F15 steering issues - no feedback on center

[oopy]

Out of curiosity has anyone checked their tension struts bushings?

[wombat_j]

Originally Posted by 35d_Erik

Looking for your input- Is the below “normal” for your x5 steering feel? I’ve searched here and google and haven’t found anyone describing the same issue.

To summarize- my wife’s F15 35d m sport has a very sticky/numb/sticky/juttery feeling steering near center. It is most notable at highway speeds (60+). The steering wheel will “stick” between 11:00 to 1:00, moreso between 12-1. Such that, in a road or highway curve, you can move the wheel to 1:00 and let go and the car will continue turning until you give the wheel the slightest touch- then suddenly it lets go and returns towards center. When turning the wheel through this “zone” you can feel an inconsistent resistance or feedback, where it either jutters, or it’ll start with low/high resistance then go 180 and be the complete opposite.

On the highway it is hard to keep the car in your lane because you have to “self correct” on center- it’s conpletely numb between 11:30-12:30 so there isn’t any feedback to help track straight. Additionally, it’s almost like the sensitivity of the turn in between 12-1 is very low, but if you have to turn further than 1:00, the car suddenly “dives” into the turn and again you start veering out of the lane and find yourself counter correcting the wheel.

I’ve linked a video below to show the symptom.

Things I’ve done:
Bmw has checked the car several times- head foreman, two different dealerships. They’ve all agreed they “see” what I’m talking about. We compared it to a new x5 on the lot and couldn’t not replicate, but every time a day later they come back saying nothing is wrong and it is by bmw design.

Had a dealer alignment performed. Front left toe was out by 0°20’ (not huge), that was it. Didn’t help.

Had oem RFTs in which we’re wearing down. Thought maybe that’s why it was happening. Swapped to a new set of snows this winter and no change.

Other details:
Car is now at 55k and out of warranty. We’ve owned the car since new and haven’t noticed it till about 40k. Wheels are straight, car can track straight, no vibrations. Everything else functions as normal. Car does not have active steering.

I’m a car enthusiast and wrench on my own cars (Bmw audi Mazda & ford currently) so I have a some mechanical knowhow and have a good sample of other makes to compare this feeling against.

Thoughts: the alignment had caster grayed out. I know caster can affect steering return to center- is it adjustable on this car? Other thought is the electronic steering motor?

https://youtu.be/hRgYWGWtSV8

Hi, how did it go? Have you fixed it at the end?
One mentioned about replacing the lower steering column.
Did you do that too? And how much did it cost you? thanks.

[wombat_j]

Originally Posted by andrewmr

Our car did this from the day we got it. We bought it used.

I can only expect the prior owner couldn't get it fixed, but I guess it's possible they didn't notice it.

Anyway, the dealer couldn't find anything wrong and reached out to BMW. They said to replace the rack.

That didn't fix it. They end up replacing the lower steering column and now the car drives perfect.

Hi, how much did the lower steering column replacement cost you?
Is it stil working fine? thanks.

[Romsl]

Originally Posted by lam1358

Hey, I think I found what issue this is. Are you guys all having the 20 inch OEM wheels? I was using the 19 OEM 467 m wheels before and had no issues with the auto recenter steering wheel. I bought a new set of 20 inch OEM 451 wheels (tires not new but have 9 32nd depth) and had them installed yesterday. Then I started having the exact same issue as what you mentioned here. The steering wheels feels so different with 19 vs 20 inch wheels. I will swap them back to 19 inch wheels to avoid this annoying steering. Hope this helps!

It's an old post, but I confirm X5 behaves differently with 19 and 20 inch rims. Mine came with 20" from a factory and I switched to OEM non-runflat 19" because 20" ride was too stiff. I immediately noticed an improved ride quality, not only because it's less bumpy, but it's also a lot more stable on a highway, no need to correct car's direction every other second. 19" doesn't look as cool as 20", but I'm willing to sacrifice that in favor of a ride quality.

[smithf80]

This started happening to me on my F15 X5 out of nowhere. Dealer people all claim they can't feel anything wrong.

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by smithf80

This started happening to me on my F15 X5 out of nowhere. Dealer people all claim they can't feel anything wrong.

Dealers are full of idiots.

[smithf80]

Originally Posted by Maverik259

Dealers are full of idiots.

Tried my third dealer today and drove with a foreman who finally agrees theres a problem, he's sees it more as a binding issue, if you push the wheel to the right it doesn't return, it just gets stuck off center and will steer you way off to the right, and a light tap brings it back and it centers itself. He thinks something is binding somewhere but it could be the EPS internally, could be the lower steering input shaft, etc.

Either way, happy I finally found someone that recognizes the problem and is going to take a crack at fixing it next week.

[anon1000]

Originally Posted by smithf80

Tried my third dealer today and drove with a foreman who finally agrees theres a problem, he's sees it more as a binding issue, if you push the wheel to the right it doesn't return, it just gets stuck off center and will steer you way off to the right, and a light tap brings it back and it centers itself. He thinks something is binding somewhere but it could be the EPS internally, could be the lower steering input shaft, etc.

Either way, happy I finally found someone that recognizes the problem and is going to take a crack at fixing it next week.

Had the same problem, it wouldnt center would just bind and get stuck, they replaced the steering rack under CPO warranty

[smithf80]

It was fixed today, it was actually the front control arms for me.

[lht5059]

Originally Posted by smithf80

It was fixed today, it was actually the front control arms for me.

Oh man, you have just opened a whole new can of worms to fix this for many...

[smithf80]

Originally Posted by lht5059

Oh man, you have just opened a whole new can of worms to fix this for many...

I was skeptical when I picked it up given what others had said fixed it, but it is absolutely fixed, no jumpiness, no more binding feeling from 11-1.

[jeffga]

Hi all,
I have this same sticky steering on my (recently purchased) 2018 X5 F15 40D. I looked this up on some X5/F15 facebook pages, but couldn´t find any info on this topic. Anyone have any news about this or can confirm the solution is replacing the lower steeringcoloumn and/or the front controlarms ?
I appreciate any other info you know ;-)
Thanks and cheers,
Jeff