[Peate123]

I drive a pre-LCI F20 and apparently, have a problem with the power steering.
I'm writing on this forum 'cause I figured all the parts are systems are exactly the same on 1 & 2 series as on 3 & 4 series like the F30, F32 etc...

As the original rack broke, the EPS unit was replaced with a new OEM one in 2019 and from there worked fine until summer this year when I took the car to a reputable shop to do the timing chain replacement (yes the infamous N47) along with pulleys, and some other auxiliary engine components.
The service required the whole engine to be pulled out in order to do the work and it cost a hefty price.

After the service was done and I took the car, I noticed the steering was unusually light, almost as if the EPS unit was giving too much assistance.
The best way I can describe this feeling is as if you're parked on a steep hill with the car's nose facing up, and the weight of the car being in the back.
It feels dead light, over-assisted and almost as if the front wheels are on ice or mud. In sport mode, the steering stiffens up obviously, but in a weird and still very light manner.
The car became unpredictable in the corners, and quick left to right movements from the neutral steering position at lower speeds feel like they give almost no steering feedback at all.

I took the car back to the shop (twice) for inspection, and they could not find anything wrong with the suspension, both mechanically and electronically.
What they pointed to as the problem are relatively worn bushings on control arms (even though they were worn as well before I took it to the shop in the first place when steering was fine).
At this point I'm stuck, I cannot take it back to the same shop for the 3rd time 'cause they will think I'm out of my mind and not accept it, but I also can't take it somewhere else because no one has the time or patience to diagnose problems other shops made for hours on end...

Important things to note:

- The shop claims taking the engine out for the service has absolutely no effect on any steering component and that none of them were touched in the process. What do you guys think?
- The car is not throwing any important codes at all, and that includes codes for the steering/EPS. A scan on ISTA at the shop confirmed there were no codes of this kind.
- I am thinking of doing an alignment, however, even if I did, I do not know how would this affect the steering sensitivity as the car tracks straight as it should atm.
- The tires on the car are completely new and the pressure on all 4 are exactly as indicated on the door frame sticker.
- Some suspension components are not in their best shape (obviously), however that was also the case before the service when everything was fine with the steering.

At this point I'm at a loss on how to approach this issue, I've seen there is a way to reset the steering angle sensor via ISTA, maybe that would help? I also heard there is something like a torque sensor on the EPS, maybe that went bad in the process somehow? Maybe some suspension components are out of their torque spec?...
Obviously, buying a new EPS unit (again) is out of the question.

TLDR: I took the car for the timing chain service (which included engine removal), and after the service, car's steering became extremely light, over-assisted with no signs of anything (mechanical or electronic) being wrong to point on how to fix the issue.