Steering wheel stiff and hard spots while returning back to position

djdownfawl · 01-06-2012, 03:25 PM

I have a 07 e90 sedan and the steering wheel is hard while turning and has hesitation and hard spots while automatically returning back to the center position.

I have checked the fluid, its good.

Some mechanic tells me its the Rack and Pinion and somebody else tells me its the power steering pump.

Each of these parts are really expensive.. can you guys help me sort out the real problem so i can get my car back to normal?

Thanks

ryan970 · 01-06-2012, 03:40 PM

I thought that was just the norm for our cars.

djdownfawl · 01-07-2012, 02:40 PM

really? i thought the steering is supposed to come back without any hard spots???

AddictedToBavarian · 01-07-2012, 03:03 PM

Have you always noticed this or is this new? Heavy steering is normal.

Soliditude · 01-07-2012, 04:10 PM

Go to a dealer and test drive another car just like yours. There's gonna be no difference. If there is, you have something wrong.

Titanium3Series · 01-07-2012, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soliditude

Go to a dealer and test drive another car just like yours. There's gonna be no difference. If there is, you have something wrong.

thats good information.............

fdriller9 · 01-07-2012, 04:37 PM

My car doesn't do this. If I am understanding it right, the turning isn't smooth? And it gets stuck almost when it's coming back to the center out of turn?

Definitely an issue with either the pump or steering rack. Can't say for sure.

When did this start happening? After hitting a pothole/curb etc? If it just happened out of nowhere, my money is on the pump. I don't think a steering rack will just go bad. The pinion is a gear. So it would have to be physically damaged.

01-06-2012, 03:25 PM	#1
djdownfawl Private 7 Rep 69 Posts Drives: BMW 335xi Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: NJ iTrader: (1)	Steering wheel stiff and hard spots while returning back to position I have a 07 e90 sedan and the steering wheel is hard while turning and has hesitation and hard spots while automatically returning back to the center position. I have checked the fluid, its good. Some mechanic tells me its the Rack and Pinion and somebody else tells me its the power steering pump. Each of these parts are really expensive.. can you guys help me sort out the real problem so i can get my car back to normal? Thanks
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01-06-2012, 03:40 PM	#2
ryan970 Major 164 Rep 1,304 Posts Drives: Tiag 328i,DGM F10 550 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Colorado iTrader: (0)	I thought that was just the norm for our cars. __________________ 08 TIAG 328i 13 DGM 550 x drive
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01-07-2012, 02:40 PM	#3
djdownfawl Private 7 Rep 69 Posts Drives: BMW 335xi Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: NJ iTrader: (1)	really? i thought the steering is supposed to come back without any hard spots???
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01-07-2012, 03:03 PM	#4
AddictedToBavarian My other ride is a Bianchi Infinito 96 Rep 2,767 Posts Drives: Miss my E92 but love my E46 M3 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: North Jersey iTrader: (2)	Have you always noticed this or is this new? Heavy steering is normal.
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01-07-2012, 04:10 PM	#5
Soliditude First Lieutenant 18 Rep 341 Posts Drives: 2011 335i xDrive M-sport Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Portland, OR iTrader: (0)	Go to a dealer and test drive another car just like yours. There's gonna be no difference. If there is, you have something wrong. __________________ '11 6AT 335i xDrive ///M BMW PPK Stage 1
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01-07-2012, 04:37 PM	#7
fdriller9 Banned 253 Rep 7,089 Posts Drives: '06 AW 330xi Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North Jersey/Philly/NYC iTrader: (4) Garage List 2006 330xi [6.44]	My car doesn't do this. If I am understanding it right, the turning isn't smooth? And it gets stuck almost when it's coming back to the center out of turn? Definitely an issue with either the pump or steering rack. Can't say for sure. When did this start happening? After hitting a pothole/curb etc? If it just happened out of nowhere, my money is on the pump. I don't think a steering rack will just go bad. The pinion is a gear. So it would have to be physically damaged.
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