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Sticky steering problem. Time to sort it! Help and advice.

Discuss problems you have had or are having with your Z4
Geezah
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Sticky steering problem. Time to sort it! Help and advice.

Post by Geezah » Wed Nov 16, 2016 6:53 pm

MACK wrote:
jamesbond wrote:sorry to give bad news ... but normally the only 100% fix is a new steering column
unless you can find someone to strip change the bearings and lubricate the worm gear .. for me I had to change the whole rack that cost £3k . this was BMW main dealer though but at least got a 2 year warranty
I'm Sorry but this simply isn't true, I have spoke to a few members privately on this and those that have done the german gear adjustment fix haven't had any further reoccurring issues.
German gear adjustment fix? Can you share this with us please?
2008 Z4 2.0i SE E85, Space Grey, 18" 241 staggered rims, 255/35/18, 225/40/18, 2 tone anthracite/silverstone leather Msport heated seats, M sport MFC Steering wheel, Bluetooth, Comfort pack, Tracker, Automatic climate control, Gaptech, Blah, blah.

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MACK
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Sticky steering problem. Time to sort it! Help and advice.

Post by MACK » Wed Nov 16, 2016 6:56 pm

Geezah wrote:
MACK wrote:
jamesbond wrote:sorry to give bad news ... but normally the only 100% fix is a new steering column
unless you can find someone to strip change the bearings and lubricate the worm gear .. for me I had to change the whole rack that cost £3k . this was BMW main dealer though but at least got a 2 year warranty
I'm Sorry but this simply isn't true, I have spoke to a few members privately on this and those that have done the german gear adjustment fix haven't had any further reoccurring issues.
German gear adjustment fix? Can you share this with us please?
There's a link to it in GuidoK's post on page 16 of this thread
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Shady Ady
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Sticky steering problem. Time to sort it! Help and advice.

Post by Shady Ady » Wed Nov 16, 2016 8:27 pm

Just followed the link but it's all in German, can anyone shed any light?
Cheers
Ady
3.0i SE Royal MFSW, ZHP, Cruise, Ginger, stubby, GAPTEH RCH+

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Ewazix
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Sticky steering problem. Time to sort it! Help and advice.

Post by Ewazix » Wed Nov 16, 2016 9:40 pm

Shady Ady wrote:Just followed the link but it's all in German, can anyone shed any light?
Cheers
Ady
Depending on your web browser it should translate, on Chrome either automatically or by right clicking and select 'translate'. Other browsers have similar functions but be warned the translation is usually a bit dodgy :)
2003 2.5 SE, low miles, Sterling Grey, 108's & Eagles, no stubby here! Unmolested.
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Shady Ady
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Sticky steering problem. Time to sort it! Help and advice.

Post by Shady Ady » Wed Nov 16, 2016 10:04 pm

Many thanks will have a go on the laptop tomorrow :thumbsup:
3.0i SE Royal MFSW, ZHP, Cruise, Ginger, stubby, GAPTEH RCH+

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MACK
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Sticky steering problem. Time to sort it! Help and advice.

Post by MACK » Wed Nov 16, 2016 11:22 pm

Ewazix wrote:
Shady Ady wrote:Just followed the link but it's all in German, can anyone shed any light?
Cheers
Ady
Depending on your web browser it should translate, on Chrome either automatically or by right clicking and select 'translate'. Other browsers have similar functions but be warned the translation is usually a bit dodgy :)[/quot
if memory serves and you do a search there are a few other threads on here that go through the procedure in plain english.
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bladeowner
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Sticky steering problem. Time to sort it! Help and advice.

Post by bladeowner » Wed Nov 16, 2016 11:41 pm

Shady Ady wrote:Just followed the link but it's all in German, can anyone shed any light?
Cheers
Ady
Have to agree with MACK. I now believe the majority of sticky steering issues can be cured by moving the eccentric ring - see here: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=78250&hilit=eccentric#p1152263

I later found that that 10mm movement sorted mine permanently although I had different bolts to the German peeps which caused access issues.
2004 Sapphire Black 2.5 SE Z4 SMG

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chutley
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Sticky steering problem. Time to sort it! Help and advice.

Post by chutley » Tue Apr 18, 2017 8:23 pm

Re-visiting this thread...

The movement of the tension ring by 12mm completely sorted my Z4 sticky steering. Many thanks for the steer bladeowner.
2007 BMW Z4 3.0Si
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bladeowner
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Sticky steering problem. Time to sort it! Help and advice.

Post by bladeowner » Tue Apr 18, 2017 10:54 pm

:thumbsup:
2004 Sapphire Black 2.5 SE Z4 SMG

Kamuela
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Sticky steering problem. Time to sort it! Help and advice.

Post by Kamuela » Wed Apr 19, 2017 1:08 am

Amazing, isn't it?
I nudged mine 14mm; total fix. I tried the grease thing first, only minor improvement. The trick for me was to remove the knee airbag so I could see what I was doing, and use a very shortened 6 mm stub with a universal and about a 4" extension. With that, it became almost easy. Aside, of course, from laying on my back under the dash, which is not at all fun.
Thanks to bladeowner and GuidoK for pointing me to the fix.

incubus
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Sticky steering problem. Time to sort it! Help and advice.

Post by incubus » Wed Jul 05, 2017 1:30 pm

Greetings,

I have just done it and it is simple and very effective. First I lubed my axle joints with some lithium based grease. In a left side wheeld car is pretty easy, with my averge sized hand could do it within 2 minutes. Then I drilled the whole, but for first time i did not do it right, the hole was offcentered, so I diceded to expand it, the original was 3 mm than i went to 4 and 5. With 5 mm i can see a small hole inside my hole, tha I sprayed some PFTE (Liquid teflon) into the hole. TBH i didn not cover it yet, I am planning to plug it with a greasing nipple. With the joint lube the car get definetly better (tried separately), but in hot weather the stickyness remaind. After the drill IT HAS GONE! Thanks for the orignal poster (Bmwha) and all of you who made comments and shared your experience. Now I can use my car safely and drive it like it meant to be!

Cheers from Hungary!

PS: If any of you looking for help my Hungarian fellows (and of course any of you also), PM me. :) :)

BB16 STU
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Sticky steering problem. Time to sort it! Help and advice.

Post by BB16 STU » Sun Apr 29, 2018 9:04 am

Hi Bladeowner,

I have just bought an 04 Z4 3.0 as a weekend runner with what seems to be exactly the same problem you had. Are there any videos or more detailed pictures showing how to adjust the eccentric ring. I'd prefer to try that before do any drilling!

Cheers,
Stu
Current:
2016 BMW F30 330e Msport+
2004 BMW E85 Z4 3.0se (manual)
Previous:
2003 E39 530i Msport (auto)
2004 E46 330ci Msport (manual)
2008 E85 Z4 3.0si se (manual)
2008 E92 330i Msport (auto)

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bladeowner
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Sticky steering problem. Time to sort it! Help and advice.

Post by bladeowner » Sun Apr 29, 2018 10:32 am

BB16 STU wrote: Sun Apr 29, 2018 9:04 am Hi Bladeowner,

I have just bought an 04 Z4 3.0 as a weekend runner with what seems to be exactly the same problem you had. Are there any videos or more detailed pictures showing how to adjust the eccentric ring. I'd prefer to try that before do any drilling!

Cheers,
Stu
This thread should give you the best answers with pics and the BMW official instructions. viewtopic.php?f=3&t=100725
2004 Sapphire Black 2.5 SE Z4 SMG

BB16 STU
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Sticky steering problem. Time to sort it! Help and advice.

Post by BB16 STU » Sun Apr 29, 2018 10:57 am

Perfect. Thanks mate.
Current:
2016 BMW F30 330e Msport+
2004 BMW E85 Z4 3.0se (manual)
Previous:
2003 E39 530i Msport (auto)
2004 E46 330ci Msport (manual)
2008 E85 Z4 3.0si se (manual)
2008 E92 330i Msport (auto)

Jimothy87
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Sticky steering problem. Time to sort it! Help and advice.

Post by Jimothy87 » Sun Apr 29, 2018 11:09 am

Another success story here. Thanks for bringing this to light! Adjusted the ring by around 10mm and solved it. Thanks again.

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