[carbonSI]

Evening all,

Just bought a re-conditioned ps pump for my SI as it's the last thing on my list to try and fix my horrid steering issues. Was just after some advice about fitting it. Should i be replacing ps pipes and the reservoir and filter?

Car: 320si, 64K

[Dr Dave]

Just the pump.

[carbonSI]

Originally Posted by Dr Dave

Just the pump.

Cheers Dude!

[Dr Dave]

You'll need some fluid, not sure on the connections to the pump you might need a seal or two - you might be lucky and they will re-use OK.

[makkan00]

Are they common to fail?

Is there any DIY for 320 Si or i?

[Mustard3]

What were the 'horrid steering issues'?

[carbonSI]

Originally Posted by Mustard3

What were the 'horrid steering issues'?

Jeese where do i start lol. I've got loads of threads on here over the 2 years i've owned the car. Never really got to enjoy what the SI is about due to the issues.

To cut a long story short first month was good, steering felt tight and car was planted and drove straight. Then the steering started going heavy/light and car was wandering, pulling etc. Went to five beemer specialists including main dealer. They all said those dreaded words - 'it's normal'. Been Aligned 5 times. Last one said the alignment is fine and that something is wrong and to look at parts.

For the last 8 months the steering won't return and i have to physically bring it back (so annoying and tiring!!) Rack has been sent away (fine) strut mounts checked (fine) whole of the front taken apart and checked up to uj in steering column. Can't find anything loose or worn. So leaves with me what i thought was the problem all along but was told the pump was fine and it works. Yes it works but not correctly!! lmao.

Just got a quote of £125 to fit the replacement i've bought. Wish me luck!

[Dr Dave]

Hmmm. I'd be very surprised if the pump were to be at fault.

[makkan00]

If the pump is faulty, does steering wheel feel heavy?

[carbonSI]

Are people not reading what i've put, yes the steering is heavy. The whole car has been checked god knows how many times. Its the only thing left..

[carbonSI]

Originally Posted by Dr Dave

Hmmm. I'd be very surprised if the pump were to be at fault.

What do you think it might be then?

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by carbonSI

To cut a long story short first month was good, steering felt tight and car was planted and drove straight. Then the steering started going heavy/light and car was wandering, pulling etc. Went to five beemer specialists including main dealer. They all said those dreaded words - 'it's normal'. Been Aligned 5 times. Last one said the alignment is fine and that something is wrong and to look at parts.

Originally Posted by carbonSI

Are people not reading what i've put, yes the steering is heavy. The whole car has been checked god knows how many times. Its the only thing left..

There is difference b/w heavy/light and heavy I guess. Hence, asked you.

Hope it resolves your issues!

[carbonSI]

Originally Posted by makkan00

There is difference b/w heavy/light and heavy I guess. Hence, asked you.

Hope it resolves your issues!

Yeah soz dude! Thanks i hope it does too. If not i will have to get rid...

[carbonSI]

Originally Posted by Dr Dave

Hmmm. I'd be very surprised if the pump were to be at fault.

Wish i'd taken this advice

Changing the pump hasn't changed a thing. So yesterday i went and test drove another si which had the oem run flats on. I took mine off and replaced with Falken FK452. Although it had much better steering return than mine, it still had that loose steering feel, i guess what i mean is it didn't feel tight (no centre feel).

I guess the oem rfts didn't help causing a bit of tramlining BUT i'm coming to the conclusion that please don't hurt me lol that beemers are a little overrated?? My last car was a mk5 golf and that had so much better steering than these two cars. It wasn't even a gti!! you could throw it into a bend very quickly with just slight adjustment. These cars feel positively twitchy in comparison. I know its fwd so going to feel different but my mother used to have a uk spec twin turbo supra which had fatter tyres than my si and that ran straight and true, no tramlining, no loose feeling etc etc.

Sorry for this long rant but i'm really tired now, tried to cure my car for the last two years and it turns out that's the way they drive like every beemer specialist has told me lmao!! If their's anyone who can tell me i'm talking b****x please tell me

[two,_OH_five]

You're talking bollocks

The syteering will always self center

Caster and KPI from the multitude of alignment sessions?
If it's inconsistent I would suspect issues with bushings, likely the big one in the front tension arm but also possibly topmounts

While the steering rack was off I assume someone checked
-steering wheel has no resistance when turning
- road wheels are free to steer
And I hope you changed tie rods or at the very least their freedom to rotate was checked

From your description of wandering I think bushes/tie rod ends are a likely suspect but by all means jack the front wheels off the ground and make sure then steering is little finger light (take appropriate safety measures too)
I personally think that like all new cars the steering has no feel but it certainly should self centre and it should not wander about - tram lining is a different matter

[A_P]

Where did you get your 5 alignments done? Dude man stop fixing issues with parts you might think are working! because its only going to end up being really expensive.

common areas to check first. Bushes and the alignment. (post up your before and after read outs). Toe in will minimize tramlining and give better straight line stability.

Next was to check the pump. What kind is this electronic? or belt driven? if so check pulleys. next was check fluid levels and then check to perished hoses from rack to reservoir and pump.

Check the rack and the tie rods.

And check the springs and dampers. and also plug in a diagnostics.

[carbonSI]

Well i have loads of alignment posts on here and everyone said they were ok i think. Yes they've checked all the things you chaps have mentioned.

I think handling wise these cars are better off with the run-flats as the suspension is designed for them. I'm actually finding now since fitting the new pump the steering is returning a lot better. But car still pulls and wanders and you have to constantly keep it straight but maybe this is just tramlining. And if that's right then these cars are awful for it!

[A_P]

What size are your wheels?

[carbonSI]

18" oem alloys with Falken FK452s. The steering response was a lot quicker when i had the oem rfts on...

[AlanYoro35i]

Originally Posted by carbonSI

18" oem alloys with Falken FK452s. The steering response was a lot quicker when i had the oem rfts on...

What tire pressure are you running on them?

[ade146]

Carbon its not completely clear what your problems are and hence members trying to help. When I first got my car I found it fairly twitchy. Bumps at high speed would have you swap lanes if not careful. 120mph plus. I dialed in some toe in and put new tyres on which made it more stable. My car is still twitchy and if pressing on down a bumpy B road you do need to keep your wits about you. I quite like it, turns in real quick considering it has an elephant under the bonnet and I think the oversteer is fairly progressive. On the motorway trying to eat a ham sandwich though you do need to be aware. There is nothing wrong with my car but I suspect rear toe might need some tweaking but I dont really want to do that in case it induces some understeer. Im trying to say it may depend on what you are used to or expect and how fast you drive. It is as bad a car as I have ever owned for tramlining. I do a fair amount of tarmac rallying as do lots of my social circle. Their opinion of this car is similar to mine. BTW try upping the pressures of your 452 to 38ish. BMs are pretty sensitive to tyre pressures and alignment and always have been.

[carbonSI]

Originally Posted by ade146

Carbon its not completely clear what your problems are and hence members trying to help. When I first got my car I found it fairly twitchy. Bumps at high speed would have you swap lanes if not careful. 120mph plus. I dialed in some toe in and put new tyres on which made it more stable. My car is still twitchy and if pressing on down a bumpy B road you do need to keep your wits about you. I quite like it, turns in real quick considering it has an elephant under the bonnet and I think the oversteer is fairly progressive. On the motorway trying to eat a ham sandwich though you do need to be aware. There is nothing wrong with my car but I suspect rear toe might need some tweaking but I dont really want to do that in case it induces some understeer. Im trying to say it may depend on what you are used to or expect and how fast you drive. It is as bad a car as I have ever owned for tramlining. I do a fair amount of tarmac rallying as do lots of my social circle. Their opinion of this car is similar to mine. BTW try upping the pressures of your 452 to 38ish. BMs are pretty sensitive to tyre pressures and alignment and always have been.

Thanks man!, good post that. Yeah i guess being my first beemer i'm just not used to it. They don't half tramline tho. As i said my mother supra had bigger wheels but never did it so was expecting the same from mine. A chap i know on here has got an SI and he advises to carry on using the rfts but switch to pirelli p zero rfts. He reckons they make the car a lot more stable. I drive very quickly and just sometimes get scared in the bimmer compared to the golf. I'll try and up the pressures like you say. Was thinking of switching to an lci with electric and servotronic to see if i could get that feeling i had from the golf. But most on here say its shit lol and that mine gives much more feel and response...