[porsche959]

steering feels great once I go past about 7-10 degrees in either direction. but there is a deadzone in the middle. is this normal?

basically i can be driving straight, and wiggle the steering wheel 7 degrees in each direction, back and forth and nothing happens.

[roadkillrob]

certainly not normal, I have an e90 and an e93 and neither do that. Do you have active steering? How many miles?

[Welcome to NBA Jam]

Yeah you totally shouldn't be able to move the steering wheel 7 degrees and have nothing happen. You need to check your control arm bushings and tie rod ends.

[porsche959]

Originally Posted by roadkillrob

certainly not normal, I have an e90 and an e93 and neither do that. Do you have active steering? How many miles?

No active steering. 108k miles.

[porsche959]

Originally Posted by Welcome to NBA Jam

Yeah you totally shouldn't be able to move the steering wheel 7 degrees and have nothing happen. You need to check your control arm bushings and tie rod ends.

Thanks. The car might be on original control arms and tie rod ends so may be time for an upgrade.

Also, 7 degrees is a tiny amount, you’re saying any minute movement , even a mm, you can tell while driving?

[Welcome to NBA Jam]

Originally Posted by porsche959

Thanks. The car might be on original control arms and tie rod ends so may be time for an upgrade.

Also, 7 degrees is a tiny amount, you’re saying any minute movement , even a mm, you can tell while driving?

Yes. I have no noticeable deadzone in my steering wheel.

[CTinline-six]

Originally Posted by Welcome to NBA Jam

Yes. I have no noticeable deadzone in my steering wheel.

+1

[BadContrakt]

Tie rod ends. Good chance that all of your suspension at that mileage (including shocks, struts, and springs) is getting tired.

[porsche959]

Here are some pics of the range where it starts to feel like the car is moving left to right. My estimate is around 5-10degrees but not sure. Also now that I think of it, it has a 350mm aftermarket steering wheel so would have less leverage turning left and right.

Center


Left


Right

[porsche959]

Originally Posted by BadContrakt

Tie rod ends. Good chance that all of your suspension at that mileage (including shocks, struts, and springs) is getting tired.

Thanks. Yeah I’m gonna try replacing toe rod ends and control arms to see if that makes a difference.

[53N30W]

Something is up. Normally the E Series has F 16 like steering. I can't remember but there was a thread about this if I remember correctly . Do a search

[53N30W]

Originally Posted by 53N30W

Something is up. Normally the E Series has F 16 like steering. I can't remember but there was a thread about this if I remember correctly . Do a search

I found what i was thinking about scroll down
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showt...=256125&page=3

[Jagtem]

Originally Posted by 53N30W

I found what i was thinking about scroll down
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showt...=256125&page=3

Good info. I had never heard of this issue before. My steering feels fine, but I bought it with a lot of miles and I've never had a BMW before, so maybe there's room for improvement if this joint loosened up. I'm planning on doing a PS fluid flush, I'll check this out while I'm under there.

[dab1981]

Something is definitely not right. Any movement of the steering wheel should steer the car. I can just barely move my steering wheel and the car responds.

[porsche959]

Originally Posted by 53N30W

I found what i was thinking about scroll down
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showt...=256125&page=3

Awesome. Thanks - going to try this out

[Angelcma]

So what was it? Mine is doing the same

[porsche959]

Originally Posted by Angelcma

So what was it? Mine is doing the same

I put in an m3 rack with new 325i tie rod ends. Handles like it’s on rails. It solved the issue for me. I think it was the tie rod ends.

[dleccord]

Originally Posted by porsche959

I put in an m3 rack with new 325i tie rod ends. Handles like it’s on rails. It solved the issue for me. I think it was the tie rod ends.

Thx for sharing. Does it matter what year the m3 rack is? Also was there a fix found for hooking up the servo? And did u reuse ur 335i control arms?

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by porsche959

I put in an m3 rack with new 325i tie rod ends. Handles like it’s on rails. It solved the issue for me. I think it was the tie rod ends.

So... why not just have changed the tie rods?

[porsche959]

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

So... why not just have changed the tie rods?

M3 rack is the fastest in the west.

[porsche959]

Originally Posted by dleccord

Thx for sharing. Does it matter what year the m3 rack is? Also was there a fix found for hooking up the servo? And did u reuse ur 335i control arms?

I am not sure, I just found the best looking used rack on eBay.

As for the server, I left it unconnected. It’s about 30-50% harder to steer than stock. Not bad.

I have a 325i. It has stock control arms. Planning to do m3 arms in the spring.