Power steering failure

cockerhoop · Post by **cockerhoop** » Tue Jun 27, 2017 8:32 pm

Hello there

I have a 2005 Z4 that has done under 40k. Recently the power steering stopped working, but not all the time. When I start the car it won't work. However after I drive the car for between 15 to 20 minutes and re start the engine it often works and will continue to work until I leave it turned off for a while.

I have read lots of posts about steering failure but non that seem to match these symptoms. I have taken it to my local trusted independent garage. He reckons its the control module that's gone.

He wants to remove the steering column and send it away to get fixed and has quoted me about £850.

Any thoughts welcome.

hopz121 · Post by **hopz121** » Tue Jun 27, 2017 9:52 pm

Its most likely the Column mate, who is the indy?

£850 isn't too bad a new one from BMW is a crazy price!

cockerhoop · Post by **cockerhoop** » Tue Jun 27, 2017 11:03 pm

He is a local guy who has done my vw for the last few years. I was introduced to him from some work colleagues who swear by him. I cant quite remember what he said now, but it was something like £650 to have the column refurbished / fixed. The rest was labour and shipping for the column. He seemed pretty confident he knew what the issue was and said final price would be £750 - £850 and leave the car with him for a week.
He has fixed other problems for way less than dealers and other places have quoted me in the past.

Seems pretty crappy for a car that's done less than 40K.

Just hope his diagnosis is right and its not jut something simple. I've read about people simply changing the battery and the problem going away

bladeowner · Post by **bladeowner** » Wed Jun 28, 2017 1:09 am

I would check the battery voltage after the car's been left for a while first. Should read over 12V really. The fact that the steering works after running for 15 mins and then restarting would make me suspicious of the state of the battery. Buy yourself a cheap multimeter from Maplins and check it. A new battery is a lot less than £750 and the meter will come in handy at other times.

k31ron · Post by **k31ron** » Wed Jun 28, 2017 7:08 am

Similar symptoms to when mine went at about 45k.

£850 is pretty good if its a column failure... To compare it was about £2.5k new or £300 second hand plus fitting.

Some on here have converted to hydraulic which is what I would do if it happened again.

Fingers crossed its not the column and just battery voltage or other cheap fix

Wacaday · Post by **Wacaday** » Fri Jun 30, 2017 9:06 pm

Hi, I'm having the exact same issues on my 2003 Z4 2.5i.
I will be watching this thread closely and will also report any progress that I make, lets hope we find the issue soon.

So far I have replaced my battery, which hasn't made any difference.
It strange that it works some times but not others.

Good luck.

cockerhoop · Post by **cockerhoop** » Fri Jun 30, 2017 11:40 pm

Thanks
I have booked in for next week.
I will check voltage tomorrow just in case.

cockerhoop · Post by **cockerhoop** » Fri Aug 04, 2017 8:36 pm

Well
I finally got my Z back today and the power steering works again. My local garage sent the steering column away somewhere to get fixed. Took a while to come back, but all seems well.

hopz121 · Post by **hopz121** » Fri Aug 04, 2017 10:51 pm

cockerhoop wrote: ↑Fri Aug 04, 2017 8:36 pm Well
I finally got my Z back today and the power steering works again. My local garage sent the steering column away somewhere to get fixed. Took a while to come back, but all seems well.

Good stuff glad to hear it, maybe put the details of garage up if you don't mind people knowing albs handy for other forum users

Z4-forum.com

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