F25 Steering rack problem ?

Discussion in 'X3' started by edthefed, Mar 28, 2016.

  1. edthefed
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    edthefed WARLORD

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    My 2012 X3 has to date been almost trouble free. However this weekend it has developed a knocking sound from the steering...its most apparent at slow speed when turning left.
    This weekend i did a 200 mile round trip and all was fine, arrived home, turned left onto the drive and heard a loud knock from the steering. Ive moved the car back and forward onto the drive a couple of times and get this knock each time !
    It being Easter there is not a lot i can do till tomorrow, but checking up on the WWW this seems to be a fairly common problem with BMW either claiming "they all do that" or changing the steering rack for an updated version owing to excessive play.
    Anybody else experienced these issues ?
     
  2. Spuffington
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    Spuffington Staff Member Admin Site Supporter

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    No, mine is fine. Hope you get yours sorted. Keep us posted on what the outcome is.
     
  3. bishbosh
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    bishbosh WARLORD

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    All I can think is wheel bearing or one of the various bushes on the control arm/tie rods.
     
  4. markyboyt
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    markyboyt WARLORD

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    If the noise is most noticeable when going over a slight bump whilst turning then it will be normal behaviour annoyingly. It is from within the rack but only one side. A new rack wouldn't rectify it, BMW know about it and state that it's not any detriment to the vehicle so won't replace them. I suspect most of the documented replacements have been due to a noise within the rack whilst physically turning the wheel but that is usually whilst turning right more and even at a standstill.
     
  5. edthefed
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    edthefed WARLORD

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    V
    Thanks for the replies. ...its booked in on Tuesday next week to be looked at. It is a very noticeable and loud single clunk most noticeable when turning left at slow speed, but also when turning right. On Saturdsy it caused a WTF was that comment ffom both me and the wife. It seems fine otherwise, but the noise is so loud it cannot be normal. Will update next week
     
  6. edthefed
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    edthefed WARLORD

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  7. edthefed
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    edthefed WARLORD

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    An update...car at the dealers this morning and the diagnosis is that the FOS coil slpringhas broken and the NS coil spring needs replacing.

    3 and half years old, 40,000 careful miles by me. New springs on order. Hopefully sorted tomorrow, meanwhile ive got a brand new 120 i to run round in
     
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  8. Spuffington
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    Spuffington Staff Member Admin Site Supporter

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    Thanks for the update.

    I'll make sure I keep my ears open on ours since we're at 45k and a shade under 5yrs old.

    Are you on SE or M Sport suspension?
     
  9. edthefed
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    edthefed WARLORD

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    on, post: 10766, member: 15"]Thanks for the update.

    I'll make sure I keep my ears open on ours since we're at 45k and a shade under 5yrs old.

    Are you on SE or M Sport suspension?[/QUOTE]
    SE suspension and runflats....i fell off a roof some years ago and damaged my back, much as my heart would have liked the sports i simply could not get comfortable in the couple of demos i tried ..... same with Vauxhalls i cant sit in them for long, even the 1 series gave me back ache yesterday !

    Other than the knocking sound no other obvious symptoms....
     
  10. Mieke
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    Mieke WARLORD Site Supporter

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    The broken coil spring is more than likely due to driving over a pothole at some time. I hit a bad pothole a few years ago in my Golf Gti while driving at night. I had the car inspected and re-tracked, but about 18 months later there was a sound like a rifle bullet which turned out to be a broken coil spring on the front strut. Luckily I was in a car park when it happened and had the car trailered to a dealer for repairs.
     
  11. edthefed
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    edthefed WARLORD

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    Car still at the dealership ! Waiting parts from Germany, hopefully get it back later today or Saturday.

    Finding the 120 i a nice car to drive, but small....and cant get comfortable in the seats, get back ache after 20 mins
     
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  12. Peter
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    Peter WARLORD

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    Spring failure is much more common these days than we first think, not an age or mileage thing either. Major cause is hydrogen embrittlement. Spring coating gets some damage, (can be road debris), wet gets in corrosion starts, fed by damp and winter road salt.

    We have had quite a few springs break on our family vehicles of recent years, (BMW, VW, Vauxhall). I had the two front springs break on my E91, about a year apart. Mine were definitely triggered by corrosion and embrittlement, could see it in the breaks. My son had one rear spring break on his first E83 X3.

    http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/car-servicing-repair/coil-springs-breaking.html

    Peter
     
  13. Mieke
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    Mieke WARLORD Site Supporter

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    Obviously beneficial to spray under the wheel arches regularly during winter months. I use a rinse head on my pressure washer which is less aggressive than the high pressure lance.
     
  14. edthefed
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    edthefed WARLORD

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    Car was finally ready on Saturday...all seems fine. Back at home washed and cleaned. The dealership did have a rather nice 335d xdrive touring in Estoril blue on the forecourt, tempted to have a closer look,as it onlg had 1500 miles on clock but decided to be sensible !
     
  15. The CO
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    The CO Staff Member Admin

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    Our local garage said exactly the same thing the other week when we took Mrs CO's Polo in with a broken spring, he reckoned they were getting, on average, about two a week.
     

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