[TurboWeasel]

Jindrich - excellent info there. So is the ThyssenKrupp rack in the Fxx cars that type of recirculating ball system you pictured there? I never really liked the feel of that type of rack in the E39 V8s but it actually feels OK in the Fxx, if it is the ball type.

Anyway, for closure on this on my part at least, I was given a 2022 420d as a loan car for half a day whilst my 2016 330d was in for service. It only had 7000 miles on it.

It felt exactly the same as mine. Heavier steering when it was cold outside in the morning, and lighter when it warmed up in the afternoon. And exactly the same light knocking noise over certain bumps, which could be felt and heard through the steering column.

Therefore I have concluded it's just how the F and G series are and it's not worth going down the rabbit hole over.

I'm not sure how the feedback system on the drive motor works, but to me it feels like it just applies a fixed current vs steering angle. If it was a proper closed loop system, the steering shouldn't feel heavier or lighter depending on ambient temperature.

In my MK5 and MK6 platform VW Golfs, the ZF steering racks felt consistent all year round, so this ThyssenKrupp system is a new one on me. For what it's worth, the ZF racks knock as well

Anyway, don't stress it. I would recommend just setting the tensioning cover to how it feels best for you as the driver. The prescribed BMW procedure does not achieve the best feel or consistency.

[roundy]

Anyone in the west midlands had the kit fitted at all?

My local indie wants over £1,000+ as they send the whole rack off to be repaired and so on.

[TurboWeasel]

Take it somewhere else as that is the prescribed fix by BMW, unless the rack is completely shot, which could be the conclusion they arrived at?

I think a new one from BMW is £1500 iirc, so I'd go that route personally over a refurbished one if there's only a few hundred difference overall.

[rlesko]

Originally Posted by roundy

Anyone in the west midlands had the kit fitted at all?

My local indie wants over £1,000+ as they send the whole rack off to be repaired and so on.

They probably are outsourcing the calibration portion. Not worth over 1k imo...you can get close enough just by feel.

[TurboWeasel]

Originally Posted by rlesko

They probably are outsourcing the calibration portion. Not worth over 1k imo...you can get close enough just by feel.

I can understand that if an Indy takes a look at the repair procedure! I doubt they would have all those special tools in stock.

Agreed. I didn't like the steering feel after BMW did it. It felt better after I set the tension myself. Not procedurally correct, but subjectively way better.

[oranga]

I've been chasing a noise coming from the front left of my car for awhile now and seems like this is the fix I've been looking for. However, referencing a picture i took when I dropped the subframe last year, it looks like my steering rack is the ZF model - instead of the 3 pins on the thrust bearing cover, I have a hex nut, see attachment.

Has anyone else with this style of steering rack successfully gotten rid of the noise? Did you just tighten the cover a little bit like Jindrich suggested? Were you able to fit the repair kit? Or find some other replacement part?

[rlesko]

Originally Posted by oranga

I've been chasing a noise coming from the front left of my car for awhile now and seems like this is the fix I've been looking for. However, referencing a picture i took when I dropped the subframe last year, it looks like my steering rack is the ZF model - instead of the 3 pins on the thrust bearing cover, I have a hex nut, see attachment.

Has anyone else with this style of steering rack successfully gotten rid of the noise? Did you just tighten the cover a little bit like Jindrich suggested? Were you able to fit the repair kit? Or find some other replacement part?

The kit is not for ZF racks afaik. It’s for ThyssenKrupp racks only.

[Allworth]

Originally Posted by oranga

I've been chasing a noise coming from the front left of my car for awhile now and seems like this is the fix I've been looking for. However, referencing a picture i took when I dropped the subframe last year, it looks like my steering rack is the ZF model - instead of the 3 pins on the thrust bearing cover, I have a hex nut, see attachment.

Has anyone else with this style of steering rack successfully gotten rid of the noise? Did you just tighten the cover a little bit like Jindrich suggested? Were you able to fit the repair kit? Or find some other replacement part?

It is ZF rack. I got rid of a knocking noise during driving by tightening a nut.
https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=2028635

[oranga]

Thank you for the info, Allworth !

I will take a look sometime this week.

[oranga]

I tightened the nut but it didn't seem to help the noise at all.

I was actually thinking I could buy a used Thyssenkrup rack, put the repair kit in it, then swap that into my car. Is that doable? Will it bolt up? Will the electrical connectors match up? Will it need to be coded? etc etc

[TurboWeasel]

The source of the noise might not be the rack then. Try re-torquing the rack to subframe bolts, or better still, replace them if they are torque to yield.

Seems like a decent little project retrofitting the TK rack. Google it as someone else may have already done it. I suspect there will be a few wiring harness and communication issues with the steering wheel and DSC modules to overcome.

[dipseeydee@gmail.com]

It's so disturbing and shameful for such ideology to have steering repair kit for Thyseen BUT not for ZF, so unfair.

[davethefish]

Done this fix on my 2012 F30 a few weeks ago as play in the steering rack was listed on last years mot as an advisory.
Simple job to do, the hardest part is jacking the car up and getting the rusted to crap under tray bolts off for access.
but the old white bush was very obviously worn and has no way to take up any wear movement. the new designed part has rubber O rings and a harder slicker 'V' surface.
it has completely eliminated the annoying knocking noise I used to get going over bumps in the road.

I tightened the new nut down to the same level as the original one (flush) then checked the feel of the steering wheel.
steering felt a lot stiffer, almost like when new, but the steering wheel still recentred on it's own ok, but the slight tightness eased off a little after driving for a few weeks.
and is perfect now.

[TurboWeasel]

Good stuff

Over a year and 20 odd K miles into doing mine and its still great. Well worth the effort. It's easy on my 30d as I didn't have to jack it up.

I forgot to order the BMW steering box grease though, so used some Silkolene synthetic grease I had in the shed instead, which seems to be doing the job.

I bought 2 kits just in case I messed it up, and I'm glad I did as they've more than doubled in price now!

[davethefish]

Originally Posted by TurboWeasel

Good stuff

Over a year and 20 odd K miles into doing mine and its still great. Well worth the effort. It's easy on my 30d as I didn't have to jack it up.

I forgot to order the BMW steering box grease though, so used some Silkolene synthetic grease I had in the shed instead, which seems to be doing the job.

I bought 2 kits just in case I messed it up, and I'm glad I did as they've more than doubled in price now!

i'd had the part sitting in my toolbox for 12 months, think it was £58...

WOW just seen how much that has gone up by,
now £114

[TurboWeasel]

Originally Posted by davethefish

i'd had the part sitting in my toolbox for 12 months, think it was £58...

WOW just seen how much that has gone up by,
now £114

BMW probably saw this thread and bumped up the price

[usher221]

Do you guys know if this fix can apply in my situation?
The independent BMW shop in the West Palm Beach, FL area quoted me $5500 to replace the whole rack and pinion assembly on my 2017 430i Gran Coupe which I simply can't afford.

[Simon89]

Originally Posted by usher221

Do you guys know if this fix can apply in my situation?
The independent BMW shop in the West Palm Beach, FL area quoted me $5500 to replace the whole rack and pinion assembly on my 2017 430i Gran Coupe which I simply can't afford.

I'd say there would be no harm in trying the repair kit.

The knocking noise your video presents does sound very similar to the knocking noise I had prior to using the repair kit on my previous F30.

[usher221]

Originally Posted by Simon89

I'd say there would be no harm in trying the repair kit.

The knocking noise your video presents does sound very similar to the knocking noise I had prior to using the repair kit on my previous F30.

Yup, that's what I did. Thank you! I ordered the repair kit and I will post an update once I apply it.

[davethefish]

Originally Posted by Simon89

I'd say there would be no harm in trying the repair kit.

The knocking noise your video presents does sound very similar to the knocking noise I had prior to using the repair kit on my previous F30.

same.

i don't know if it is the same part with play, but the noise is identical.
and is what was put on my 2023 mot as an advisory.

I was stood by the car with him when he had someone hold the steering wheel while moving the wheels side to side and it made that noise.

I had noticed it whilst driving over rough roads, but thought it might be the antiroll bar drop links.
but the kit fixed it 100%

[LuxBim]

I did the repair kit in October last year, but knocking noise came back, and since, i've changed thrust control arms, drop links, Shocks, and tie-rods, getting to the stage where it's costing me more to figure out the issue and i'm no longer enjoying the car.

[TurboWeasel]

Have you tried winding the tensioning block in more? Most are sorted with the cap flush with the rack but some need to go a little deeper.

If the noise won't go away, something else in the rack is probably worn out, and then you have the choice of chancing a used one, paying BMW £2500 for a new one, or £1300 for a refurbished one.

The noise for me is more of an irritant than a significant problem. It doesn't really affect how it handles or steers, not in my car at least.