[IK6SPEED]

Attempting to assist a forum member who’s first language is not English.

Deep inside his RHD Steering Rack is a belt that has broken.

Realoem appears to show no replacement. And new steering rack appears close to $3000 USD.

Is there really no replacement belt except a $3000 part for a simple broken belt?

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The belt listed to work from an eBay non-OEM seller is the one to the left. It's too thin. Thus the thread.

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Steering Rack Broke in early May. Member has RHD car and is in Asia.

A part was listed on eBay for belt only. He purchased it almost 30 days ago.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-BELT-fo...d=173268120743

It arrived today finally.

It's too thin and doesn't fit correctly....as can be seen with both belts side by side in pic which clearly shows 2 belts in pic.

None of this helps identifying a replacement belt.

Only a $3000 repair part for a simple belt.

[TheShadow]

Thats weird that theres no info on the OEM belt.

Did some searching and saw a few other f30's (328i) had this problem where the belt completely snapped.
They could not get the belt alone and had to replace the whole assembly. I would definitely talk to the dealer and ask as many questions as possible about the belt and if threes any chance it is replaceable alone, just to see what they say.

Here is a total of the part with part number/ labor to instal and total cost.

[IK6SPEED]

Originally Posted by TheShadow

Thats weird that theres no info on the OEM belt. Have you or him tried calling any dealers to see if its possible to get the belt itself or do they just immediately say you need to replace the whole unit for $3000?

Really not all that different than the LPFP that needed replacing under warranty for a bad sensor.....as they do not sell sensor separate.

But a LPFP is much cheaper than a $3000 Steering Rack...and no one would assume a belt is a lifetime part that never needs replacing.

And this most likely NOT go out while under warranty.

Another reason for EW. Would pay for itself after labor. For a broken belt

Smh

[TheShadow]

Would this be sufficient?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Steering-Ge...MAAOSwjfdcGRwE
I cant tell if this includes the belt on it, im guessing so.
Might be cheaper for him to buy something like this and get a INDY to do it?

[IK6SPEED]

Originally Posted by TheShadow

Would this be sufficient?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Steering-Ge...MAAOSwjfdcGRwE
I cant tell if this includes the belt on it, im guessing so.
Might be cheaper for him to buy something like this and get a INDY to do it?

Unfortunately that's not for RHD and not for a VSS vehicle.

There is a used part in Germany on eBay, but still, a used belt in a used part.....

Would you pay $900 for a used belt to put on a car

[TheShadow]

Originally Posted by IK6SPEED

Unfortunately that's not for RHD and not for a VSS vehicle.

There is a used part in Germany on eBay, but still, a used belt in a used part.....

Would you pay $900 for a used belt to put on a car

True, I guess the best route so far is to buy the whole assembly brand new and just get the dealer to install unless he has a trusted indy. Otherwise it could go worse, and if something goes wrong with the install bmw will have to take care of it

[obert]

New rack will require it to be programmed to the car as well.

[IK6SPEED]

Originally Posted by obert

New rack will require it to be programmed to the car as well.

Yep....part of the 4.9 hours of labor in screenshot above. (And that's at a very cheap $125 hr for labor).

I am unaware of a Dealer that cheap in 2019.

I bet 99.9% of F3x owners never knew about this piece and belt.

Ridiculous that it costs this much for a belt going out.

[obert]

Originally Posted by IK6SPEED

Yep....part of the 4.9 hours of labor in screenshot above.

I bet 99.9% of F3x owners never knew about this piece and belt.

Ridiculous that it costs this much for a belt going out.

I had no idea about the belt but I did have the rack replaced under warranty for the steering wheel clunk.

[IK6SPEED]

Originally Posted by obert

I had no idea about the belt but I did have the rack replaced under warranty for the steering wheel clunk.

And this car only has 34k miles

[TheShadow]

https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...5#post21853485

Here is a rough DIY, its the only one i could find so far.
Unfortunately there is no coding section to this DIY.

[AlpineX]

34k miles replacement is definitely an anomaly. Is it that hard to find a used rack complete or reman? I find that hard to believe.

[IK6SPEED]

Originally Posted by AlpineX

34k miles replacement is definitely an anomaly. Is it that hard to find a used rack complete or reman? I find that hard to believe.

Do you want to put a used belt on a car?

And as the RHD are not available in USA you will not be finding them as easily.

Then there is shipping to an Island in the Pacific just East of Indonesia. Not many willing to do that.

I know the DHL/UPS price for shipping a Pure Stage 2 there from LA was a grand....

[obert]

A used rack seems like a good way to go if you can find one and do the work yourself.

Used isn’t ideal but if you can’t afford new then used rack is the next best thing.

[TheShadow]

Originally Posted by obert

A used rack seems like a good way to go if you can find one and do the work yourself.

Problem is if the used rack belt snaps 1 month later, due to it being used. Metal components i can see being re used but it makes sense that you shouldn't be re using belts.

[IK6SPEED]

Originally Posted by TheShadow

Problem is if the used rack belt snaps 1 month later, due to it being used. Metal components i can see being re used but it makes sense that you shouldn't be re using belts.

Yep. That's my point.

[obert]

Originally Posted by TheShadow

Problem is if the used rack belt snaps 1 month later, due to it being used. Metal components i can see being re used but it makes sense that you shouldn't be re using belts.

How many belts have we seen break on a rack? This is a first for me and I am sure almost everyone else here.

If they can afford new then buy new but if not what option do they have? Used is always an option if you can afford new.

[IK6SPEED]

Originally Posted by obert

How many belts have we seen break on a rack? This is a first for me and I am sure almost everyone else here.

As you noted, yours was replaced under warranty.

I doubt most know what goes wrong with the part on a warranty exchange.

Look at all the LPFP Warranty replacements and most had no clue it was only a sensor.

To me, this is a ticking time bomb.

[obert]

Well good luck with helping this person. Let’s us know what happens.

[TheShadow]

Originally Posted by obert

How many belts have we seen break on a rack? This is a first for me and I am sure almost everyone else here.

If they can afford new then buy new but if not what option do they have? Used is always an option if you can afford new.

Agreed on the if you can't buy new then yeah used is the only option. Agreed on most of us have never heard of this happening before. Problem is his snapped at 34k miles, indicating that it can basically happen to anyone at anytime until the root cause or possible reasoning for the belt being more inclined to snap is found. Therefore until that is found he is putting himself at a greater risk to buy used because unlike metal parts, belts will weaken over time and snap

[bimmer456]

Surprised an electric power steering unit would involve belts, shouldn't it be gear driven or direct drive? I thought this was the case with hydraulic steering.

[Mr Podman]

Originally Posted by IK6SPEED

Realoem appears to show no replacement. And new steering rack appears close to $3000 USD.

Is there really no replacement belt except a $3000 part for a simple broken belt?

Doesn't look like a "simple broken belt" to me. It looks like a steering gear chewed up a belt for reasons that have yet to be diagnosed. Without understanding the root cause of that failure, you may be wasting your time chasing a belt part number.

If you do decide to try replacing the belt, the designer & manufacturer of that steering gear has a bill of materials for it, including the belt. There are only three in the world that build racks for BMW so it's not difficult to sleuth out which one made yours.