO RECALL THE CARS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

ON WARMER DAYS (80+ F), MY 2004 BMW Z4 STEERING WILL STICK IN ONE POSITION WHILE DRIVING, REQUIRING EXCESSIVE FORCE TO UNSTICK. THIS IS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE AT HIGHER SPEEDS (45+ MPH) WHERE SMALLER MOVEMENTS ARE REQUIRED, AND THE TENDENCY IS TO OVER CORRECT WHEN THE STICKS OCCUR. *TR

2004 BMW Z4 STEERING SYSTEM FAILS TO PERFORM PROPERLY AND IS UNSAFE WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS SOMEWHERE ABOVE 80 DEGREES (F). ON ALL WARM DAYS, THE STEERING BECOMES UNSAFE - HEAVY, AND DOES NOT PERFORM PROPERLY - IT BECOMES HARD FOR THE DRIVER TO CONTROL AND "NOTCHY" TO STEER. *TR

WHEN AIR TEMPERATURE IS GREATER THAN APPROXIMATELY 80 DEGREES F, THE STEERING ON MY 2004 BMW Z4 BECOMES "STICKY" REQUIRING A MUCH HIGHER LEVEL OF EFFORT TO MAKE STEERING ADJUSTMENTS. INITIALLY THIS HIGHER LEVEL OF EFFORT IS APPLIED WITH NO CHANGE IN VEHICLE DIRECTION AND THEN WITH ADDITIONAL EFFORT VEHICLE DIRECTION CHANGES SIGNIFICANTLY REQUIRING RE-CORRECTION TO KEEP VEHICLE IN LANE AND/OR ON THE ROAD. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 60 MPH EPS LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR LOST IT'S POWER STEERING. I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY PARKED THE CAR, TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND BACK ON AND EPS LIGHT WENT OFF. AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS THE EPS LIGHT STARTED TO TURN ON EVERYDAY, SPECIALLY IN THE AFTERNOON. TOOK THE CAR TO A BMW DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS JUST A LOOSE CABLE. THE DAY AFTER I GOT MY CAR FROM THE DEALER AND NOTHING HAD CHANGED. TOOK IT BACK AND THEY SAID THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE UPPER SECTION OF THE STEERING COLUMN QUOTING ME A TOTAL OF REPAIR COSTS OF $3000.00 AFTER DISCOUNTS. COULD NOT AFFORD THE REPAIR COSTS AT THAT MOMENT AND CAR HASN'T BEEN REPAIRED TILL THIS DAY. *TR

STEERING WHEEL "STICKS". REQUIRES FORCE TO MOVE TO EITHER SIDE FROM CURRENT POSITION. HAPPENS ALMOST DAILY WHEN TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 85 DEGREES. *TR

2004 BMW Z4 STEERING ISSUE. WHILE DRIVING MY Z4 OVER THE PAST MONTH I HAVE HAD INCIDENTS OF MY STEERING LOCKING TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. I NEVER KNOW WHEN THE TIME WILL COME AND IT IS VERY SCARY. MY WIFE HAD HAPPEN TO HER YESTERDAY AND ALMOST LOST CONTROL. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER TODAY AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE ISSUE BUT WOULD REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN FOR $3000,00. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I NOTICED MANY COMPLAINTS AND FEEL A RECALL SHOULD OCCUR BECAUSE THIS IS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

2004 BMW Z4, VIN:[XXX], 63000 MILES THE BMW IS HAVING A SEVERE STEERING PROBLEM ON HOT SUMMER DAYS. TRAVELING AT 70MPH ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR CAN BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS PROBLEM IS RELATED TO AN ELECTRIC STEERING. THE STEERING IS SUPPOSED TOO TIGHTEN SOME DEPENDING ON SPEED AND DRIVING CONDITIONS. IN MANY CASES THAT I HAVE FOUND IN RESEARCH IT GETS TO TIGHT AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE THE MINIMUM OF STEERING CORRECTIONS. IN MY CASE IT CAN MAKE THE CAR MOVE INTO ANOTHER LANE ON THE HIGHWAY FROM A SMALL CORRECTION. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE ARE SIMILAR PROBLEMS IN THE MINI COOPER, Z4, AND 3 SERIES BMW'S. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO A BMW DEALER (SUNBELT MOTORS, INC., MERIDIAN, MS) FOR DIAGNOSIS. THEIR SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN IN THE CAR AT A COST OF $2600.00 (PARTS ONLY) PLUS LABOR. I CONTACTED BMW AND OPEN A CASE STUDY WITH THEM REGARDING THIS MATTER. THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY DO NOT FEEL ANY RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR OR OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. ALL IT TAKES IS A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH FOR: BMW Z4 STEERING PROBLEMS TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

2004 BMW Z4 WITH LOSS OF POWER ASSISTED STEERING. DEALER MADE FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND FRONT TIRES WERE REPLACED. OLD PARTS TO FRONT END WERE NOT GIVEN BACK. *TR

I OWN A 2004 BMW Z-4 WITH 18,648 MI ON THE ODOMETER. I HAVE THE SAME STEERING PROBLEMS AS MOST OTHER OWNER'S. THE STEERING IS OVER REACTIVE, THE PROBLEM IS MORE PRONOUNCED IN WARM/HOT WEATHER. AT TIMES IT FEELS LIKE THE POWER STEERING IS SLUGGISH OR NOT WORKING. WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT I CAN FEEL A CHATTERING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN I WENT TO THE, HE TOLD ME HIS MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING AND THERE WASN'T ANY THING HE COULD DO ANY WAY. I HAVE CHECKED ON LINE AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF UNHAPPY OWNER'S OUT THERE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS SAFETY DEFECT AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. MY WIFE IS THE PRINCIPLE DRIVER OF THE CAR AND SHE HAS COMPLAINED OF STEERING CONTROL PROBLEMS. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT HER SAFETY AND OTHER DRIVERS OF Z-4. CAN YOU HELP ME!! *TR

I HAVE 2004 Z4 BMW THE STEERING IS STICKY IT FEELS LIKE THAT IS BINDING AND HAVE TO USE EXTRA EFFORT TO CONTROL CAR. AT TIMES I HAVE TO JERK IT BACK INTO LINE. AT TIMES IT FEELS LIKE IM FIGHTING WITH IT . *TR

POWER STEERING ON CAR IS VERY STIFF IN THE CENTER CAUSING GREAT DIFFICULTY IN TURNING, AND THEN SAFELY TURNING / KEEPING THE CAR IN THE PROPER LANE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY BMW ON THESE CARS, AND I BELIEVE AN INVESTIGATION LEADING TO A RECALL IS UNDER WAY. I AM AFRAID TO ALLOW MY 22 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO DRIVE THIS CAR. IT SEEMS TO BE MUCH WORSE IN HIGH TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS. *TR

STEERING STICKS WHEN IT'S HOT OR SITTING IN TRAFFIC. NEED TO APPLY EFFORT TO MOVE THE WHEEL WHICH IS A CONCERN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DUE TO POSSIBLE OVERSTEER. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND HIGH TEMPERATURES. *TR

I HAVE A BMW Z4 THAT HAS STEERING ISSUES. THE CAR IS HARDLY EVER DRIVEN AND ONLY HAS 24K MILES. THE DEALER IS TELLING ME THAT I NEED A NEW POWER STEERING COLUMN AT APPROX. $3500. HOW CAN THAT BE THAT BAD IN WHAT I THOUGHT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A FINE ENGINEERED CAR? *TR

ONLY IN HOT WEATHER THE STEERING BECOMES VERY HARD AND STICKY AND REQUIRES INCREASED FORCE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE BMW DEALER CLAIMS THEY CANNOT FIND AN "INTERNAL BULLETIN" #4515500-02, RELEASED ON 05/05/06. IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STAY IN YOUR LANE, AND TWO HANDS ARE NEEDED TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS DEFECT ACTS UP AFTER SITTING IN THE SUN OR HOT WEATHER. THIS IS NOT NOTICEABLE UNTIL YOU HAVE REACHED SPEEDS OF 30 MPH OR OVER AT WHICH TIME YOU ARE PRETTY MUCH COMMITTED TO FIGHT THE STEERING. THIS BECOMES VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS. BMW IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND CLAIMS IT'S NOT A "SAFETY ISSUE". I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALER BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SAY I NEED A STEERING RACK FOR OVER $4000.00. THE "BULLETIN" SAYS THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE EPS COLUMN WITH A MODIFIED ONE WHICH WAS AVAILABLE SINCE WEEKS 17 AND 18 OF 2006. UNFORTUNATELY, I BOUGHT MY CAR USED AND WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THE STEERING DANGERS. IT TOOK SOME TIME TO RESEARCH THIS PROBLEM AND YET, BMW IS NOT WILLING TO FIX THIS DEFECT. *TR

MY STEERING BECOMES DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. SEEMS TO HAPPEN ONLY ON THE FREEWAY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BECOME EXTREMELY STIFF WHEN DRIVING IN VERY HOT TEMPERATURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR A MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HAVING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 44,200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 44,300.

STEERING BECOMES STICKY IN HOT WEATHER. THE STEERING WHEEL FEELS NOTCHY AND DOES NOT RESPOND IMMEDIATELY WHEN TURNED - FEELS LIKE IT IS STUCK IN CENTER POSITION. AGGRESSIVE MOVEMENT RESTORES RESPONSE BUT CONDITION REMAINS PRESENT. SITUATION NOTICED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN 90 DEG. WEATHER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN TRAVELING THE SPEED RATE OF 45 MPH AND HIGHER. THE CONTACT WOULD NOT DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO THE STEERING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE POWER STEERING AND STEERING COLUMN. THE PARTS ESTIMATED COST WAS $3,000. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.

WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS CENTERED WHILE DRIVING, IT TAKES SOME EFFORT TO MAKE A STEERING ADJUSTMENT SUCH AS KEEPING THE CAR CENTERED IN THE DRIVING LANE. THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO BE STUCK AND TO OVER COME THIS ONE MUST OVER-STEER THE CAR AND THEN BRING IT BACK TO CENTER. SOME TIMES THIS RESULTS IN AN ABRUPT OVER TURN AND CAUSES THE CAR TO ALMOST LURCH OUT OF THE DRIVING LANE. *TR

2004 BMW Z4 3.0. THE STEERING IS STICKY WHEN AMBIENT TEMP OVER 90 DEGREES OUTSIDE. DEALER STATES NO PROBLEM. READ THE NEWS AND SAW THE NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING. YOU GUYS ARE WELCOME TO DRIVE MINE TO SEE THE PROBLEM IN ACTION. WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE (AS IT OFTEN IS IN JACKSONVILLE, FL) THE CAR IS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE BECAUSE OF THE "STICKY STEERING." *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT A MINIMUM OF 50 MPH IN WARM TEMPERATURES, THE POWER STEERING WOULD SPORADICALLY FAIL. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY VEER FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,388.

MY 2004 BMW Z4 HAS 33,000 MILES ON IT. WITHIN THE LAST 1,000 MILES IT HAS DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WITH STICKY OR RATCHET-LIKE STEERING WHICH HAS CAUSED ME TO OVERSTEER AT TIMES. IT IS WORSE WHEN THE WEATHER IS HOT. I AM BECOMING AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON FLAW. BMW NEEDS TO ACT. THANK YOU! *TR

2004 BMW Z4-STICKY STEERING-POWER STEERING STICKS, SEAMS TO BE WORSE IN HOTTER WEATHER, CAUSES YOU TO OVERCORRECT WHEN DRIVING AND THIS HAPPENS, I CAN SEE WHERE THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS IF YOU ARE NOT REALLY PAYING ATTENTION. OR COULD CAUSE TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL GIVEN THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES. *TR

STEERING STICKS ON HOT DAYS OR COOL DAYS AFTER SITTING IN TRAFFIC. REQUIRES EXTRA EFFORT TO MOVE THE WHEEL WHICH THEN BREAKS "FREE" AND TENDS TO OVER REACT CAUSING LANE RETENTION ISSUES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

IF MY CAR VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE SUN FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, INCREASED FORCE IS REQUIRED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE ANY PROBLEMS AT LOWER TEMPERATURES OR AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT. THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS/BINDS OR LOCKS UP, AND REQUIRES A LOT OF EFFORT TO MOVE WHICH RESULTS IN OVERCORRECTING WHICH PRODUCES SEVERE OVER OR UNDER-STEER. THE PROBLEM IS MOST NOTICEABLE AT SPEEDS OVER 50MPH. *TR

IN WARM WEATHER, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE POWER STEERING STICKS AND THE WHEEL DOES NOT RETURN TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION ON IT'S OWN. AT TIMES THE WHEEL SEEMS TO TURN ON IT'S OWN AND YOU MUST CONSTANTLY HAVE A FIRM GRIP ON THE STEERING WHEEL READY TO CORRECT ANY UNWANTED MOVEMENT. *TR

WHEN TEMPERATURE IS HOT OUTSIDE THE ELECTRIC STEERING IN MY BMW Z BECOMES EXTREMELY TIGHT. ANY ATTEMPTS TP CORRECT THE STEERING RESULTS IN A JERKY MOVEMENT THE CAR IS VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AT ANY SPEED. *TR

1. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ALL DAY OUTDOORS ON A HOT SUNNY JULY DAY IN TEMECULA, CA. WHILE DRIVING IT HOME ON I15 AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO TURN AND WOULD NOT STAY ON CENTER, MAKING IT CHALLENGING TO SIMPLY STAY WITHIN MY LANE. THIS LASTED FOR 10-15 MINUTES, THEN THE STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL. FORTUNATELY, THIS SECTION OF FREEWAY IS RELATIVELY STRAIGHT AND THE TRAFFIC HAPPENED TO BE MODERATE. 2. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ONLY ONCE IN THE 6 WEEKS I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. 3. I HAVE NOT YET TAKEN STEPS TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. HOWEVER, I HAVE SEARCHED ONLINE FOR STEERING ISSUES WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL AND LEARNED THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE. THOSE WHO HAVE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE ISSUE CORRECTED BY THEIR LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAY THE REPAIR REPORTEDLY INVOLVES REPLACING THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AT A COST OF NEARLY $4000. MY VEHICLE HAS UNDER 20,000 MILES BUT IS BEYOND THE 48 MONTH WARRANTY PERIOD. HAVING READ RECENTLY IN THE NEWSPAPER THAT NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING POWER STEERING ISSUES IN 2003-2005 BMW Z4'S, I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT IF THERE IS A KNOWN SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM THAT IS LESS COSTLY OR THAT IS COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER BEFORE COMMITTING TO A $4000 REPAIR ON A LOW-MILEAGE USED VEHICLE THAT I ONLY RECENTLY PURCHASED. *TR

IN HOT WEATHER, STEERING GETS STICKY AND CAR BECOMES MORE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. HAD REPAIRED ONCE BUT PROBLEM CONTINUES. VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 10,000 MILES. *TR

MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FEELS LIKE IT BINDS WHEN TURNING AND ALSO FEELS NOTCHY AND WILL NOT RETURN TO CENTER WHEN TURN IS COMPLETED. MOSTLY WHEN OUTDOOR TEMP IS WARMER THAN 80 DEGREES. *TR

WHEN MY Z4 HAS BEEN SITTING IN DIRECT SUN FOR A WHILE THE STEERING BECOMES STICKY. MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. CAUSING THE CAR TO SWERVE INTO OTHER LANES. BMW HAVE QUOTED 3500 TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN, I'M CURRENTLY NEGOTIATING WITH THEM TO REDUCE THIS COST. *TR

STEERING IS SOMETIMES "STICKY" -- WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED FROM ITS CURRENT STATIC POSITION, HIGHER THAN NORMAL RESISTANCE TO TURNING IS FELT. ONCE THE INITIAL RESISTANCE IS OVERCOME, THE RESISTANCE LESSENS, RESULTING IN A TENDENCY TO TURN THE WHEEL FURTHER THAN WAS INTENDED. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SMOOTHLY STEER THE CAR ON ITS INTENDED PATH AND RESULTS IN THE CAR WANDERING FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND SEEMS TO HAPPEN ONLY IN HOT WEATHER. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED YET TO THE VEHICLE (I HAVE ONLY RECENTLY ACQUIRED IT). *TR

2004 BMW Z4 STICKY STEERING WHEN IT'S HOT OUT. SOMETHING WITH THE POWER STEERING OR SOME OTHER STEERING COMPONENT MAKES IT SO THAT THE STEERING WHEEL TAKES EXTRA FORCE TO INITIATE A CHANGE IN THE POSITION OF THE WHEEL. THE EFFECT IS MOST NOTICEABLE AT SPEEDS 35MPH OR HIGHER, IT'S MOST PRONOUNCED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHERE MINOR CORRECTIONS ARE IMPORTANT AND SHOULD NOT TAKE MUCH FORCE. THIS COULD EASILY RESULT IN TOO MUCH STEERING FORCE BEING USED IN THE WRONG SITUATION. *TR

2004 Z4 STEERING STICKS AT UNPREDICTABLE TIMES CAUSING SEVERAL NEAR MISS INCIDENTS DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I MUST YANK THE WHEEL HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. HAPPENS AT LOW AND HIGH RATES OF SPEED. *TR

STEERING WHEEL "STICKS/CATCHES" BOTH TO LEFT AND RIGHT OF TOP CENTER. PROBLEM IS ONLY EVIDENT WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE ABOVE 80F AND AT SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MPH. HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM SINCE BUYING THE CAR OVER TWO YEARS AGO BUT IT IS SPORADIC. HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE UNTIL THIS WEEK. DEALER WAS FINALLY ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM AND WILL REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN (SCHEDULED FOR WEEK OF 7/12/2010). BMW WILL PICK UP COST OF PARTS BUT I MUST PAY FOR LABOR. *TR

I OWN A 2004 BMW Z4. I HAVE NOTICED IN THE PAST THAT THE STEERING "STICKS" SOMETIMES ON THE HIGHWAY....TYPICAL LIGHT-TOUCH ATTEMPTS AT STRAIGHTENING OUT MY PATH DON'T DO ANYTHING, THE WHEEL DOESN'T TURN. IF I PUT MORE PRESSURE THAN USUAL INTO THE TURN, THE CAR "SNAPS BACK" AND TURNS, BUT TURNS TOO FAR DUE TO ALL THE PRESSURE I'D PUT ON IT. IT'S A REAL ROAD HAZARD. I JUST READ IN THE NEWSPAPER ABOUT HOW THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THEM AND IS BEING LOOKED INTO, SO I WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER MY OFFICIAL "ME TOO". *TR

2004 BMW Z4. MY POWER STEERING IS "STICKING" AS PER THE PE 10-020 INVESTIGATION. VERY DISCONCERTING WHEN EFFORT IS NEEDED TO "BREAK IT LOOSE" TO TURN THE WHEELS. RESULTS IN A "JERK" OF THE CAR IN THE DIRECTION OF THE TURN. *TR

STEERING ON MY 2004 BMW Z4 3.0I STICKS. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 BMW Z4 3.0. WHEN DRIVING ON A HOT DAY THE STEERING SEEMS TO "STICK" IN TURNS MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE CAR HAS APPROX 20000 MILES ON IT. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 BMW Z4. I AM WRITING TO MAKE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE WAY THE VEHICLE STEERS. WHEN AT HIGHER SPEEDS, YOU HAVE TO USE MORE FORCE THAN SHOULD BE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THIS THEN CAUSES OVER-STEERING OF THE VEHICLE. I ALSO WROTE A COMPLAINT TO BMW OF AMERICA ABOUT THIS CONCERN. *TR

IN WARM WEATHER MY BMW Z4 STEERING STICKS. YOU HAVE TO REALLY PULL THE WHEEL TO GET IT TO "UNLOCK." I'VE ALMOST SMASHED INTO SEVERAL PEOPLE IN ADJACENT LANES BECAUSE OF THIS. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED. *TR

THE STEERING ON MY WIFE'S 2004 BMW Z4 BECOMES "STICKY" IN HOT WEATHER MAKING IT SOMEWHAT HARD TO CONTROL. *TR

I HAVE A BMW Z4 2004 WITH 24000 MILES. THE CAR HAS A SERIOUS STEERING PROBLEM SO I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. THIS CAR WILL NOT STEER STRAIGT AND WONDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD. I TOOK THE CAR TO BMW DEALER AND THEY WANTED $2500. TO LOOK AT IT. *TR

THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2004 BMW Z4 PERIODICALLY BECOMES VERY FIRM WHILE DRIVING, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SMOOTHLY MAKE MINOR CORRECTIONS TO THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL. ONE TIME IT WAS SO SEVERE THAT IN THE RAIN I ENDED UP BRIEFLY LOOSING CONTROL OF THE CAR. THANKFULLY I MANAGED TO REGAIN CONTROL WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING OR ANY ONE. MY PARTNER AND I HAVE SINCE BEEN VERY ATTENTIVE TO THE STEERING IN THIS CAR AND HAVE NOTICED MANY ANOMALIES, ESPECIALLY IN HIGH TEMPERATURES. REPEATED INQUIRES AT THE DEALERSHIP -- INCLUDING TEST DRIVES -- HAVE TURNED UP NO IDENTIFIED PROBLEMS AS FAR AS BMW IS CONCERNED. *TR