Steering noise with grinding sensation.

So I got my 535i back after two weeks in the shop to repair ars. Now there is a weird noise and sensation when turning to the right a low speed. Kind of like a farting noise with a grinding sensation in the steering wheel. A bit like when a wheel bearing is shot but it's only noticeable at low speeds and not always. I think I saw a post of someone having a similar problem. Anyone who have some insights? I guess the car is going back to the shop.

That sounds scary. If the sound and the sensation are coming from the steering wheel itself, I would suspect a defective "clock spring" - the piece that provides electrical contact between the wheel, as it moves, and the stationary part of the steering column. That happened to me once on a much older BMW, and actually caught the steering wheel and impeded its movement. Dangerous.

Originally Posted by raleedy

That sounds scary. If the sound and the sensation are coming from the steering wheel itself, I would suspect a defective "clock spring" - the piece that provides electrical contact between the wheel, as it moves, and the stationary part of the steering column. That happened to me once on a much older BMW, and actually caught the steering wheel and impeded its movement. Dangerous.

Thanks raleedy. It's hard to say. The sensation can be felt in the steering wheel but I guess it could come from a suspension component as well. Perhaps it's even something wrong with the new ars pump that reverberates through the steering.

+1 here. Add me to this list. I took delivery of my 535i M-Sport on 10-22-10 and noticed this problem with in two days. My car hasn't had any other problems or been in the shop since I took delivery.

I first noticed this when maneuvering in a parking garage, thus driving slow and turning. It is definitely a grinding noise and it can be felt as though it is underneath the car. I can only duplicate it at slow speed when turning, more so when beginning to accelerate out of a turn. Its nothing I believe in the steering wheel as I don't feel it through there. All passengers in the car notice this as it can be felt through out the car. The best way I can describe it to some feeling is that if anyone has or has ever ridden a Segway too fast, the "stick shake" warning you get, that's it.

I want to contact my dealer this week, but I want to get some more info first if possible. I know there have to bee many others out there. It cant be just Soltice and I.

Originally Posted by solstice

Thanks raleedy. It's hard to say. The sensation can be felt in the steering wheel but I guess it could come from a suspension component as well. Perhaps it's even something wrong with the new ars pump that reverberates through the steering.

Just to clarify, the problem I described is noticed when the steering wheel turns and is not associated with movement of the car. What you are describing sounds like something else.

Originally Posted by raleedy

Just to clarify, the problem I described is noticed when the steering wheel turns and is not associated with movement of the car. What you are describing sounds like something else.

Yes, I think it's something else. Since this first appeared on my car after my ars was repaired I suspect it's the ars pump that causes the grinding vibrations. Perhaps airbubbles in the system or the pump is no good.

I'm bringing the car in to have this checked out on Tuesday. I'll let you know what the outcome is.

My car is doing the same thing. Just got it this saturday what a bummer.....The car is making a horrible grinding noise when i turn the wheel to turn at low speed. Any Input would be appreciated from the experienced bmw owners in this forum on what to do.
My car is a new 550i with sport and dynamic handling and pretty much loaded up with all the goodies.

Originally Posted by Joe F.

My car is doing the same thing. Just got it this saturday what a bummer.....The car is making a horrible grinding noise when i turn the wheel to turn at low speed. Any Input would be appreciated from the experienced bmw owners in this forum on what to do.
My car is a new 550i with sport and dynamic handling and pretty much loaded up with all the goodies.

Bring it in for service. It's now pretty easy to reproduce on my car. Anytime it has been unused for an hour or more it makes the grinding thing in more than 50% of the first couple of 90 degree + turns from stand still. Pulling out of a parking lot or turning in an intersection from a stop light it is easy to reproduce the grinding. To hear the "farting" noise it's just to open the window and drive around in a parking garage. It's absolutely not the sound from tires rubbing against the road surface, this is from another source and the grinding sensation is significant. The grinding is also there independent of road surface codition: wet or dry does not matter. Bring your car in and let a tech drive it, I will on Tuesday since there's definately something wrong. My car did not have this issue prior to the new ars pump was installed.

yet another steering issue... bmw are you listening?

Originally Posted by sambb

bmw are you listening?

I can imagine all these engineers in Munich calling their IT departments since they think their browsers have stripped out an audio attachment.

I am convinced BMW Munich is still in the 20th century and is not monitoring this and the other website. If they were, they would occassionally post something....

That is not true. There have been numerous postings of folks having mentioned that BMW corporate has noticed and does monitor the board. They just consider it unproductive to respond through the board - since they will likely get into personal and direct communications that they are unlikely to win. Plus they are likely not staffed sufficiently to use this as a regular, official communications channel. Instead, they'll respond more broadly through channels like Roundel, press releases, product updates etc.

Also for those who think that BMW doesn't monitor this, instead of complaining, why not call their 1-800 number? Or talk to their SA?

BMW responding to posts on message boards would not be appropriate or practical. They need the eyes and ears of the dealership service staff. BMW provides fine technical service in general. Of course there are always exceptions to that, but those are quite small in number.

It's a long shot, but do you think it could be the tire rubbing on something? That would only happen at slow speeds when the wheel could be turned the most...

Originally Posted by Emilner

It's a long shot, but do you think it could be the tire rubbing on something? That would only happen at slow speeds when the wheel could be turned the most...

No, no chance. This is more like metal against metal grinding. If it wasn't an rwd car I would have guessed an issue with the differential but it really feels like the grinding is from the front end. I suspect ars.

Originally Posted by solstice

No, no chance. This is more like metal against metal grinding. If it wasn't an rwd car I would have guessed an issue with the differential but it really feels like the grinding is from the front end. I suspect ars.

Gotcha, figured sometimes the obvious things get overlooked.

Seems like RWD and AWD people are mentioning it. I could see if it was an AWD problem...

Originally Posted by solstice

Bring it in for service. It's now pretty easy to reproduce on my car. Anytime it has been unused for an hour or more it makes the grinding thing in more than 50% of the first couple of 90 degree + turns from stand still. Pulling out of a parking lot or turning in an intersection from a stop light it is easy to reproduce the grinding. To hear the "farting" noise it's just to open the window and drive around in a parking garage. It's absolutely not the sound from tires rubbing against the road surface, this is from another source and the grinding sensation is significant. The grinding is also there independent of road surface codition: wet or dry does not matter. Bring your car in and let a tech drive it, I will on Tuesday since there's definately something wrong. My car did not have this issue prior to the new ars pump was installed.

Solstice,

I look forward to hearing what you learn from your dealers visit Tuesday. I do not know what an ars pump is, but to my knowledge this has not been touched on my car, as I have not had it in the dealer since i took delivery last week. Thanks for sharing what you learn.

Originally Posted by brandonw

Solstice,

I look forward to hearing what you learn from your dealers visit Tuesday. I do not know what an ars pump is, but to my knowledge this has not been touched on my car, as I have not had it in the dealer since i took delivery last week. Thanks for sharing what you learn.

We probably have the same issue even if your's haven't been touched. The service guys at my dealer are good so I don't think it's a sloppy job more likely it's a defect with one of the new components they installed and you have a similar defect. I guess it could also be something like insufficient fluid level or wrong fluid type. Hopefully we'll know more in the coming days when they check my car out.

mine too is making this noise. 2011 550 GT xdrive with active suspension. taking it in wednesday. there is supposedly a TSB for a similar problem on the 7 series. we need to figure this out b/c its really annoying. my car has 100 miles on it. did it the minute i left the dealership.

do you think it is related somehow to the new BMW steering, which other enthusiasts have commented on?

I wish I hadn't searched for this issue...not very encouraging stuff
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...=201176&page=1

Question, does everyone who experiences this issue have the dynamic handling package?

This sounds like the same problem I have had for 3 years on my E60. Now and again at low speeds when I turn the wheel hard to the right I hear that sound. I spoke to my dealer about it and they looked but couldn't pin it down. Being that it only happened when doing low speed tight maneuvering I never really cared, but like I said I have had that exact thing on my E60 for 3 years now.....

Originally Posted by sambb

yet another steering issue... bmw are you listening?

Are you going to reach a point where you add something to the forum besides ranting on the steering?

Not that you don't have a right to voice your opinion, but ever single one of your posts is in some form calling out the steering on the F10. Just saying.

Originally Posted by solstice

Question, does everyone who experiences this issue have the dynamic handling package?

Yes. I have it as part of the M-Sport package.