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UPDATE: The steering knock on the f30 is not normal and you should not put up with it. If it's under warranty, take it back, (most vehicles effected by this problem are out of warranty), effected vehicles are early 2012 build to Oct. 2012. I was quoted $3,050.00 for a new rack at Canterbury BMW + GST + INSTALLATION. There is a repair/adjustment to the rack that takes one minute to do. The hardest part is removing the ridiculous amount of screws that hold the cover under the engine bay. Once you remove the under tray cover, look at your rack, on the drivers side, there is a bolt at the bottom of the rack (DONT TOUCH THIS ONE), LOOK AT THE TOP OF THE RACK ABOVE THIS BOLT, you will see either a three pin washer looking round cover a bit bigger than a 50c coin. or on early model racks you will see a pointed star bolt. you need to turn this bolt CLOCKWISE about a 1/4 turn to start off with and road test if the knocking has gone, that it, problem solved, if it's still there, turn a bit more on the bolt and road test, if the steering gets a touch heavier in feel, you have overdone it and back off a bit. I have done this to my 2012 f30 320d and it's like driving a new car. By the way, I got to this point, after a lot of mechanic visits wanting to change the rack etc. etc. etc. and the problem was fixed by me at home in no time, best of all it's FREE. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN RIPED OFF BY THIS SIMPLE ADJUSTMENT BY MECHANICS, PROBLABLY COUNTLESS. Good Luck. NOTE; IF YOU OVERTIGHTEN THE ADJUSTING BOLT, YOUR RACK WILL PRMATURLY WEAR OUT. JUST LIKE OVERTIGHTENING A WHEEL BEARING, THIS IS THE SAME PRINCAPLE.

 

Hi. I have a 2012 BMW 328i. I had that annoying steering rack clunk up until a few days ago when I tried your suggested fix. It seems to have worked like a charm as the clunk is gone and the steering feels slightly tighter (which I like). Thanks.

Has your clunk returned? Notice any other adverse effects from tightening the rack?

 

Mine is still good and no problems at all, still no knocks after the fix, it has been about 5 months since the fix and I have travelled about 13,000 kilometres after the fix, and still all good. Glad to hear that (at least some people) can get a free fix with minimal labour. No mechanic will do this adjustment for you because they want to slug you for a new rack and charge you their labour cost. Mechanics are there to make money and there not going to tell you, yeah I adjusted this bolt and all is sweet give me $50.00 and go. They want to make thousands on you (especially driving a late model BMW OR MERCEDES ETC). Cheers, Tim.

 

Hi I'm new to this forum , after looking for info on steering knocking noises , I've got a 320d 2012 with the same problem , is this noise when your stationary or when driving and do you have any pics as to the location of this nut to adjust I haven't a clue about anything inside the bonnet ??

 

Bmw steering knock

My noise was when I was driving and I hit a small bump in the road, (drivers side) also if you are stationary and you wiggle the steering left to right, expect a small knock noise when the engine is off, this is normal, when the engine is running the knock should be a lot less than when switched off. I have attached a picture of the nut that you can adjust, the picture is of a latter steering rack, but the adjustment nut is in the same location. If you look at the picture, I have black texta marks around the adjuster, (this later model has a three pin tool for the adjustment) on your year model you need a E20 mm security socket (or try fitting a normal socket over the nut, choose the tightest fitting one, and turn about 1/4 turn clockwise, then test drive, it should be much better, keep turning (1/4 at a time only, and keep testing, once the steering starts getting heavy, then back off a touch. A much easier way to get to the nut is through the engine bay. Take off the air filter cover and release the circle clamp attached to the air filter cover and move to one side, (you will not be able to disconnect it completely, but just enough to get some room) and access the steering nut from inside the engine bay, it is a lot quicker and you don't have to remove all the under the engine covers. as your looking at the engine bay the nut is on your left hand side down near the steering shaft, use a small torch to locate. hopefully the attached pictures come through. Cheers, Tim.

 

My noise was when I was driving and I hit a small bump in the road, (drivers side) also if you are stationary and you wiggle the steering left to right, expect a small knock noise when the engine is off, this is normal, when the engine is running the knock should be a lot less than when switched off. I have attached a picture of the nut that you can adjust, the picture is of a latter steering rack, but the adjustment nut is in the same location. If you look at the picture, I have black texta marks around the adjuster, (this later model has a three pin tool for the adjustment) on your year model you need a E20 mm security socket (or try fitting a normal socket over the nut, choose the tightest fitting one, and turn about 1/4 turn clockwise, then test drive, it should be much better, keep turning (1/4 at a time only, and keep testing, once the steering starts getting heavy, then back off a touch. A much easier way to get to the nut is through the engine bay. Take off the air filter cover and release the circle clamp attached to the air filter cover and move to one side, (you will not be able to disconnect it completely, but just enough to get some room) and access the steering nut from inside the engine bay, it is a lot quicker and you don't have to remove all the under the engine covers. as your looking at the engine bay the nut is on your left hand side down near the steering shaft, use a small torch to locate. hopefully the attached pictures come through. Cheers, Tim.

Hi Tim,

Is it better to lift up the car?

I already made my "tool" and tried to turn the nut clockwise and nothing.
If I lift the front of the car, is perhaps better, because it will release a lot of pressure on the tied rod axle, no?

Thank you.

Estragos

 

Thanks a lot for your reply and the pictures , that's spot on
Will give it a go this weekend and let you know the out come
Thanks again

 

Tim, did your noise sound like mine? Here's a video:
https://youtu.be/ywDwg-wwGMc

BMW diagnosed this as my steering rack and said it's normal. Sounds like a bad damper to me.

 

BMW replaced my steering rack with no luck. Their next step was to replace the swaybar endlinks, springs, and shocks. Car is now dead quiet! Looks like I had a slightly different issue than the rest of you - good luck!

 

Wow , that's not good pal !
Mine is only when reversing full lock , it clonks like I've just run over a large stone or something also when stationary if I turn side to side it clonks
It squeaks like crazy as well , to be honest this is my first bm and I'm not happy with it at all , it's a expensive badge , but a poorly built car , back to mercs next time !

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Yeah, it's in my every thought when I'm driving the car. I've had a couple of my customers comment on it when we were in the car too, which is embarrassing.

Hopefully the adjustment works for you - let us know how it goes!

 

Hello Tim,

Thx for your post!
I have the same problem like you were having. Went to the local garage and found that three pin bolt. But garage doesn't have the tool for that. Any ideas were to get one online? Or just start searching for a garage that has one.

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Bmw steering knock

Hi and thanks for your question. I used a mild steel handle to make the tool required (for free). I'm sure there is a tool that you can buy from BMW but I would hate to ask what they want for it. This steering adjusting bolt is not very tight, so you don't need a professionally made tool. look at the pictures that I have attached and you should be able to whip one up in no time. I haven't been able to find my one that I made, but I have attached some pictures of a similar tool with two knobs on it. It is essentially the same as the pictures except you need three protruding knobs (self tapping screws that have been cut down with a grinder). Hope this helps. Cheers, Tim.

 

Crown nut?

Hi and thanks for your question. I used a mild steel handle to make the tool required (for free). I'm sure there is a tool that you can buy from BMW but I would hate to ask what they want for it. This steering adjusting bolt is not very tight, so you don't need a professionally made tool. look at the pictures that I have attached and you should be able to whip one up in no time. I haven't been able to find my one that I made, but I have attached some pictures of a similar tool with two knobs on it. It is essentially the same as the pictures except you need three protruding knobs (self tapping screws that have been cut down with a grinder). Hope this helps. Cheers, Tim.

I am wondering if you can get a crown nut that corresponds in size, cut the 3 "extra" prongs and stick the back of it in a normal socket. Since the adjusting does not require that much force it might just work

 

Thank you for your response Tim. I'll try to make the tool my self. Seems pretty straight forward. Cheers!

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Bmw steering knock

Hi and thanks for every ones questions, I have found my original tool that I knocked up. (I took pictures of it in my phone and a few weeks later can't find it again). pictures attached. I'm not sure the distance between the protruding self tapers, but if you put blue tak on the steering rack where the 3 holes are, lightly press something against the blu tak or paint or oil etc. etc. anything will do, and this will give you the space you need between the self tappers. You will need to drill a largish hold in the middle to clear the rubber grommet that is in the centre of the large adjusting bolt. good luck.

 

Bmw steering knock

sorry, pictures didn't attached to last post. hopefully they come through this one. cheers.

 

Hi Tim,

I have the same Knock in the steering of my F30. Mine is 02/13 F30.
I already ask BMW to take a look, and they said they find anything!!:bawling:

But the Knock is still there, and I will try your repair and I hope that the steering will be OK.

Thank you. :thumbup:

 

Hi Tim,
So the noise is more likely to be the loosened nut then the bushings? My car is 2012 328i.

I have this loud click or clunk noise from driver, steering and passenger side lol

I have air suspension to almost drop on the ground btw.

 

Hi Tim,
So the noise is more likely to be the loosened nut then the bushings? My car is 2012 328i.

I have this loud click or clunk noise from driver, steering and passenger side lol

I have air suspension to almost drop on the ground btw.

You have nothing to loose by tightening the steering rack adjuster. Once you have adjusted it like I explained in the original statement and the problem is still there, then it could be the half shafts that connect the steering wheel to the rack itself (there is two of them by memory), this is the next culprit for steering knock where the two shafts meet and join together (universal join), can get some play in it and you get the knocking sound as well, BUT no.1 culprit it the rack itself

 

Bmw steering knock

No adverse effects and I haven't needed to adjust the rack since I initially did it. It's been now 18 months since initial adjustment and all is still good.

 

No adverse effects and I haven't needed to adjust the rack since I initially did it. It's been now 18 months since initial adjustment and all is still good.

Good news!!:thumbup:

 

I will definitely try to toghten it. I hope my 2012 328i has the torx thing instead of 3 pin lol

If the problem is from rack itself then what happens if i just keep driving it for like 2-3 more yrs?? Cause more damage to other parts?

 

Bmw steering knock

If the steering rack is adjusted as i explained and there is still a knocking noise then the next most likely cause could be the steering shaft itself. The shaft comes out of the firewall and is joined with a universal join about half way down the shaft and before the rack itself. To diagnose this. Open bonnet and reach down where the two shafts join and grab the universal join in your hand and wigle it back and forth (twisting) if there is exesive play and knocking coming from this part then the universal joint will need changing. I don't remember if the upper shaft is a part of the universal join or you can get the universal join on it's own, but you should be able to tell just by looking at it. This is the no. 2 culprit for steering knock on these vehicles as mentioned before the no.1 is the rack itself which is adjusted like i explained in the original post.

 

The clunking will not effect the vehicle at the moment, it just sounds bad over bumps because theoratically you have something that is a bit loose in the rack iteself, eventually if it gets bad enough the drivers side of the steering rack could fail, but this is very extreme. I don't see you having any issues driving around with it, but if you see that it's getting ridicoulously loud then to be on the safe side you would need to get it replaced (not adjusted as by then it would of worn the insides of the rack) which could result in failed steering. That's why it's a good idea to adjust it and tighten it up so no excess dagage can occure. Like i said before it has been about 18 months since i adjusted mine and there has not been any other issues with it and the noise has not come back.

 

Hi guys,

I tried to tighten the bolt but unfortunately it didn't do nothing, it almost looked like when I tightened it didn't do nothing to it (like it didn't had an end).

Because of this I untightened it a little bit and now I don't know if did something wrong or not...

What do you guys recommend me to do to garantee that everything is fine?

I also played with the universal bolt from the shaft and it knocks a lot so I guess that it's where the noise comes from...

Thanks

 

before adjusting any nuts or bolts you should always mark them with a texta or liquid paper so you know if you have moved the nut or bolt and by how much. this will give you a visual indication. if your steering wheel has play in it, keep tightening (a bit at a time) till all the slack or knock has gone out of it. test everytime you make and adjustment. don't just tighten the crap out of it, a bit at a time. Check for any other movements in the steering system and change parts that have access play in them. Good luck. Tim.

 

Ok thanks for the advice Tims.

My problem is that in the beginning I only tightened it like 1/4 as you advise in your previous post, after checking that the knock was still there I tightened it a little bit more but then all of the sudden it was more loose than before, like the bolt is worn out.

With this in mind do you still recommend me to tighten it?

When the car is parked and the ignition off is the noise supossed to go away as well?

Enviado do meu SM-G935F através de Tapatalk

 

I just looked under the hood on my 2012 328i

I think the op said that after you loosen the air filter clamp then we will have an access to the steering bolt on left hand side.
But there is a lot of hoses on left hand side whereas right hand side(drivers) there is a room to reach a hex bolt head where i believe is a steering rack. I will post a pic. It maybe hard to notice the bolt.

So op, are you sure its on passenger side?
And, does 2012 have a hex instead of pin or torx?

Im getting creaking noise from steering even from slight turn either direction now..

 

I just saw this steering for my car on ebay. There is a hex bolt not a pin or torx.
And it seems to be located on bottom side of the rack, not top.
Is this the bolt i should tighten?

 

Based on the pictures tims28 posted, in post #6 - the torx is on the top-side of the steering rack.
My car is RHD and I can see it if I look under the drivers front wheel. It will look like this, unless you have the revision that tims28 has which has a different socket thing (shh!)

this is the LHD version circled, but you can see the RHD one right next to it.

 

Hey Guys,

I'm having the same "clunk" noise issue with my 320i ED. I've been trying to turn that 3 pin screw, but seems it's stuck. Is that really hard to turn or is it really stuck for me!?
Thanks for the help.

Cheers