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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
Granted...I've been calling BMWNA about this since last July. But...it's nice to know that BMWNA will still do a retrofit on my 02/01 build 325i. Apparently the parts have been sitting at BMW of San Francisco for quite some time and no one called me about it! I only found out b/c I scheduled an oil change with them.

Thanks BMWNA! :thumb:

BTW, has anyone had their steering retrofit done at BMW of SF? Any problems?
 

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Cool. I recently had a retrofit done on my 325i as well (but not in SF). Does you car have the sport pkg? I've had a problem (as well as some other owners) w/ the retrofit steering. It seems that at hghway speeds there is a loose on center feeling and that the car tramlines badly ( you have to hold onto the wheel tightly). Hasn't happened to everyone-- but we haven't found a solution to the problem yet (tried alignments, tire pressures, etc). Other people say that they love their retrofit and have no problems. It does make the steering feel firmer at lower speeds which is nice-- but I was also hoping for a more solid highway feel-- i'm hoping that I can get this resolved. You'll also get more feedback and loading up in turns-- which is also great. In retrospect, I'd rather have my old steering that atleast tracked straight although it was lighter and not as communicative. Of course, if I can make my current steering tramline less and feel less loose in the center then I'd prefer it. At this point I don't know whether its an aligment issue, an installation isssue or a problem w/ the rack or other related components. It seems like its something simple like too little toe-in but apparently this hasn't solved the problem for another member (rchoudry). IF you decide to proceed, please give us a review! The silver lining to my current issue is that it makes me only want to drive the car on curvy roads-- straight highways drive me nuts w/ the steeirng going all over the place.
 

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Discussion Starter · #3 ·
Hi robg,

Thanks for your comments. I do have SP, but I've already got a lot of shakiness when going straight on the highway at high speeds...car just won't go straight and the slightest nudge on the steering wheel will just about send me into the next lane. I was hoping the retrofit would fix that. :eek:

I'm scheduled to get the retrofit on 4/1, so hopefully the result won't be an April fools joke. I'll definitely post a review then.

Thanks!
 

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One of my co-workers got his non-SP 325i retrofitted at BMWSF. He says car is much better after retrofit (previously did not feel safe driving as highway speeds).
 

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just curious...can you guys post the list of parts included in your retrofit?I also have a 325i with SP and I got my retrofit done a couple of months ago. I'll post my list later...the invoice is sitting in the glovebox. I just have the feeling they didn't install all the parts..although I do like the retrofitted steering better....I don't think its just psychological!! I remember looking at someone else's retrofit list and he had more parts listed on the invoice. I just had the main steering rack and maybe some nuts. I dont think I even have a new universal joint or whatever its called.
 

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Teej-

Do you have the same issue that me, Rchoudry and others have noticed w/ the retro steering:
Looseness on center and great tendency to tramline or wander on the highway? If not, maybe the fact that they left your orignal coupler is a good thing! Which dealer did you use?

Search the archives on this board for the parts list-- it gets posted a lot. I just don't have it in front of me...
 

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robg said:
Teej-

Do you have the same issue that me, Rchoudry and others have noticed w/ the retro steering:
Looseness on center and great tendency to tramline or wander on the highway? If not, maybe the fact that they left your orignal coupler is a good thing! Which dealer did you use?

Search the archives on this board for the parts list-- it gets posted a lot. I just don't have it in front of me...
Nah, I don't have the looseness problem, but it does tramline a lil bit. But its not that bad. Plus I think the fact that my Turanzas have like 23000 miles on em contributes....I think worn tires make tramlining worse...

I got mine done here at BMW of Fairfax in No. VA.
 

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Teej-

WOuld you happen to have your alignment print-out from when they did you steering retrofit? If so, would you mind posting the specs that they used (especially the front left and right toe angle)

Thanks.
 

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robg said:
Teej-

WOuld you happen to have your alignment print-out from when they did you steering retrofit? If so, would you mind posting the specs that they used (especially the front left and right toe angle)

Thanks.
DOH!! I forgot to grab the printout again from my glovebox! :tsk:
I'll definitely get it and post the list of parts and also the specs after lunch...unless I forget again, which is possible. :rolleyes:
 

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oh damn...I never got an alignment printout... :rolleyes:
All I got is the invoice that says 'Four wheel alignment and center steering wheel'. And the parts installed:

2 32-41-1-093-597 seal ring
2 32-41-1-093-596 seal ring
1 32-13-6-753-438 rmfd steering box
 
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