[DriveS]

I have a knocking on my steering when engine is off and you rock the wheel back and forth. Also a ticking when manoeuvring when wheel is past 50% of travel.

See this video

The noise I have is identical to this.

He talks about a retro fit kit brought out by BMW to solve the issue. Part number 32106891974. Previously BMW had been replacing the entire rack to solve this issue. I think the kit was brought out some time in 2018.

In comments someone says that they took their car to a specialist and they tightened the cover plate by 1/8 turn and it solved this issue, although the video maker does not recommend this.

Here is the tool

I am going to buy the tool and tighten the plate.

Questions

1. Has anyone else done this and solved the issue?
2. How to you access the cover plate? Mine cant be seen as in the video as its a different engine. I am assuming you can get access to it by putting the car on ramps and taking off the under cover?

[Mikesmith2939]

Some models also use a different rack

[DriveS]

Originally Posted by Mikesmith2939

Some models also use a different rack

The guy that made the comment on the video that says a garage tightened the plate, had an F30 335D

[Mikesmith2939]

It's just that I read on one of the F30 FB groups where someone bought the repair kit but the parts in the rack are totally different, including being a different size with a nut on the top rather than the three holes.

[DriveS]

I found more info. Quite a few people saying that 1/8 turn on the cover plate has completely solved their issue. Instead of paying €54 for the tool they have used an adjustable pin spanner as uses for angle grinders. I just ordered one for £2.94.
The plate can be accessed easily from underneath, so I will give it a go this week.
Apparently the internal plastic part wears prematurely. The repair kit contains the same part in a different material that's supposed to last However the fitting of the kit is a specialist job.

[RobUK]

Originally Posted by DriveS

Apparently the internal plastic part wears prematurely. The repair kit contains the same part in a different material that's supposed to last However the fitting of the kit is a specialist job.

On my 2012 F30 328i the steering started knocking after the car had done just 4k miles. Goodness know how long they designed it to last if 4k is premature Dealer replaced the rack as it happens. Touch wood, not had the issue on my current car and I'm now up to 36k miles.

[smorg99]

Originally Posted by DriveS

I found more info. Quite a few people saying that 1/8 turn on the cover plate has completely solved their issue. Instead of paying €54 for the tool they have used an adjustable pin spanner as uses for angle grinders. I just ordered one for £2.94.
The plate can be accessed easily from underneath, so I will give it a go this week.
Apparently the internal plastic part wears prematurely. The repair kit contains the same part in a different material that's supposed to last However the fitting of the kit is a specialist job.

Please let me know how you get on with this as a friend of mine has the same symptoms on his F30. I don't have any play compared to his, so if this fixes it I'll pass on the info. He assumed they were all like it until we compared.

He says he also gets some clunks when reversing into his driveway but as it behaves ok apart from this, ignored it.

[Hooded]

Originally Posted by DriveS

I found more info. Quite a few people saying that 1/8 turn on the cover plate has completely solved their issue. Instead of paying €54 for the tool they have used an adjustable pin spanner as uses for angle grinders. I just ordered one for £2.94.
The plate can be accessed easily from underneath, so I will give it a go this week.
Apparently the internal plastic part wears prematurely. The repair kit contains the same part in a different material that's supposed to last However the fitting of the kit is a specialist job.

Yes quite a few people have solved the rack knocking while stationary by just tightening that 1/8 of a turn or slightly more. As long as you don't tighten it too much it shouldn't cause any problems. Hope it works for you

[qa15ar]

ok guys... so i went to bmw with the part number of the kit and TIS number associated with this.... part is for compatible with my car as confirmed by the parts department, but service department was clueless as they couldnt give a price on replacing it, they claimed this was only aproblem on the X3..... 3 months on and still waiting for a call back...

link to TIS

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/f...nit/1Vnc3X9PQZ

[DriveS]

Originally Posted by qa15ar

ok guys... so i went to bmw with the part number of the kit and TIS number associated with this.... part is for compatible with my car as confirmed by the parts department, but service department was clueless as they couldnt give a price on replacing it, they claimed this was only aproblem on the X3..... 3 months on and still waiting for a call back...

link to TIS

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/f...nit/1Vnc3X9PQZ

Are you planning on fitting yourself? Looks tricky to me.

[qa15ar]

Originally Posted by DriveS

Are you planning on fitting yourself? Looks tricky to me.

looks to tricky for me plus need them special tools... especially the last bit...

[DriveS]

Update.....

I the pin spanner does not turn the plate. Just bends and slips out of the 2 holes. Too much torque is required.

So I am going to order the £50 special tool and try again at the weekend.

[jozza66]

Just added this to the list of items for the "end of warranty" check. Came on over the weekend, sounds like a small rodent has a big hammer and is tapping the rack in time to steering wheel movement!!

[Jame5m]

Originally Posted by DriveS

Update.....

I the pin spanner does not turn the plate. Just bends and slips out of the 2 holes. Too much torque is required.

So I am going to order the £50 special tool and try again at the weekend.

Hey DriveS, did you have any luck with the MS00084 nut?

[PeaceWalker87]

i'd stay away from tightening that thrust nut, it will only result in rack failure. the repair procedure posted above from TIS is the best way to go about it, without having to replace the rack. the special measuring aid tool I found on ECS tuning but they have it on backorder, and honestly, I don't wanna pay 250+ dollars for a tool i'll probably use once.

[DriveS]

Originally Posted by Jame5m

Hey DriveS, did you have any luck with the MS00084 nut?

Yes. Turned the thrust plate by about 1/16 turn and the knock was gone.

An unexpected benefit was that car is now less susceptible to tramlining and the wheel being pulled over rough surfaces. It feels more connected.

My guess is that this is because the backlash has been reduced in the steering system. The plastic thrust piece must wear over time so that backlash is present and you get the knock. I dont see any reason you would get a rack failure by doing this. If you overtightened maybe, but you would soon know its too tight as the steering will not return to it centre position without you moving the wheel.

However I would also have thought they have changed the material (I would hope) of the plastic part so that it does not wear as easily. So tightening the plate may only be a medium term fix

[2015BMW328IXDRIVE]

Originally Posted by DriveS

I have a knocking on my steering when engine is off and you rock the wheel back and forth. Also a ticking when manoeuvring when wheel is past 50% of travel.

See this video

The noise I have is identical to this.

He talks about a retro fit kit brought out by BMW to solve the issue. Part number 32106891974. Previously BMW had been replacing the entire rack to solve this issue. I think the kit was brought out some time in 2018.

In comments someone says that they took their car to a specialist and they tightened the cover plate by 1/8 turn and it solved this issue, although the video maker does not recommend this.

Here is the tool

I am going to buy the tool and tighten the plate.

Questions

1. Has anyone else done this and solved the issue?
2. How to you access the cover plate? Mine cant be seen as in the video as its a different engine. I am assuming you can get access to it by putting the car on ramps and taking off the under cover?

After replacing the bushings is it required to take it to dealers for steering rack adjustment or programming ?

[Bubbaspaarx]

i'm wondering about ordering this kit. Do i need anything else or is this the whole lot?? do i need a tool as well?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-GENUI...UAAOSwN1dedOgx

any info on how to carry out the repair too would be amazing

[harkes]

Another patient here... I had a garage tighten the nut but now the wheel does not self center. Pretty scary to drive with and I worry it will overload the motor. Sending the car back tomorrow.

[Digidick]

Only needs tightening a fraction.

[doodlebro]

Does anyone have the TSB number for this? I believe it effects my X3 but I always have a hell of a time explaining these to my service advisor.

[ushafiq]

I did a DIY replacement over the weekend on my 435xd - highly recommend getting the tool otherwise very difficult to undo the cover plate - also, the removal tool I got from eBay (£20) needed a 24mm combination spanner - tried using the socket and pin pliers but not enough space. Regarding tightening, the original cover plate (factory installed) was flush with the housing so after undoing and installing the replacement kit (Part number 32106891974), I just tightened it enough so that cover plate sit flush again - and job done - no issues and steering feels perfect and noise gone. I want to point out that I had no noise during driving but could hear lot of clunk when I moved the steering with car was switched off therefore decided to replace it with repair kit.