[MrDummy]

Ok I currently have a 2006 325xi and I took it in for some issues I had b4 the OE warranty runs out. But I noticed a few things on the loaner car, that is WAY different then my car.

I have a 328i Xdrive loaner w/3k miles on it and the following things are different:

1. NO steering wheel play at ALL.
2. It has same tires that mine has but feels like I am driving on a cloud, no bumpiness as my 06 has, or Loud booms when hitting pot holes.
3. Brakes are much smoother and softer to push than my car.

Now I know this is a 2009 and mine is a 2006 w 49k Miles but is there any main reasons to why its like a night and day difference when they are both xdrives with same motors and tires??

Thanks,

They are fixing all my issues I had and are going to look into steering wheel issue for me, but I feel like they will say it is normal.

Please help out so if they are not so different I can complain more and see what can be done b4 my OE warranty goes bye bye.

THANKS

[JayKay335i]

1) 50k miles worth of difference
2) Steering wheels shouldnt have any play

[MrDummy]

Thanks ^^ then I will have to make sure they fix it, cause mine definatly has some play in it. I thought it might be some normal wear and tear play, but after driving this 09 xi WOW it has such a tight wheel that it made mine feel like something is ready to fall off.

[MrDummy]

Sorry I forgot to ask this ?, what if they tell me its just normal and they wont fix it? Is there anything I can honestly do about it? So that if something does happen it will be post dated b4 my mileage excedes the 50,000 mile mark?

Thanks guys

[UncleWede]

Your complaint is noted in your Service log.

Any noise on the steering column at slow speeds, like a clicking? There's a TSB on that, for about your year of car. i had my whole column replaced eventually . . .

[MrDummy]

^^ no when it is moving the free play is still present just dont hear the clicking, but then again it needs to be very quiet to hear it when I am at a stand still. I emailed my SA about it, and to let me know what the tech finds out and told him I am worried about safety more than anything.

On my original typed out version I signed of the work order it was not on their, since I added it afterwards, but I would hope he would of put it in their somewhere, but thats why I emailed him, to have some kind of documentation just in case...

I mean the more work he does to my car the more they make, so I would not see a reason why they would not fix it or try to somehow?

[MrDummy]

Well I called and sent an email yesterday and have not heard from him yet

[Tallest]

when you say play in steering wheel, you don't refer to tramlining by any chance?
I have similar booms when going through big potholes but I think that shocks are just worn out already and need replacing soon.

so my guess - check the shocks. new shocks are much nicer, you can tell difference a lot.

[MrDummy]

^^ that could be it, I dont think they are covered by bmw though, as that is a wear and tear item correct?

And NO to the Tramlining question, the car drives straight and stops straight, so the alignment is perfect IMO, its just that little play I have that this 328i Does Not have at all.

I did hit a good size pot hole in the 328i and it made the same boom sound and felt like I bottomed out the rim or something, but its fine.

Does the Bimmer have anything monitoring for the ride quality, i.e shocks?


PS after looking at this body style, I prefer the 2006 look of my 325xi, I do miss my xenons a lot at night too.

[jopa489]

Be prepared to put up a fight over the steering wheel play. If there's no matching TSB, it's more than likely they will blame it on miles. I agree steering wheels shouldn't have play, but a car with 50k miles will never feel like a car with 3k miles.

Are the tires on your car new? RFTs tend to get louder and rougher as they wear, and all of them have that crashing sound when going over a pothole - it's the RFTs, not the car. There's no computer for monitoring shocks.

And finally, you should be due for a brake job by 50k so they should do that for you.

Let us know how things turn out.

[MrDummy]

^^ Thanks for the tips, and yes they are NEW RF tires and the brakes have 7mm of front and 9mm on rear according to the CPO inspection I got when I bought the car. They said they will check out the steering and I do agree that the car does have almost 50k miles on it, but the play in the steering wheel is there. I am supposed to hear back from them today, so I keep this thread updated.

PS they are ordering me a new key fob since my logo fell of mine, as well as all the other stuff. The only thing they might not fix is the steering wheel but he said all my other complaints would be fixed with new parts for free on my part.

[MrDummy]

Update, still no word yet, this is the 4th day they had my ride in the shop for warranty stuff, I told the guy to update me often, but I guess they dont listen

Oh well as long as I get it all done and its FREE I wont be mad, plus at least I am putting miles on a loaner and not my own car.

[blue2fire]

I wouldnt be too worried about that, an SA probably has a lot of people constantly on his back. Good to know that they are fixing the majority of the issues. You should also push for replacement brakes of you dont have an extended maintenance plan.

I dont know if it will be constructive but do you mean that the steering needs minor corrections while the car is being driven straight when you say play?

[clark192]

I think I know what you mean about the wheel, but in my case it happened after an accident and I had suspension parts changed out. From what I understand either you can try different bushings for the car, or, just deal with it. If they need to change anything like the steering rack or the column, my understanding is that this will actually make the issue worse, or at best make it the same. I had my rack replaced after the accident, and the play was less but the car does not feel like it did when new. It seems there is no way to get that feeling back :-(

As for the brakes, you might want to try different pads from the OEM stuff. I read some good reviews on the forum about Cool Carbon pads, maybe you want to check them out? Try a search and see what you think, as a set of 4 shipped was only like $230.

[SpmnE9zero]

First off I am sorry to hear about all of your issues you have been having. Second your car is not an xdrive, big difference between your car (xi) and the new xdrive. You are trying to compare an 06 model to a new model, technology is obviously going to change over three years. However, I also have an 06 xi (330 but same car pretty much) and I have zero steering wheel play and my brakes feel like the day I bought the car. I did have some issues with the feeling of bottoming out when I hit a large bump, believe it or not it was those F-ing RFT's. I hate those tires! Also for good measure I had them change out my sway bar bushings (they suggested this after I told them my shocks felt as though they were non-existant). The bushings didnt seem to make a difference at all, just the tires. GL...

[MrDummy]

thanks guys, I mentioned the brakes and they said there is to much pad left on them to even think about swapping them out. So I lost that issue, the steering wheel has play or feels "loose" ONLY when I have the car started and stopped, driving its there but does not effect the vehicle, i.e. it still drives straight as an arrow, stops straight doesnt vere off the road at all while driving, so thats why I kind of thought it was normal wear and tear and things loosing up since it has 49k miles on it.

PS I thought that the x drive on the 2006 was the same as the 2009 328i xdrive??

So if that is different maybe that could explain some things?

[SpmnE9zero]

Im no pro on the subject but I have some friends at the local BMW shop and they say the new xdrive is totally different. I just assumed they were correct, maybe I was given false info!!! Dunno, anyone else got info on this matter?

[MrDummy]

Yeah no biggie, I assumed it was the same myself, but it would be cool to know the truth

[blue2fire]

From the little i know, the E90 has not had a huge AWD system overhaul since it's inception. The technology is said to be the same and i dont really think it could be blamed for the steering.

I have driven a 328i that had about 8k miles and it displayed the same problem you speak of, i wouldnt worry too much...

[MrDummy]

OK guys UPDATE, JUST GOT THE CALL it is READY...

Here was what I guess was fixed and what wasnt:

FIXED ITEMS:
1. Both headlight washer assm's were replaced.(not sure on hoses, etc.)
2. New Shifter Knob
3. New vents in the rear center console
4. Center console dampners/spring assm on order (Mine slams shut right now, is that normal?)
5. Owners Manual
6. Brand new Key Fob w/ logo (YIPPIE)


NOT FIXED:
1. Mis-aligned left rocker panel, it was secured but not perfectly straight, maybe an 1/8" sticking out on the front section.
2. Steering wheel play, they said they checked it out throughly and everything was well within specs, even checked out my front suspension and shocks and said they are ok, but not covered under warranty anyways, so I got lucky with that.

They said that the tiny bit of play is considered normal wear and tear and since alignment specs and other things they checked for where in SPEC that they would not replace anything. But the SA told me in the morning he will go out with me and I can show him what I am talking about with this 328i not having any free play but mine having a little bit, doubt it will help though?

I dont know? I am picking it up tomorrow morning and just have to make sure there are no dings, scratches or any other damages were done to it while it was there for 4 days.

[MrDummy]

PS guys is do you have ANY tips for me fighting the rocker panel mis-alignment or the steering wheel play issues they didnt fix???

[E90BlackBeauty]

Originally Posted by MrDummy

PS guys is do you have ANY tips for me fighting the rocker panel mis-alignment or the steering wheel play issues they didnt fix???

My rocker panel is also bumped out int he front area, but i know for a fact that this was caused by a stupid shop who lifted it up on the rocker...my guess is this is probably what happened with yours. My guess is they aren't going to do anything with that.