[elrey21]

After months of torture with this noise its finally fixed. Got my car back after 2 and half weeks at the dealer. This was the third and final time I tried getting this problem fixed before I lemoned the car. Here is what the dealer found. It turned out to be something loose inside of the steering column. I know others have had this issue so heres the info. I just hope it doesnt come back.

[SamS]

Yup. You got the new steering unit, the same one supplied on all F30s beginning with Nov '12 production.

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?...32&fg=12&hl=35

[PeterM]

Damn I'd hate to be that tech to remove and re-install all that. Hope warranty pays good for him.

[matt_435xi]

Originally Posted by PeterM

Damn I'd hate to be that tech to remove and re-install all that. Hope warranty pays good for him.

yeah, the dealership gets reimbursed for their warranty hours by BMW

[shivaswrath]

Lol the poor tech almost wrote it up with a little attitude: installed, replaced, still present...rinse, repeat.

You'd think BMW would centralize this so other dealers could save their time and BMW would save money on reimbursing the dealerships for work!

[Seagull]

How long did all that take?!?!

[elrey21]

Originally Posted by Seagull

How long did all that take?!?!

Two and a half weeks for all of this .... The steering in comfort mode requires a bit more effort now and sport is really sporty ... I guess it's the nature of the new rack.... I'm happy it all worked out so that no I can focus on the mods I've wanted to do.

[tiobueno]

How bad was this clunking? Every time you moved the steering wheel? Did it start small and get worse ? I sometimes get a small clunk when I steer , but its random cant replicate. Taking it to the dealer.

[Boosted John]

Originally Posted by SamS

Yup. You got the new steering unit, the same one supplied on all F30s beginning with Nov '12 production.

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?...32&fg=12&hl=35

I'm so happy my car is a Nov. production car. glad they were able to fix your problem..

[SV77]

Did you have VSS (Sport Steering)? Which RIMS?
I am experiencing the same problem on mine.

[BMWrules7]

Originally Posted by elrey21

After months of torture with this noise its finally fixed. Got my car back after 2 and half weeks at the dealer. This was the third and final time I tried getting this problem fixed before I lemoned the car. Here is what the dealer found. It turned out to be something loose inside of the steering column. I know others have had this issue so heres the info. I just hope it doesnt come back.

Attachment 817784

Remind me never to use any physician if he or she happens to be brother or sister of that BMW tech.

Removed left arm, pain still present. Replaced old arm with new arm, pain still present. Removed right arm. Pain still present. Replaced left arm with new arm. Pain still present.

Removed left leg. Pain still present. Replaced left leg with new leg. Pain still present. Removed right leg. Pain still present.

Removed lower mandible. Pain gone. Found cavity in lower left tooth.

[martinf79]

I find that when I first move the car and turn the steering wheel I also notice a very slight "click", but then seems to go away. Only happens when I first move the car (i.e. first turn it on and make a big turn of the steering wheel). Is this what everyone else has been noticing? Is it worth bringing in and trying to get them to install the new column? I just don't want them to completely disassemble my car like they did to you...

[elrey21]

Originally Posted by martinf79

I find that when I first move the car and turn the steering wheel I also notice a very slight "click", but then seems to go away. Only happens when I first move the car (i.e. first turn it on and make a big turn of the steering wheel). Is this what everyone else has been noticing? Is it worth bringing in and trying to get them to install the new column? I just don't want them to completely disassemble my car like they did to you...

I still here a slight click when moving the steering wheel left or right in stationary position but that seems to be normal even in other F series cars ive driven with the VSS. Mine was a noise and a "clunk" that I not only heard but felt at my feet when going over uneven roads.

[xDrive35i]

I've had two X3's with this exact problem. Each time they replace the rack, the noise will come back slowly within 3 weeks. Just wait.

[elgandashvili]

Originally Posted by BMWrules7

Remind me never to use any physician if he or she happens to be brother or sister of that BMW tech.

Removed left arm, pain still present. Replaced old arm with new arm, pain still present. Removed right arm. Pain still present. Replaced left arm with new arm. Pain still present.

Removed left leg. Pain still present. Replaced left leg with new leg. Pain still present. Removed right leg. Pain still present.

Removed lower mandible. Pain gone. Found cavity in lower left tooth.

Lol

[elrey21]

Originally Posted by juddholland

I've had two X3's with this exact problem. Each time they replace the rack, the noise will come back slowly within 3 weeks. Just wait.

I dont know.... The noise was never gradual... I got the car with 8 Miles on the ODO and it was there from the very beginning. I had a "malfunction" in the car and brought it in for service with 800 miles on it... told them to check it to no avail. I really hope it doesn't since now that its fixed, ill be installing my H&R's and M5 Reps along with a bunch of other cosmetic updates.

[xDrive35i]

Originally Posted by elrey21

I dont know.... The noise was never gradual... I got the car with 8 Miles on the ODO and it was there from the very beginning. I had a "malfunction" in the car and brought it in for service with 800 miles on it... told them to check it to no avail. I really hope it doesn't since now that its fixed, ill be installing my H&R's and M5 Reps along with a bunch of other cosmetic updates.

Good luck to you is all I can really say. It's essentially the same steering assembly, so I don't know what to tell you.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by elrey21

I still here a slight click when moving the steering wheel left or right in stationary position but that seems to be normal even in other F series cars ive driven with the VSS. Mine was a noise and a "clunk" that I not only heard but felt at my feet when going over uneven roads.

In my situation my clunking steering started with noticing that there wasn't a steering lock on this new F30. The wheel doesn't lock so you can move it after the engine is shut off. My nephew was playing with the steering wheel moving it left and right. That's when I noticed a thunk noise. So I tried moving the wheel left and right and sure enough it was making a thunking sound.
I tried it at the dealer lot but the 2 F30's I tried didn't make the sound my 335i.
No big deal as it only did this when the engine was not running, when the engine was running there was power assist so I couldn't hear any noises.

After a few months I noticed a light 'clunk' in the steering wheel when I would turn the wheel past 90 degrees mainly while parking because that's when you make the biggest steering movements.
It got louder and consistent over the miles. When I turn the steering wheel left or right past 90 degrees there is a thunk/clunk I can hear and mostly I feel. I don't like it cause steering shouldn't feel like there is something loose in there, it's disconcerting.

I don't hear or feel any clunks or thunks when going over bumps as the steering doesn't move very much when going straight.
But it does feel like the problem is progressive and getting more pronounced.
Haven't taken it to the dealer yet, but I'm going in soon to start the dreaded process of finding out what it is.

[elrey21]

Originally Posted by RPM90

In my situation my clunking steering started with noticing that there wasn't a steering lock on this new F30. The wheel doesn't lock so you can move it after the engine is shut off. My nephew was playing with the steering wheel moving it left and right. That's when I noticed a thunk noise. So I tried moving the wheel left and right and sure enough it was making a thunking sound.
I tried it at the dealer lot but the 2 F30's I tried didn't make the sound my 335i.
No big deal as it only did this when the engine was not running, when the engine was running there was power assist so I couldn't hear any noises.

After a few months I noticed a light 'clunk' in the steering wheel when I would turn the wheel past 90 degrees mainly while parking because that's when you make the biggest steering movements.
It got louder and consistent over the miles. When I turn the steering wheel left or right past 90 degrees there is a thunk/clunk I can hear and mostly I feel. I don't like it cause steering shouldn't feel like there is something loose in there, it's disconcerting.

I don't hear or feel any clunks or thunks when going over bumps as the steering doesn't move very much when going straight.
But it does feel like the problem is progressive and getting more pronounced.
Haven't taken it to the dealer yet, but I'm going in soon to start the dreaded process of finding out what it is.

Id take it to the dealer anyway, its obvious they know there is a problem with the steering mechanism. I know about the "clicking" noise when moving the steering wheel left and right at stationary, that is still present in my car but its seems to be a characteristic of the steering wheel as I did find it on my loaner 328i and my loaner 2013 X3 335i. As you can tell though in my problem there was still something loose inside the steering mechanism so you never know.

[OCcaraholic]

Mine is now finally fixed too! My VSS rack was finally replaced after sitting at the dealer for 16 days! I came in once last month and was told the problem was "normal". I explained it wasn't and took a ride with the shop foreman. He heard the problem and wanted a field rep from BMW to hear it.

A few weeks later, the field rep came in, I dropped my car off and by the end of the day my old rack was removed and a new one ordered, problem was the rack was on backorder and they had to air freight one from Germany. Not sure if they thought it was a safety issue or not since they removed the old rack, but it just came in this week and picked up the car this afternoon.

I can happily say, no more clunk!!! I'm a very happy camper now, I just hope BMW acknowledges this is not "normal" to those who are struggling in convincing their dealers there is in fact a problem. FYI, mine car is a SA, June 2012 build.

[frashed]

FYI I'm experiencing the same issue as the OP on my 125i.

Currently waiting for a new steering rack from Germany.

[tuned2ride]

Wow. They got it right after their 6th attempt. How many hours did they spend on it.... is it written on your work order?

Does this steering rack feel a bit different?