E85/E86 BMW Z4 Steering Problems [ How to Fix! ]

BMW Z4 steering problems occur frequently. In the period of 2003 to 2009, BMW fitted an electric power steering rack to its Z4s that is prone to failure.

We dissect how to diagnose and replace a faulty power steering column in the BMW Z4 below.

But how do you know that the problem with your BMW Z4’s steering is in the electric power steering column and not in some other place, like the torque sensor? And after you find out that the electric power steering column is the problem, what is the solution?

Don’t get overwhelmed; we’ll take you through every procedure step by step. In addition, we will advise you on how much the replacement should cost. Whether you are attempting to do the manual labor yourself, in order to avoid the steep prices of the shop on your BMW Z4 column problems; or you are just trying to find out a bit about how it’s done, we’ve got you covered!

Electric Power Steering Column Failure

Regarding diagnosing a failed electric power steering column, the procedure is simple. The first thing you are going to observe is that you have no power steering. What does that mean? When you attempt to steer the wheel, the effort is going to be much greater than normal.

With the car, you can still turn it but it will become a real chore! It’s something you’ll feel, no matter how tough you are. In addition, it is not an issue that you can neglect fixing. That is because it is very difficult to turn the automobile, and you will not be able to drive safely through the traffic. In addition to the obvious loss of power steering, when you glance at the dashboard, you’re going to see that you have a power steering light on. However, the only way to be completely certain about the need to replace the entire electric power steering column will be to connect a scan tool and try to communicate with the steering system.

When you have a bad power steering column, the whole steering system will be silent. This implies that your steering angle sensor and steering torque sensors will show a reading of “-“ or null depending on the scan tool you are using.

If you are experiencing all these symptoms, your power steering column has probably failed. Although there is a slim possibility that both your torque sensor and steering angle sensor ceased to function at the same time. However, this is where the principle of Occam’s razor steps in. Or, as my old foreman used to put it, KISS it. Keep it simple, stupid. How to avoid this.

The short answer is to avoid purchasing a BMW Z4 built during 2003-2009. We could say that routine maintenance is the best way to avoid this, but the fact is, while routine maintenance prevents a lot of problems, a bad power steering column isn’t one of them.

The maximum you could do is not to use your car as if it were racing every day of the week. However, if you are driving like this, you will not lack some problems from time to time, will you? Apart from that, your hands must be crossed, and hope for luck!

How Costly is it to Repair?

The worst news is that it costs about 300 dollars if you do the entire repair yourself. The best thing you can do is to have your electric power steering column saved. It won’t be found on the market and you won’t be able to rebuild it (unless you have a fully functional machine shop, in which case you should not be reading this article).

And if you are having it taken to a shop for someone else to do the work, it will be much higher. This happens because, to reach the electric power steering column, the rack and pinion should be removed, which in turn means the entire steering assembly should be disassembled. After that, your bad electric power steering column will have to be shipped out to be rebuilt—so, all that totals about 8 hours of work.

Depending on what your area dealership charges, you can expect the entire repair to cost between $900 – $1900. Far from a cheap repair. But what else do you have when you have to choose between an expensive repair or a Z4 without power steering?

Last but not least, the repairs should not be expected to be completed overnight either. This is due to the fact that the power steering column of your vehicle will need to be replaced, even at your BMW dealership. Thus, your car will be in the garage under optimal conditions for a week.

How to Complete the Repair

We’ll guide you through the repair, however, we have to stress up front that this is NOT a small job. Additionally, if you install the part improperly, you will ruin your newly overhauled electric power steering column and your rack and pinion. However, if you’re still sure about your skills, keep scrolling, and we will tell you how to do it!

As I have mentioned before, the first thing you need to do is to take out your rack and pinion. Yes, it is doable practically to conduct the repair if the rack and pinion are still on the vehicle, but the accessibility is going to be a huge issue, and you will wind up taking even more parts off.

The rack and pinion have to be disconnected so that when they are removed, one should be careful to ensure that the steering wheel remains in the center and it shouldn’t be moved around once disconnected. If not done right, you will eventually tear lots of things apart again just to get the steering wheel straight.

After that, you can lift the front of the car and remove the wheels so you can reach the outer tie rod ends easily and pull out the rack and pinion after you have disconnected all of the nuts. Then, when the wheel is off, you have to take the outer tie rod ends off from the steering knuckles. At last, the rack and pinion mounting bolts need to be removed and the electrical connecter to the electric power steering column has to be disconnected.

After getting the rack and pinion disconnected from the chassis, you will be able to remove it through any of the wheel wells that are now revealed. It would take some bone-setting to work it out, but you can do it! Once you have removed your rack and pinion, the enjoyable part of the work can start!

The subsequent action is to take away the electric steering column. You begin by taking out the five T-45 bolts from the side of the electric power steering column. With all T-45 bolts removed, the cover can be gently pried off to reveal the inside of the electric power steering motor.

While the cover is off, you have the best opportunity to see the belt and gears and make sure that everything is in working order. Note that unless you take out the complete inner tie rod end (which you actually don’t need to!), you won’t be able to remove the cover fully. But, it will be possible to shift it to a distance enough to finish the task.

From that point, you should take off the three T-40 bolts to unattach the motor from the remaining part of the assembly. Before prying it off, you MUST rotate the inner retaining ring, so that the groove behind the belt is aligned with the splines.

Using a small screwdriver, carefully pry into the grooves of the inner retaining ring to rotate to the right position. Do not forget to mark the location of the inner retaining ring groove with a paint marker to put it back in the correct way during reassembly. If so, your rack pinion and electric power steering column WILL be damaged.

In the end, detach the electrical connectors with the screwdriver before removing the electric power steering column. Let’s send it out for testing and rebuilding! The first step of the process is the reinstallation of everything, following the same directions the other way.

Are There Any Recalls About This Problem?

The last thing you need while cruising down the road is a failure of your electric power steering column. It is a safety function that is supposed to activate when you require it. Unfortunately, the electronic power steering column should have been recalled, but there isn’t one.

As for a set of vehicles that have already completed their life cycle and are aging, it may not be expected that one is ever coming. What does that mean for you? Nonetheless, the steering column going out is a recurrent problem, but the repair is on you.

Conclusion

BMW Z4 cursor problem can become your life-long enemy. However, they can sure be an expensive hassle, but with some knowledge and dedication, you can repair your BMW Z4 steering problems and get back to driving!

Write Us Your Complaints

If you experience such a steering problem, let us know about it in the comments section below, illustrating the issue and the way it has started. We are willing to complain against BMW for the beginning of recalling this generation of BMW Z4 (E85-E86). The problem is a manufacturing fault and BMW should repair it free of charge! I anticipate your complaints. Drive safe!