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Hey guys, I recently purchased a 98 bmw 328i. It is a little rough around the edges but was super cheap so I cant complain. My steering is really strange, it has always been like this from the start. At first I noticed the steering was pretty tight, almost like their is limited power steering. Also when I turn, it doesnt really return to center, you need to help steer it back. Also steering back is very jerky, Sometimes if your making a large radius turn when you hold it in position for a couple seconds turning, their is almost like a jerk to move it back at first. I feel like if I let go of the wheel it would keep turning. I checked my power steering fluid, it doesnt really look pretty but it is full. I can flush it but I don’t really think this could only be a power steering fluid problem.
What do you guys think? I don’t really know much about the whole steering system.
Thanks
Kevin
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It could be a power steering problem, like a weak pump, or it could be something deeper, like a bent steering rack. Let me put on my clairevoyant hat: you got the car cheap, because it had been in an accident. Thanks to CarFAx, it’s hard to hide a reported accident, so they had to sell it cheap. The car was repaired, but they didnt change the bent steering rack. Just an educated guess.
Here is the story. The guy driving this car, brought it into the mechanic to change the clutch. THe mechanic pulled the tranny out and bought a new clutch. The owner then received a call that he would be moving across the country for work. He then had two days to sell the car before he moved. I picked it up with the transmission, driveshaft, exhaust all off the car. It included the new clutch. I put it all together and have been driving it for about 1 month with no issues other then the steering. I dont really mind putting in a steering rack if it needs it. I can do all the work myself. I would just like to know how to test something like this so i’m not just throwing money at the situation.
Thanks for your help,
KevinI put my winter rims on today, and it looks like I need sway bar bushings (one mount is actually pretty bad to) and tie rods. Could this be something that might fix my steering problem? Just waiting until after Christmas I might buy a front end bushing kit.
The fist thing that comes to mind is the belt tension on the power steering pump. However, if that was an issue you would likely have a squeaking belt as well.
I believe BMW uses a special power steering fluid. If it’s mixed with other fluids it can cause issues with the system. You might try flushing the fluid as you suggest and putting in the correct fluid to see if you notice a change. If you do notice a change, then you know you’re on the right track. I do see power steering pump problems from time to time, but I see a LOT more steering rack problems. If you find that replacing the fluid has an effect but does not cure the problem, you might consider replacing the PS rack and then rechecking for the issue.
Keep us posted.
[quote=”EricTheCarGuy” post=82648]The fist thing that comes to mind is the belt tension on the power steering pump. However, if that was an issue you would likely have a squeaking belt as well.
I believe BMW uses a special power steering fluid. If it’s mixed with other fluids it can cause issues with the system. You might try flushing the fluid as you suggest and putting in the correct fluid to see if you notice a change. If you do notice a change, then you know you’re on the right track. I do see power steering pump problems from time to time, but I see a LOT more steering rack problems. If you find that replacing the fluid has an effect but does not cure the problem, you might consider replacing the PS rack and then rechecking for the issue.
Keep us posted.[/quote]
Thanks for the response. I will look into how to flush the power steering fluid on this car. So far everything i’ve done on the BMW has been difficult. I just it really strange how its always when you start to turn backwards out of a turn there is an initial bump. I will be on christmas break coming up soon and hopefully I’ll get her purrin like a kitten.
Kevin
+1 for flushing power steering fluid to start. I believe BMW recommends Automatic Transmission Fluid for PS. Also make sure to bleed the system and check for leaks.
How many miles on the car? Every 100K miles BMW will require complete suspension/steering overhaul. BMW designed the car in such a way that most of the bushings and ball joints are permanently pressed in so you would need to replace whole assembly (and always use Lemforder parts, aftermarket parts don’t last). I would inspect all the rubber bushings that connects to steering knuckle, inspect inner and outer tie-rods, Idler Arm, sway bar end links, and control arms for play. All that should be checked by BMW Inspection 1 & 2. (Basically every 30,000 miles).
[quote=”skim3544″ post=82669]+1 for flushing power steering fluid to start. I believe BMW recommends Automatic Transmission Fluid for PS. Also make sure to bleed the system and check for leaks.
How many miles on the car? Every 100K miles BMW will require complete suspension/steering overhaul. BMW designed the car in such a way that most of the bushings and ball joints are permanently pressed in so you would need to replace whole assembly (and always use Lemforder parts, aftermarket parts don’t last). I would inspect all the rubber bushings that connects to steering knuckle, inspect inner and outer tie-rods, Idler Arm, sway bar end links, and control arms for play. All that should be checked by BMW Inspection 1 & 2. (Basically every 30,000 miles).[/quote]
My car has 175k Miles on it. It is in need of some love. I am looking at a kit like this,
http://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-control-arm-kit-8-piece-e36-e36cakit8l
What else would I need? It seems I will also need sway bar bushing? What else do you recommend. All the bushings look pretty rough,I got the car pretty cheap so i dont mind putting a little cash into it. The steering issue is more of an annoyance more then anything.
Kevin
Sway bars would not cause steering problem unless it separated and hitting suspension parts. Tie-rods, yes. These can cause steering problems and for BMW they are pain to replace. Rubber bushings and ball joints are part of the assembly so they cannot be pressed out. You would have to replace the parts. The outer tie-rods you can use press or threaded ball joint separation tool. For inner tie rods, you have no space so you would have to do it with pickle fork + extension or BMW special tool (not terribly expensive, I paid for $50 for mine) I did both ways and it is worth getting the tool then pulling them by pickle fork – even with proper techniques it can take couple of hours.
Usually BMW complete suspension overhaul requires tie-rod (inner and outer), sway bar end links, thrust arm (your car don’t have one of these), lower control arm, Shocks (Most people use Boge or Bilstein), shock mounts, springs (if you lower your car), Rear sway bar end links (a.k.a doggie bone), and rear pitman arm (I don’t think your car have these, but I maybe wrong). Also not usually tackled at overhaul time but most people need to address rear subframe bushing problem (it makes metal clunking on hard acceleration, this also requires special tool) It has been 6 years since I worked on any E36 so this list maybe incomplete.
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