Tell me if you think my 335 has a problem

ucla1995 · 05-24-2008, 07:26 AM

Car was in the shop for 2 weeks, largely because I couldn't get up to the dealer to pick it up. Had a brand new 535xi as a loaner. Well I finally got my car back today and I strongly noticed something because I'd been driving the loaner for 2 weeks. On my 335 (and not on the loaner) I have about 3/4 of an inch of 'play' to move the steering wheel in either direction before the car reacts. The steering is just loose. Whereas on the 535xi the car's steering was tight on center, as it should be. Thoughts? (i.e. is some play normal or not? and do you think the dealer is going to be able to do anything or not?) I do not have active steering and my car is not an xi.

kd6lor · 05-24-2008, 10:22 AM

My 08 335 has very little on center play and is centered. I would bring it back for evaluation.

Paul

possible335i2008 · 05-24-2008, 11:33 AM

Yea that sounds like a problem my steering is dead on and has very little "play" have it checked out..remember one of the strong points of the car is the handling

Dubbedoutbimmer · 05-24-2008, 11:51 AM

Houston we have a problem

noro · 05-24-2008, 09:33 PM

Are you sure you can twist the wheel 3/4 of an inch with no play of the actual wheel? that's a pretty big angle. You may have a broken torsion bar inside the steering rack, or problems with the steering coupling.

ucla1995 · 05-25-2008, 12:17 AM

I measured it now, .6 inches each way, still a lot. you can jiggle the wheel around with no turning of the car...

ibimmer954 · 05-25-2008, 12:57 AM

Did one car have active steering and one didn't? That might explain why they feel different.

ucla1995 · 05-25-2008, 12:58 AM

No

nyc3r · 05-25-2008, 01:01 AM

turn the steering wheel and have someone watch the wheel to see if the wheels moved.. if you're doing this while driving, you should difinitely feel movement.. will test mine and report back later.

Topless///M · 06-06-2008, 07:53 PM

to the OP.....I feel the same way about my car as if there is too much play in the wheel like it feels sloppy and loose and not that direct tight feeling you usually get from a beamer. If I wiggle the wheel a little while driving, I get no movement in the front either, it's like a freakin' old Cadillac. I posted about this issue before:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=124504

Let me know how you make out cause I feel the same way.

StarrDlux · 06-06-2008, 08:20 PM

yah you probably got a car with active steering they have zero dead-center play. the 335 still has a teensy (not that much .6") bit of dead center without active steering.

maybe you ran over a curb? horse? duke of hazzard?

any history of your car you are uncertain of?

fragadellic · 06-07-2008, 12:11 AM

Jesus Christ man, it's a BMW, the steering is supposed to be tight. Take it back immediately. AS or not, make them fix it.

ucla1995 · 07-08-2008, 07:52 PM

My dealer says they won't do anything, but have offered to have me up to drive a 335 convert from their lot to see for myself. They tried this bs that converts have looser steering than sedans and coupes by design which is just crazy. If I can't get a dealer to fix it then I'm off to Carmax I guess. Can't live with steering this loose and it's getting worse. My Jeep Wrangler has tighter steering on-center than this!!

calleballe · 07-08-2008, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ucla1995

My dealer says they won't do anything, but have offered to have me up to drive a 335 convert from their lot to see for myself. They tried this bs that converts have looser steering than sedans and coupes by design which is just crazy. If I can't get a dealer to fix it then I'm off to Carmax I guess. Can't live with steering this loose and it's getting worse. My Jeep Wrangler has tighter steering on-center than this!!

+1, There is sth strange there, my E90 is dead on and tight.

vindicator · 07-08-2008, 07:55 PM

You've gotta be strong! Tell them you aint leaving until they give you a new car. Report them to the BBB, call BMW Customer Relations and talk to the store manager!

ucla1995 · 07-08-2008, 09:21 PM

I'm going to be strong, this is ridic..

MrClean · 07-09-2008, 12:18 AM

Are you in SoCal? You could drive mine as a reference (as long as you promise not to tell me I have loose steering when you're done).

J

ry333 · 07-09-2008, 12:22 AM

agree wit others, steering is quite sensitive so u better bring that back to the dealer

ucla1995 · 07-09-2008, 09:20 AM

Thanks man! I am a UCLA alum but moved out of California after school. Too many mudslides, fires, and mayhem for me!

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrClean

Are you in SoCal? You could drive mine as a reference (as long as you promise not to tell me I have loose steering when you're done).

J

MrClean · 07-10-2008, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ucla1995

Thanks man! I am a UCLA alum but moved out of California after school. Too many mudslides, fires, and mayhem for me!

Pussy.

ucla1995 · 07-10-2008, 09:32 PM

Going in to see the stealer on Monday, so we'll see how it goes..

John 070 · 07-10-2008, 10:05 PM

Good luck, ditto on the zero play. If there's any one thing I think the BMW excels at and can't be touched by the competition, it's the steering on a RWD vehicle. It's just right, so perfect, that when you want a break and just want to go from point A to point B, the BMW steering is annoying because it never stops communicating. But most of the time that's exactly what people who drive BMW's want.

05-24-2008, 07:26 AM	#1
ucla1995 Slow and low 59 Rep 636 Posts Drives: M5 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: USA iTrader: (2)	Tell me if you think my 335 has a problem Car was in the shop for 2 weeks, largely because I couldn't get up to the dealer to pick it up. Had a brand new 535xi as a loaner. Well I finally got my car back today and I strongly noticed something because I'd been driving the loaner for 2 weeks. On my 335 (and not on the loaner) I have about 3/4 of an inch of 'play' to move the steering wheel in either direction before the car reacts. The steering is just loose. Whereas on the 535xi the car's steering was tight on center, as it should be. Thoughts? (i.e. is some play normal or not? and do you think the dealer is going to be able to do anything or not?) I do not have active steering and my car is not an xi.
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05-24-2008, 10:22 AM	#2
kd6lor Private First Class 9 Rep 133 Posts Drives: 08 335 Coupe Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Orange County, California iTrader: (0)	My 08 335 has very little on center play and is centered. I would bring it back for evaluation. Paul
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05-24-2008, 11:33 AM	#3
possible335i2008 Major 166 Rep 1,222 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: united states iTrader: (10)	Yea that sounds like a problem my steering is dead on and has very little "play" have it checked out..remember one of the strong points of the car is the handling
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05-24-2008, 11:51 AM	#4
Dubbedoutbimmer Banned 43 Rep 1,310 Posts Drives: 335XI Coupe Loaded w/body kit Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Boston iTrader: (-1)	Houston we have a problem
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05-24-2008, 09:33 PM	#5
noro Colonel 90 Rep 2,707 Posts Drives: '91 M3, '04 E46 ZHP, '72 2002 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	Are you sure you can twist the wheel 3/4 of an inch with no play of the actual wheel? that's a pretty big angle. You may have a broken torsion bar inside the steering rack, or problems with the steering coupling. __________________ zhpregistry.net - ZHP stats and free classifieds.
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05-25-2008, 12:17 AM	#6
ucla1995 Slow and low 59 Rep 636 Posts Drives: M5 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: USA iTrader: (2)	I measured it now, .6 inches each way, still a lot. you can jiggle the wheel around with no turning of the car...
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05-25-2008, 12:57 AM	#7
ibimmer954 Major 138 Rep 1,424 Posts Drives: '23 i4 M50, '15 M3, '18 911 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Diego, California, USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW M3 [9.75] 2023 BMW i4 M50 [0.00] 2018 Porsche 911 C4S [0.00] 2019 BMW X4 M40i [0.00]	Did one car have active steering and one didn't? That might explain why they feel different.
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05-25-2008, 12:58 AM	#8
ucla1995 Slow and low 59 Rep 636 Posts Drives: M5 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: USA iTrader: (2)	No
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05-25-2008, 01:01 AM	#9
nyc3r Colonel 112 Rep 2,589 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA iTrader: (24)	turn the steering wheel and have someone watch the wheel to see if the wheels moved.. if you're doing this while driving, you should difinitely feel movement.. will test mine and report back later. __________________ FS: Interior Parts - Msport knob, split armrest etc FS: Interior Parts Msport wheel, Msport knob, Boot, Idrive, FS: BMW factory oil change kit
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06-06-2008, 07:53 PM	#10
Topless///M Private First Class 10 Rep 193 Posts Drives: e92 335i 6mt, 94 probe gt Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Jersey iTrader: (0)	to the OP.....I feel the same way about my car as if there is too much play in the wheel like it feels sloppy and loose and not that direct tight feeling you usually get from a beamer. If I wiggle the wheel a little while driving, I get no movement in the front either, it's like a freakin' old Cadillac. I posted about this issue before: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=124504 Let me know how you make out cause I feel the same way.
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06-06-2008, 08:20 PM	#11
StarrDlux Pussycat's Meow 9 Rep 682 Posts Drives: '08 335i montego \| Stock Join Date: May 2008 Location: Midtown (Altanta) iTrader: (0)	yah you probably got a car with active steering they have zero dead-center play. the 335 still has a teensy (not that much .6") bit of dead center without active steering. maybe you ran over a curb? horse? duke of hazzard? any history of your car you are uncertain of? __________________ 2008 335i montego \| stock 2002 A4 1.8TQS \| APR 1+ 1990 VW Corrado \| Stage 4 by SNS
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06-07-2008, 12:11 AM	#12
fragadellic Captain 15 Rep 949 Posts Drives: 335i Coupe BSM Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Arizona iTrader: (0)	Jesus Christ man, it's a BMW, the steering is supposed to be tight. Take it back immediately. AS or not, make them fix it. __________________ E92 335i Coupe Delivered 5.30.07 \| Black Sapphire \| Black Dakota \| Grey Poplar \| OEM 230 19" Wheels \| Michelin PS2s \| GP Thunder 8500K Angels __________________________________________________ __________
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07-08-2008, 07:52 PM	#13
ucla1995 Slow and low 59 Rep 636 Posts Drives: M5 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: USA iTrader: (2)	My dealer says they won't do anything, but have offered to have me up to drive a 335 convert from their lot to see for myself. They tried this bs that converts have looser steering than sedans and coupes by design which is just crazy. If I can't get a dealer to fix it then I'm off to Carmax I guess. Can't live with steering this loose and it's getting worse. My Jeep Wrangler has tighter steering on-center than this!!
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07-08-2008, 07:55 PM	#15
vindicator balllllllllin 20 Rep 173 Posts Drives: 2009 335i xDrive Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: MI iTrader: (0)	You've gotta be strong! Tell them you aint leaving until they give you a new car. Report them to the BBB, call BMW Customer Relations and talk to the store manager! __________________
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07-08-2008, 09:21 PM	#16
ucla1995 Slow and low 59 Rep 636 Posts Drives: M5 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: USA iTrader: (2)	I'm going to be strong, this is ridic..
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07-09-2008, 12:18 AM	#17
MrClean Lieutenant 21 Rep 437 Posts Drives: 2014 EBII 428i Join Date: May 2008 Location: Shangri LA iTrader: (1)	Are you in SoCal? You could drive mine as a reference (as long as you promise not to tell me I have loose steering when you're done). J
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07-09-2008, 12:22 AM	#18
ry333 Private 0 Rep 90 Posts Drives: 335i Alpine White / Coral Red Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: GTA iTrader: (0)	agree wit others, steering is quite sensitive so u better bring that back to the dealer __________________
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07-10-2008, 09:32 PM	#21
ucla1995 Slow and low 59 Rep 636 Posts Drives: M5 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: USA iTrader: (2)	Going in to see the stealer on Monday, so we'll see how it goes..
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07-10-2008, 10:05 PM	#22
John 070 Lieutenant General 1705 Rep 14,829 Posts Drives: 335i cpe Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: ZSP/ZPP/ZCW iTrader: (0)	Good luck, ditto on the zero play. If there's any one thing I think the BMW excels at and can't be touched by the competition, it's the steering on a RWD vehicle. It's just right, so perfect, that when you want a break and just want to go from point A to point B, the BMW steering is annoying because it never stops communicating. But most of the time that's exactly what people who drive BMW's want.
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