M Sport Steering Wheel not level

DanielHazelrigg · 08-07-2014, 07:49 PM

Hey guys, have a 2014 328i M Sport with about 2K miles on it. Bought it new but the weird thing is that the steering wheel is not level across when going straight on the road. It isn't the pitch in the road and when it's level, I am veering to the right. It is just plain not level across from left to right when driving straight. Really bugs my OCD and shouldn't be the case in a BMW.

Anyone experience this and/or a solution in the F30?

Thanks in advance!

Bluesmansr · 08-07-2014, 07:55 PM

You need to get your alignment checked. It's not a problem with the steering will most likely.

DanielHazelrigg · 08-07-2014, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluesmansr

You need to get your alignment checked. It's not a problem with the steering will most likely.

Can I get that done at the dealer and trust them to not scratch my wheels? I assume they won't charge me for this and it shouldn't take too much time?

Cyberdemon · 08-07-2014, 08:47 PM

Was it like that when you bought the car?

You need an alignment.

If it was like that when you got the car you should have never taken delivery, or go back and ask the dealer to fix it.

If you don't recall when it happened, it's possible/likely at some point you (or possibly someone else driving your car?) hit something hard enough to crook it over.

The only other option is make sure your tire pressures aren't extremely off balance, but the TPMS would likely alert you if it was that bad.

DanielHazelrigg · 08-07-2014, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyberdemon

Was it like that when you bought the car?

You need an alignment.

If it was like that when you got the car you should have never taken delivery, or go back and ask the dealer to fix it.

If you don't recall when it happened, it's possible/likely at some point you (or possibly someone else driving your car?) hit something hard enough to crook it over.

The only other option is make sure your tire pressures aren't extremely off balance, but the TPMS would likely alert you if it was that bad.

Honestly, I don't remember it being like that and nobody has ever driven my car but me. I don't recall hitting anything as I watch out for the smallest potholes. My dealer needs to fix a little dent from the factory/shipping so I can add to the list.

I assume this shouldn't be a big issue for them and they can fix. I know it isn't the tires - I checked psi already.

Thanks guys

RoundelM3 · 08-08-2014, 07:39 AM

You could have a bad tire - internal belt separation or something akin to that. Look at the tread and see if it's wearing unevenly or "cupping". Sounds more like alignment, though. And yes, you don't own a Toyota - you can trust the dealership not to scratch your wheels, and even if they did, they'd take care of fixing them.

alienranch · 08-08-2014, 02:46 PM

You may very likely have to pay for the alignment as that's not covered under maintenance.

think715 · 08-08-2014, 08:22 PM

I am having the same issue with my new 335i and told the dealership that I noticed it on my way home from the dealer. They have done an alignment (wheels were aligned already but steering wheel off), at no cost to me and acknowledged that the steering wheel was off and should now be fixed.

It is not fixed.

I will be bringing it back in, as the service manager wants to go on a test drive with me to see it first hand. It seems from our discussion that they will do what is needed to get this resolved and believe that the steering wheel came misaligned from the factory and is not serious but more of an annoyance.

RPM90 · 08-08-2014, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alienranch

You may very likely have to pay for the alignment as that's not covered under maintenance.

You may be correct on that.
But I would still check cause iirc for the first year and 12K miles all adjustments may be covered including alignment.

stormlv · 08-09-2014, 05:40 AM

I have the same issue since I got the car...
Alignment was checked some time ago but that didn't fix it.
Now that my car is in the shop, they said they re-did it and should be fine now.
I'll update you when I get it back...

DanielHazelrigg · 08-30-2014, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stormlv

I have the same issue since I got the car...
Alignment was checked some time ago but that didn't fix it.
Now that my car is in the shop, they said they re-did it and should be fine now.
I'll update you when I get it back...

Any updates on that crooked steering wheel? Did they fix it? I am half tempted to take off the steering wheel and pop it back on, likely off by a single spline but not sure if that is still possible with the F30.

DanielHazelrigg · 09-18-2014, 06:02 PM

Guys, I just don't trust taking it an hour to the dealer to do a half-a$$ solution and find it wasn't fixed. I have seen the DIYs to remove steering wheel. Question is, are the threads on the steering wheel designed to allow this or can it only go on one way - is there some sort of pattern that would prevent me from aligning it myself? It looks simple. Thanks in advance!

stormlv · 09-19-2014, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanielHazelrigg

Any updates on that crooked steering wheel? Did they fix it? I am half tempted to take off the steering wheel and pop it back on, likely off by a single spline but not sure if that is still possible with the F30.

Hey, sorry I missed your first reply.

So just to make sure, are you 100% positive it was your steering wheel?

I'm asking because I've been to the shop 3-4 times with the car having the same issues that you had.

The first time, the steering wheel was indeed a tiny bit off, but that was not the reason why it was veering to the right.
There were two more unsuccessful attempts at doing a proper alignment, but nothing changed after each "repair".

I finally took the service manager for a drive and presented in no uncertain terms that this was a shitty job.

They took the car again, this time to an "outside" garage which had more precise alignment tools. This time, everything was a lot better...

Given the relatively wide tires (225 front /255 rear) the car still follows the road crown, but now you can see that if you go in the middle of the road it will go straight.

If I were you, I'd go in for an alignment check and ask if they have a laser based alignment tool.

BavarianFanatic · 09-19-2014, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stormlv

Hey, sorry I missed your first reply.

So just to make sure, are you 100% positive it was your steering wheel?

I'm asking because I've been to the shop 3-4 times with the car having the same issues that you had.

The first time, the steering wheel was indeed a tiny bit off, but that was not the reason why it was veering to the right.
There were two more unsuccessful attempts at doing a proper alignment, but nothing changed after each "repair".

I finally took the service manager for a drive and presented in no uncertain terms that this was a shitty job.

They took the car again, this time to an "outside" garage which had more precise alignment tools. This time, everything was a lot better...

Given the relatively wide tires (225 front /255 rear) the car still follows the road crown, but now you can see that if you go in the middle of the road it will go straight.

If I were you, I'd go in for an alignment check and ask if they have a laser based alignment tool.

It's not their equipment that's the problem, it's their techs. I can align a car perfectly, the first time, with string and chalk.

For anyone considering it, don't try removing your wheel to correct the problem. Have the dealer make the adjustment and be sure to tell them the issue is the STEERING WHEEL alignment so they actually pay specific attention to it. Otherwise the tech will simply see "alignment" on the work order and sign off that it's fine when he puts it on the rack and indeed sees that everything is in spec.

Alan_NJ · 09-19-2014, 07:41 AM

Thanks for the tip.
Ive been needing to get this done ever since I took delivery, just havent gotten around to it yet.

stormlv · 09-19-2014, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BavarianFanatic

It's not their equipment that's the problem, it's their techs.
...

Entirely possible

rking117 · 09-19-2014, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BavarianFanatic

It's not their equipment that's the problem, it's their techs. I can align a car perfectly, the first time, with string and chalk.

For anyone considering it, don't try removing your wheel to correct the problem. Have the dealer make the adjustment and be sure to tell them the issue is the STEERING WHEEL alignment so they actually pay specific attention to it. Otherwise the tech will simply see "alignment" on the work order and sign off that it's fine when he puts it on the rack and indeed sees that everything is in spec.

then take it to someone you trust that does alignments. It would be very important to make sure you are not out of tolerance for the alignment. If the tie rods are aligned and properly positioned and the steering wheel is still of then i woudl investigate the removing of the steering wheel and going that route however, if the dealer or someone else aligned the vehicle and didnt set that correctly and then you move your steering wheel one or more notches you could be using your steering rack to adjust and compensate for this and cause early wearing of parts under there not to mention that your geometry will be off to some degree.

DanielHazelrigg · 09-19-2014, 04:18 PM

Thanks all. From what I understand, the F30 steering wheel can only be installed in one position so it requires an alignment. I shouldn't have ignored it this long. Thing that sucks is the car is 5 months old and has 2800 miles, and they would have covered this under the warranty up to 2K miles.

08-07-2014, 07:49 PM	#1
DanielHazelrigg Private First Class 146 Rep 165 Posts Drives: 2014 328i M-Sport EB-II Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Northern Indiana iTrader: (0)	M Sport Steering Wheel not level Hey guys, have a 2014 328i M Sport with about 2K miles on it. Bought it new but the weird thing is that the steering wheel is not level across when going straight on the road. It isn't the pitch in the road and when it's level, I am veering to the right. It is just plain not level across from left to right when driving straight. Really bugs my OCD and shouldn't be the case in a BMW. Anyone experience this and/or a solution in the F30? Thanks in advance!
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08-07-2014, 07:55 PM	#2
Bluesmansr Private 17 Rep 74 Posts Drives: 2011 e90 m3 ZCP Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	You need to get your alignment checked. It's not a problem with the steering will most likely.
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08-07-2014, 08:47 PM	#4
Cyberdemon Brigadier General 1538 Rep 3,331 Posts Drives: 2020 X5 40i, 2018 M3 Comp Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Long Island NY iTrader: (3)	Was it like that when you bought the car? You need an alignment. If it was like that when you got the car you should have never taken delivery, or go back and ask the dealer to fix it. If you don't recall when it happened, it's possible/likely at some point you (or possibly someone else driving your car?) hit something hard enough to crook it over. The only other option is make sure your tire pressures aren't extremely off balance, but the TPMS would likely alert you if it was that bad. __________________ Current: '20 X5, '18 M3 ZCP Previous: '11 E90 335i, '11 E90 M3, '16 VW GTI, '15 M235i, '13 335i, '08 TL-S, '00 Corvette
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08-08-2014, 07:39 AM	#6
RoundelM3 Major General 1837 Rep 6,990 Posts Drives: 15 F80 M3, 22 G01 X3 30i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Clayton, NC iTrader: (2) Garage List 2022 BMW X3 [9.83] 2015 BMW M3 [6.50]	You could have a bad tire - internal belt separation or something akin to that. Look at the tread and see if it's wearing unevenly or "cupping". Sounds more like alignment, though. And yes, you don't own a Toyota - you can trust the dealership not to scratch your wheels, and even if they did, they'd take care of fixing them. __________________ 2015 F80 ///M3 Sedan 7DCT Tanzanite, 2022 X3 sDrive30i 8AT Brooklyn Grey
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08-08-2014, 02:46 PM	#7
alienranch First Lieutenant 19 Rep 312 Posts Drives: 2012 BMW 335i Join Date: May 2012 Location: Dallas iTrader: (0)	You may very likely have to pay for the alignment as that's not covered under maintenance.
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08-08-2014, 08:22 PM	#8
think715 New Member 0 Rep 7 Posts Drives: F30 335i Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (0)	I am having the same issue with my new 335i and told the dealership that I noticed it on my way home from the dealer. They have done an alignment (wheels were aligned already but steering wheel off), at no cost to me and acknowledged that the steering wheel was off and should now be fixed. It is not fixed. I will be bringing it back in, as the service manager wants to go on a test drive with me to see it first hand. It seems from our discussion that they will do what is needed to get this resolved and believe that the steering wheel came misaligned from the factory and is not serious but more of an annoyance.
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08-09-2014, 05:40 AM	#10
stormlv Human 932 Rep 1,200 Posts Drives: Yes Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Geneva iTrader: (1)	I have the same issue since I got the car... Alignment was checked some time ago but that didn't fix it. Now that my car is in the shop, they said they re-did it and should be fine now. I'll update you when I get it back... __________________ 2023 BMW M4 CP xDr \| 510HP / 650Nm \| Isle of Man Green \| Photo album Sold 2018 BMW M4 DCT / ZCP\| 450HP / 550Nm \| Sakhir Orange \| Photo album \| Tribute Sold 2014 BMW 435xd \| 360HP / 710Nm \| Estoril Blue \| Photo album 2010 BMW Z4 sDrive35i DKG \| 306 HP / 400Nm \| Space Gray \| Photo album
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09-18-2014, 06:02 PM	#12
DanielHazelrigg Private First Class 146 Rep 165 Posts Drives: 2014 328i M-Sport EB-II Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Northern Indiana iTrader: (0)	Guys, I just don't trust taking it an hour to the dealer to do a half-a$$ solution and find it wasn't fixed. I have seen the DIYs to remove steering wheel. Question is, are the threads on the steering wheel designed to allow this or can it only go on one way - is there some sort of pattern that would prevent me from aligning it myself? It looks simple. Thanks in advance!
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09-19-2014, 07:41 AM	#15
Alan_NJ Second Lieutenant 7 Rep 205 Posts Drives: 2014 335xi MSport Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: NJ iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW 335xi [0.00]	Thanks for the tip. Ive been needing to get this done ever since I took delivery, just havent gotten around to it yet. __________________ 2014 335i xdrive MSport AW/CR, SAT, Prem, Tech, HK, DHP, MPPK, MPE, NWA, KMFDM, etc...
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09-19-2014, 04:18 PM	#18
DanielHazelrigg Private First Class 146 Rep 165 Posts Drives: 2014 328i M-Sport EB-II Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Northern Indiana iTrader: (0)	Thanks all. From what I understand, the F30 steering wheel can only be installed in one position so it requires an alignment. I shouldn't have ignored it this long. Thing that sucks is the car is 5 months old and has 2800 miles, and they would have covered this under the warranty up to 2K miles.
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