[JamesStam]

Hi all,
Yes I'm a newbie but browse the forum often. Love it.
I'm after some help please!

I drive a 320d efficient dynamics 2015 with 70k.

I've got a steering issue that's driving me insane.....

Basically, when I drive on long swooping bends, the steering wheel intermittently jerks slightly...doesn't matter if turning left or right.
I also feel as if the car has a tendency to wander as if the road is windy ( I know I sound like a nutter!)
Any ideas what it could be?

I don't think it's alignment or tyres as I've had these checked.
Many thanks!!!

James
North Wales.

[muffking]

I'm no expert, but it's worth getting the tracking done. I paid £80 for a Hunter 4 wheel alignment. It's a bt more stable, but I'll get that back in even tyre wear.

[ian332isport]

What tyres are fitted ?

Some brands/models of tyre have a tendency to tramline, which can feel very much like you describe.

[Sasquartch]

To be honest, I'd say my 328i (also on about 70k) is much the same as you describe

Front tyres are Goodyear, probably around half worn.

It never used to be like that but it doesn't really bother me, I've just put it down to tyres.

[bishbosh]

I'd raise the front of the car and check for play in the steering rack, track rods/ends.

[jinjur]

Right, this sounds familiar

So, our car (with the servotronic steering) developed a knock and BMW swapped the rack out under warranty.

The new rack was in and aligned by BMW and we went on a holibob to the south of England. Driving the car on much better roads than it is used to (we live in Northern Ireland) I observed what I can only describe as a vagueness or latency, specifically in long sweeping bends at speed.

Hard to describe but will have a go

When i got the car (1 year ago, AUC, 45K) I drove it home from Cotswold to Stranraer and being used to a Clio 172 where the steering just DOES NOT SETTLE, this car felt supernatural............like it just wanted to follow the road itself almost. Turning into a curve at motorway speeds was done first time every time.

With the new rack fitted, it felt like i was making corrections all of the time. It just was not settled.

This was difficult as it is subjective but I got a good workshop manager at my local BMW to take the car for a day and he came back fully agreeing.

This required another rack to be fitted as they decided the first new rack was faulty.

Second new rack in improved things greatly but i was still having to do some corrections mid corner etc so i brought it back and they dug in and started looking.

Long and short, they found some additional play in the flexi joint in the steering column and replaced this as well.

Hey presto......back to good

So it is either a cheap one - flexi
or a brown pants one - rack


Fundamentally, get it sorted. These cars should be a delight to drive so don't suffer anything less buddy

J

[JamesStam]

Thanks for your replies so far.

The car has Michelins on front and back, they're not even half worn, so I very much doubt it's that. Just had the balancing sorted and the garage said the wear is perfect even across all 4 tyres. The jerk in the steering wheel is far too sharp/quick to be tyres.

In relation to the Flexi joint, where exactly is it?

I don't have any knock from the rack so I'm hopeful it's not that!

I don't know if it's relevant but I recently had (5/6 months ago) the steering gear rework recall. Any idea if that's anything to do with it?

I'll have to book it in at an independent to get it assessed, no way am I paying BMW prices!!

[Sasquartch]

I had a look at realoem.com and couldnt find a flexi joint in the steering column, only a couple of universal joints - is that what you mean by flexi-joint ?

[JamesStam]

Anyone any other ideas ?