2003 BMW Z4

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

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

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.

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