Steering Noise When Cold 2004 325xi

[pietsch]

Hi,

I've had a steering noise when the car is cold ever since I bought it. It's most noticeable in the winter months when the car is cold and I turn the wheel and give a little gas. It's a hissing, high pitch vibration sound coming from outside the car in the engine compartment. It's the sound you sometimes get when you turn the wheel all the way in one direction.

When I first brought it up, the dealer replaced the "noisy power steering pump". That didn't fix it. Then, all subsequent visits, they say they can't replicate the problem. I'm due for an oil change and I want to have this 2 year old issue fixed.

Has anyone else had this issue? I feel like I'm not explaining it right to the dealer or they don't understand that it only happens when the car is cold.

Thanks,
Bill

 

[pietsch]

Bump. Anyone having or had this problem?

 

[bmwrocks]

I would say they should be asking you to leave the car overnight so they can replicate the issue on a cold morning start. If they are not asking you to do this, then ask them to do this. This should make it easy to replicate.

We don't get many cold mornings here, but I can say that mine has never done this.

 

[pietsch]

Thanks. I actually left it there overnight and they finally heard the noise this morning. They are going to replace the rack which is on order.

 

[pietsch]

Follow-up...

Well, they replaced the rack and put a new power steering pump in. I started it up this morning cold and it still makes the same noise! I'm bringing it back in on Tuesday to have it looked at again. My advisor said it might be a faulty rack they put in. He says he has two 5 series making the same sound in the shop. I brought up the possibility that maybe the sound is coming from the exhaust system. Who knows.

 

[bmwrocks]

Amazing. How frustrating is that? It might be a faulty rack........hmmmmmm I doubt it. Whatever happened to testing a fix after you "fix" it?

 

[pietsch]

Well, to my current advisor's credit, he did want to keep the car overnight to test it out the next morning cold (that's the only time it happens). I told him I'd take it and let him know if the noise was still there the next morning. And it was, so I get to start over on Tuesday.

Additionally, I went to start up the car yesterday, two days after getting it back, and it wouldn't start! I had to crank it over and over, and when it started, it was super rough. It was like starting a car with no gas. Since then it's running fine. WTF was that all about? Coincidence that I just had my ignition coils replace under the recall? Yet another thing for them to check on Tuesday.

 

[hosagod]

Yes have your ignition coils replaced/looked at.

As for the steering noise, I just had mine fixed. It was the power steering rack and they replaced the part for me. Now I am noise free. Although, I used to get this noise EVERYTIME I would start my car, not just on cold days because there aren't many of those down here in Texas. But again, it was my power steering rack that needed replacing, now it's fine.

If you're still getting the noise then it's either a faulty rack or there is something else wrong, because you said you are getting it only on cold days, not everyday?

 

[pietsch]

Well, I get the noise only when the car is completely cooled down. It happens in the summertime too but it doesn't last as long as in the winter. But I do get the sound everyday.

My advisor seems to think the problem is with the rack and that the new rack they installed last week is faulty too. Unless they only replaced the pump and lied to me, looks like I'm gonna get a second replacement rack on Tuesday.

 

[pietsch]

Another Follow-up:

It seems they can't figure out the problem. They've had the car for over a week now. The latest is they replaced a pulley and a tensioner. Didn't completely fix the issue so they are waiting to hear back from BMW for guidance.

 

[lilbimmer]

Man, I dont know who I would be angry at - the dealership or BMW's period. I too need my power steering pump replaced, but the dealer said not until it completely brokes. I think I need to do this asap as I got a letter telling me that my extended warranty company is going into liquidation - geez!

 

[pietsch]

Follow-up #3

After having my car in the shop for 11 days, replacing belt tensioners, pulleys, and power steering pump valves, not to mention the entire steering rack and pump the previous visit, the noise persists. My advisor did everything BMW recommended to fix the noise when the engine is cold, I turn the wheel, and give it some gas. Nothing worked.

My advisor then tested some 3-series XIs he had on the used car lot, two 2002 325xi models. Guess what? They did the same thing, same sequence of events! Only in the XI model though.

So it appears to be a characteristic of the 3 series XIs. Doesn't matter if it's automatic or manual trans. And it seems to date back to at least 2002.

It would be great if BMW could engineer a fix for this. My advisor is keeping my ticket open. I'm not holding my breath for a fix though.