E90 330i Low Speed Steering Noise

paul9luap · 11-01-2010, 10:24 PM

The car has developed a squealing noise at low speeds when turning the steering wheel. It sounds like it's coming from the steering column. It's really intermittent. It went most of the summer without making any noise, and then last week it started up again.

BMW of Ann Arbor was not able to diagnose it, so I thought I'd share it on here. I recorded it in my work parking lot and then uploaded it to youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69eEjHoN4wo

Car info:
330i E90
Sport Package
Premium Package
48,000 miles
Active Steering

Seems to happen more often in cold weather, but I can't prove that.

Anyway, I thought i'd share! If anybody has any thoughts let me know. The vehicle is still a CPO for a few months longer, so I'd like to get it fixed before that expires.

bigdog34uz · 11-03-2010, 07:42 AM

wow that sounds annoying

e90MistuhJay · 11-05-2010, 05:46 AM

same thing happend to me...read somewhere it says to adjust the steering wheel up and down and the sound might go away........in my case it did

fdriller9 · 11-05-2010, 03:04 PM

I had a creak in my steering column around 42K...I'm at 58 now.

Dealer lubed the steering rack at around 45k and haven't heard it since.

I can't remember if there was a SIB for it but I want to say there was....I'll try to find it.

fdriller9 · 11-05-2010, 03:12 PM

Some ideas in here...no definite solution.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20625

I couldn't find the SIB I thought was out. Anyhow, you can also try adjusting the height of the steering column. Some mention it in the thread I provided and have rid the squeaking noise from their rack/column.

lucas.kent · 11-05-2010, 03:16 PM

Pretty common issue I think - I had the same thing on my 330. The dealer replaced some bushing and it was all good. It sounded exactly like that, maybe a bit less pronounced.

Roowah · 11-06-2010, 01:48 AM

I have the exact same noise! It seems to happen when the weather gets colder (around 50 degrees), but then eventually goes away for the rest of the winter only to come back next year. I've brought it to my SA's attention in the past, but of course they couldn't reproduce the sound.

Is this something that would be covered under my CPO warranty? I've had the car since new (leased), but then bought it back from the dealer with the CPO.

GMWNashville · 11-07-2010, 12:45 AM

its usually the boot at the base of the column...

Kristofer · 05-21-2012, 11:24 AM

I have the same problem on my 330i and my dealship want's to replace the power steering pump to the price of ~1386 USD. Has anyone here that have had this sound gotten it fixed by replacing the power steering pump? I'm asking because to me it sounds strange that this would be the source of the problem.

My car is equipped with Active Steering hence the hefty price.

Thankful for any input.

Regards

rogerdiaz · 04-08-2014, 11:37 AM

Any updates on solution/fix. I have the squeak at low speeds. Best i found is to lubricate some part through the firewall. Dealer as usual wants to replace every steering wheel part to fix it. $100000000 USD

Drock28 · 04-08-2014, 06:48 PM

see my post and DIY fix..

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=955743

woodpecka · 04-12-2014, 08:38 PM

Same issue. I fixed mine by spraying lubrifiant between the steering wheel and column.

11-01-2010, 10:24 PM	#1
paul9luap Enlisted Member 5 Rep 36 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Canton, MI iTrader: (0)	E90 330i Low Speed Steering Noise The car has developed a squealing noise at low speeds when turning the steering wheel. It sounds like it's coming from the steering column. It's really intermittent. It went most of the summer without making any noise, and then last week it started up again. BMW of Ann Arbor was not able to diagnose it, so I thought I'd share it on here. I recorded it in my work parking lot and then uploaded it to youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69eEjHoN4wo Car info: 330i E90 Sport Package Premium Package 48,000 miles Active Steering Seems to happen more often in cold weather, but I can't prove that. Anyway, I thought i'd share! If anybody has any thoughts let me know. The vehicle is still a CPO for a few months longer, so I'd like to get it fixed before that expires.
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11-03-2010, 07:42 AM	#2
bigdog34uz Major 91 Rep 1,282 Posts Drives: 2007 e90 335i Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: VA iTrader: (3) Garage List 2012 bmw n55 335i [0.00]	wow that sounds annoying __________________ 13.01 @ 107.6mph Mods: OETuning........ 13.00 @ 108.89 JB4 Times
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11-05-2010, 05:46 AM	#3
e90MistuhJay New Member 0 Rep 8 Posts Drives: Jet Blk e90 Join Date: May 2010 Location: (626) All Day iTrader: (0)	same thing happend to me...read somewhere it says to adjust the steering wheel up and down and the sound might go away........in my case it did
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11-05-2010, 03:04 PM	#4
fdriller9 Banned 260 Rep 7,089 Posts Drives: '06 AW 330xi Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North Jersey/Philly/NYC iTrader: (4) Garage List 2006 330xi [6.44]	I had a creak in my steering column around 42K...I'm at 58 now. Dealer lubed the steering rack at around 45k and haven't heard it since. I can't remember if there was a SIB for it but I want to say there was....I'll try to find it.
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11-05-2010, 03:12 PM	#5
fdriller9 Banned 260 Rep 7,089 Posts Drives: '06 AW 330xi Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North Jersey/Philly/NYC iTrader: (4) Garage List 2006 330xi [6.44]	Some ideas in here...no definite solution. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20625 I couldn't find the SIB I thought was out. Anyhow, you can also try adjusting the height of the steering column. Some mention it in the thread I provided and have rid the squeaking noise from their rack/column.
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11-05-2010, 03:16 PM	#6
lucas.kent Major 150 Rep 1,173 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: AZ iTrader: (2) Garage List 2016 BMW M3 [0.00]	Pretty common issue I think - I had the same thing on my 330. The dealer replaced some bushing and it was all good. It sounded exactly like that, maybe a bit less pronounced.
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11-06-2010, 01:48 AM	#7
Roowah Captain 28 Rep 811 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 330i 6MT Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cambridge, MA iTrader: (0)	I have the exact same noise! It seems to happen when the weather gets colder (around 50 degrees), but then eventually goes away for the rest of the winter only to come back next year. I've brought it to my SA's attention in the past, but of course they couldn't reproduce the sound. Is this something that would be covered under my CPO warranty? I've had the car since new (leased), but then bought it back from the dealer with the CPO. __________________ 2006 E90 330i 6MT: TiAg\|Black Leather\|Poplar Trim\|Premium Package\|Cold Weather Package 2003 E46 325i 5MT: Retired - The beginning of my BMW obsession!
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11-07-2010, 12:45 AM	#8
GMWNashville Colonel 172 Rep 2,373 Posts Drives: 19 G05, 16 F80, 10 E70x5D Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Nashville, TN iTrader: (2)	its usually the boot at the base of the column...
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05-21-2012, 11:24 AM	#9
Kristofer Registered 0 Rep 2 Posts Drives: BMW 335 Convertible Join Date: May 2012 Location: Sweden iTrader: (0)	I have the same problem on my 330i and my dealship want's to replace the power steering pump to the price of ~1386 USD. Has anyone here that have had this sound gotten it fixed by replacing the power steering pump? I'm asking because to me it sounds strange that this would be the source of the problem. My car is equipped with Active Steering hence the hefty price. Thankful for any input. Regards
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04-08-2014, 11:37 AM	#10
rogerdiaz Captain 28 Rep 743 Posts Drives: 2015 335i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Raleigh, NC iTrader: (2)	Any updates on solution/fix. I have the squeak at low speeds. Best i found is to lubricate some part through the firewall. Dealer as usual wants to replace every steering wheel part to fix it. $100000000 USD
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04-08-2014, 06:48 PM	#11
Drock28 Private First Class 13 Rep 129 Posts Drives: 2009 328XI coupe 6MT Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Montreal iTrader: (0)	see my post and DIY fix.. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=955743
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04-12-2014, 08:38 PM	#12
woodpecka Major 73 Rep 1,026 Posts Drives: E91 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Montreal iTrader: (2)	Same issue. I fixed mine by spraying lubrifiant between the steering wheel and column.
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