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      09-09-2012, 01:16 PM   #23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by arnsbrae View Post
Haha - so it's not just me that does that...
lol...we are not alone in this.
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      09-09-2012, 01:51 PM   #24
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Originally Posted by RPM90 View Post
Does your steering lock when you shut the car off?
The thunk sound is there on mine when the car is off, when it's running all is well, no thunks.
Yeah, when I go to get out of the car and use the wheel as a grip it is locked
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      09-09-2012, 08:53 PM   #25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gerbs View Post
Yeah, when I go to get out of the car and use the wheel as a grip it is locked
Cool. Thanks for the info.
You and others have locking steering wheels, so I know there is something wrong with mine.

Calling the dealer tomorrow for a service appointment.
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      09-14-2012, 11:58 PM   #26
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I just tried it today.
My steering wheel clunks when I try to move it. it is very loud clunk and scared me It does not lock.

I have AT and VSS.
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      09-15-2012, 09:44 PM   #27
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My steering wheel doesn't lock. It also clunks when I move it with the engine off. And I also have the clunks when going over humps and uneven roads fast with a slight turn in the steering. The sound is the same as the one made when you move the wheels when the ignition is off.

I initially thought it came from the suspension but I'm sure it's from the steering now. There are also other noises from the suspension and undercarriage. Sweeky sounds and thumps when hitting a hump.

Brought the car back to the dealer a couple of weeks ago but didn't leave the car there as all their loaners were out.

I have VSS and Adaptive suspension.

Hope to get all these fixed soon
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      09-15-2012, 10:44 PM   #28
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Question, on your 335 at 45-55 when you take your hands off the wheel do you get a little shake on certain road surfaces. I think it's just road feedback since when my hands return to the wheel I can't feel it but I'd like to see if your 335 m sport does this also. More of a visual shake rather than something you can actually feel in your hands. I think I'm just being hypersensitive but would appreciate your feedback.

Thanks
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Last edited by T111; 09-15-2012 at 10:53 PM..
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      09-15-2012, 10:45 PM   #29
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Quote:
Originally Posted by atomicS View Post
My steering wheel doesn't lock. It also clunks when I move it with the engine off. And I also have the clunks when going over humps and uneven roads fast with a slight turn in the steering. The sound is the same as the one made when you move the wheels when the ignition is off.

I initially thought it came from the suspension but I'm sure it's from the steering now. There are also other noises from the suspension and undercarriage. Sweeky sounds and thumps when hitting a hump.

Brought the car back to the dealer a couple of weeks ago but didn't leave the car there as all their loaners were out.

I have VSS and Adaptive suspension.

Hope to get all these fixed soon
Did you get yours from Performance Motors? I heard they're extremely stingy with their loaners, and will only lend you one if you have a serious problem that takes days to fix. Otherwise, it's just taxi voucher(s).
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      09-16-2012, 03:21 AM   #30
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Hi SGScuba: Yes it's from PML, they said it may take a few days in the workshop.

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Originally Posted by SGScuba View Post
Did you get yours from Performance Motors? I heard they're extremely stingy with their loaners, and will only lend you one if you have a serious problem that takes days to fix. Otherwise, it's just taxi voucher(s).
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      09-19-2012, 03:20 PM   #31
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Quote:
Originally Posted by T111 View Post
Question, on your 335 at 45-55 when you take your hands off the wheel do you get a little shake on certain road surfaces. I think it's just road feedback since when my hands return to the wheel I can't feel it but I'd like to see if your 335 m sport does this also. More of a visual shake rather than something you can actually feel in your hands. I think I'm just being hypersensitive but would appreciate your feedback.

Thanks
No vibrations from my steering wheel. Very smooth, as I expect a BMW to be. Those who have a vibration I feel for. BMW should NOT let this problem go on.
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      09-19-2012, 03:29 PM   #32
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RPM90
Quote:
Originally Posted by T111 View Post
Question, on your 335 at 45-55 when you take your hands off the wheel do you get a little shake on certain road surfaces. I think it's just road feedback since when my hands return to the wheel I can't feel it but I'd like to see if your 335 m sport does this also. More of a visual shake rather than something you can actually feel in your hands. I think I'm just being hypersensitive but would appreciate your feedback.

Thanks
No vibrations from my steering wheel. Very smooth, as I expect a BMW to be. Those who have a vibration I feel for. BMW should NOT let this problem go on.
No visual shake either when both your hands are off?
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      09-20-2012, 12:24 PM   #33
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Quote:
Originally Posted by T111 View Post
No visual shake either when both your hands are off?
None.
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      09-20-2012, 08:47 PM   #34
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Got my 335i back and the tech wrote that the reason my steering doesn't lock is because I have electric assisted steering.
Yeah, I know that.

However, some F30 owners have already stated that their steering wheels DO lock, and since we ALL have electric assist steering, that's not the reason why mine doesn't lock.
The tech just gave an obvious "answer" that doesn't explain anything.

I think the reason why some wheels lock and others don't seems to be which trans you have. AT's don't lock and MT's lock.

As for the clunking noise, no response at all, other than to write "normal".
So, according to this tech, if you have electric assist steering, then your steering doesn't lock. And if you have clunking, then it's normal, and if you don't have a clunking sound, well that's normal too. So hey, it's ALL normal.

I know these are "trained" technicians, but some times I wonder how well trained they really are? At least he could have looked up why some wheels lock and others don't, and then actually answer why the clunking sound.

I looked at the steering linkage to see what I could see while my sales guy turned the steering. The sound seems to be coming from around the firewall. There is a linkage that appears to couple the steering shaft coming from behind the firewall to a longer rod. It appears to me that the clunk is coming from that junction.
Normally I would be leery as to this being "normal", as a clunk would indicate some play in the coupling. But, there is no clunk when the engine is running.
So, if it's something wrong, I guess I'll have to wait until something gets worse, because apparently this tech can't be bothered.

I tested a 328i Lux line on the showroom floor, it did NOT make any clunking sounds.
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      09-20-2012, 08:51 PM   #35
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Quote:
Originally Posted by atomicS View Post
My steering wheel doesn't lock. It also clunks when I move it with the engine off. And I also have the clunks when going over humps and uneven roads fast with a slight turn in the steering. The sound is the same as the one made when you move the wheels when the ignition is off.

I initially thought it came from the suspension but I'm sure it's from the steering now. There are also other noises from the suspension and undercarriage. Sweeky sounds and thumps when hitting a hump.

Brought the car back to the dealer a couple of weeks ago but didn't leave the car there as all their loaners were out.

I have VSS and Adaptive suspension.

Hope to get all these fixed soon
The same tech who told me my steering doesn't lock because I have electric steering, also says that the slight "hiss" I hear from the left front damper on bumps, is caused due to "normal compression and decompression of the suspension".
Well, if I can hear air escaping, then I know that air can also get in.
That would be unfiltered air getting into the damper.
I haven't looked into exactly how the adaptive dampers are designed, but leaking air in and out doesn't seem "normal" to me, but I could be wrong.
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      09-20-2012, 08:54 PM   #36
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SV77 View Post
Have VSS and also experiencing the "clunk". My car went to the shop 5 times already to fix this, because this is NOT normal in my opinion. They have replaced the steering house/ elbow coupling? / cross coupling but to no avail. They have ordered another part now in hope this will resolve this issue.

The "clunk" is mostly noticeable when you are steering in a direction (left/right) combined with another force on the wheel like braking, accelerating, excessive G-forces on bumpy roads. It simply does not give me confidence in the car.

I had an external opinion and according to their investigation the cause is the steering house. You are able to hear the sound when the car is stationary and off and you wiggle the steering left-right-left-..... very rapidly. When you apply an downward (I believe) force on the steering-arm the sound seems to disappear. I told this to the guys in the shop but they do not seem to agree, although I am sure that is the problem. I am not a mechanic but trust the man who made the analysis.

Do you have an update on this?
Did they fix the clunk?

Also, do you have the clunk sound when the engine is off and you turn the wheel?
I don't have any clunk when the engine is running or while I'm driving, so we may have different issues.
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      09-21-2012, 07:22 AM   #37
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Quote:
Originally Posted by T111
Question, on your 335 at 45-55 when you take your hands off the wheel do you get a little shake on certain road surfaces. I think it's just road feedback since when my hands return to the wheel I can't feel it but I'd like to see if your 335 m sport does this also. More of a visual shake rather than something you can actually feel in your hands. I think I'm just being hypersensitive but would appreciate your feedback.

Thanks
Mine doesn't shake when I take my hands off the wheel. However It veers towards the left when I do it at 90kmh,
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      09-21-2012, 07:24 AM   #38
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RPM90
Quote:
Originally Posted by atomicS View Post
My steering wheel doesn't lock. It also clunks when I move it with the engine off. And I also have the clunks when going over humps and uneven roads fast with a slight turn in the steering. The sound is the same as the one made when you move the wheels when the ignition is off.

I initially thought it came from the suspension but I'm sure it's from the steering now. There are also other noises from the suspension and undercarriage. Sweeky sounds and thumps when hitting a hump.

Brought the car back to the dealer a couple of weeks ago but didn't leave the car there as all their loaners were out.

I have VSS and Adaptive suspension.

Hope to get all these fixed soon
The same tech who told me my steering doesn't lock because I have electric steering, also says that the slight "hiss" I hear from the left front damper on bumps, is caused due to "normal compression and decompression of the suspension".
Well, if I can hear air escaping, then I know that air can also get in.
That would be unfiltered air getting into the damper.
I haven't looked into exactly how the adaptive dampers are designed, but leaking air in and out doesn't seem "normal" to me, but I could be wrong.
The sound from my suspension doesn't sound like hissing but more like creaking of a rusty joint.
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      09-21-2012, 03:00 PM   #39
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The hissing in suspension as the absorbers (de)compress is completely normal and not limited to F30s, I've had 2 brand new VWs with the same exact hiss. The clunk however is a different story, I have VSS and the clunk is always there when crossing railroad tracks or similar sharp bumps at low speed, usually with the wheel turned. Not sure if it's coming from the steering column or the front left suspension (LHD car). However, I don't recall hearing the clunk under normal driving conditions and road irregularities, even potholes. I am also not sure if it's characteristic or not, I am more worried about the faint electric buzz sound I hear with the A/T shifting gears at low speeds (only audible with windows down in narrow, quiet roads)
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      09-22-2012, 12:17 AM   #40
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I have the clunk when I turn left over a bump. Another reason why my car is getting bought back by BMWNA!
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      09-22-2012, 01:32 AM   #41
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Quote:
Originally Posted by westcory View Post
I have the clunk when I turn left over a bump. Another reason why my car is getting bought back by BMWNA!
Other reasons being...........?
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      09-22-2012, 08:56 PM   #42
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tmehanna View Post
The hissing in suspension as the absorbers (de)compress is completely normal and not limited to F30s, I've had 2 brand new VWs with the same exact hiss. The clunk however is a different story, I have VSS and the clunk is always there when crossing railroad tracks or similar sharp bumps at low speed, usually with the wheel turned. Not sure if it's coming from the steering column or the front left suspension (LHD car). However, I don't recall hearing the clunk under normal driving conditions and road irregularities, even potholes. I am also not sure if it's characteristic or not, I am more worried about the faint electric buzz sound I hear with the A/T shifting gears at low speeds (only audible with windows down in narrow, quiet roads)
The hiss is not really bothering me.
The reason why I had them look at it was simply to give a visual inspection to make sure there wasn't an actual leak somewhere.
Hissing from shocks can be typical especially over big bumps, like speed bumps. The fluid gets compressed rapidly and it has to pass through the damping circuit which may not be able to control it completely.
But this isn't happening over big bumps like that, it's usually over rougher pavement, more like badly ripped parts. Multiple small bumps, which can pack down on the suspension. But this is an adaptive system, which should be able to control that much better than static systems. Thus, the reason why I brought it up to the tech.
In cars where I have heard distinct hissing, it it's been on older cars with lots of mileage and time for new dampers. :_
My concern on that is minor at this point, but I wanted it noted on the record in case something pops up in the future.

As for the clunk sound, at this point we're reporting a similar sound, but under different circumstances. This clunk may or may not be related, but it's too early to tell.

My original post was about the clunk I get when my engine is OFF and I'm not driving. When my car/engine is off, I move the wheel left to right and there is a distinct clunking as the wheel rocks back an forth.

The clunk you and a couple of others are describing, is happening when your cars are in motion. This may or may not be the same clunk.
I'd have to take an audio recording and you'd have to do the same, if it's possible, and then we can compare the sound.
It may be completely different.
If it's the same, then it could be coming from the same source/area and maybe mine is still within tolerance and that's why I don't have a clunk while running/driving. In you car and the others, maybe this same source has gone beyond tolerance.

I've got a business trip the next few days and won't be back till midweek.
I'll try and get a recording of the clunking I hear and post it.
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      10-08-2012, 05:24 AM   #43
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My car was 5 days in the shop and this is the answer that they formulated:

The clunk in stationary position is suppose to be normal. This is because the steering is electric and when in stationary position when car off there is no current on the steering.

When driving. They were able to reproduce my findings. They contribute this to the combination of VSS/Sports Suspension (adaptive))/Wheels (401). The car was taken to BMW Belgium but they concluded that there was nothing "wrong".

I am not very happy with this, because when I want to sell the car and the driver is as attentive as I am, I will not be able to sell him the car, even when I mention that this is normal (at least I would not but it). If I knew this I would not have bought this car. I am a very sensitive on this point (I know), but really, this is not what I expected from BMW and neither should they.
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      10-08-2012, 06:48 AM   #44
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Locking steering wheel?

It is understandable that the steering wheel does not lock on newer cars. Think about the original reason for a locking steering wheel; anti-theft. With all the advances in theft protection, why is there a need for a locking steering wheel now?

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