X5 steering issue

[windy]

I picked up a used '02 X5 3.0d last week to tow my track car. It's done 107k and is pretty mint really.

However...

The steering has developed an unusual issue. An E46 M3 steering wheel has been fitted, and at first it felt like this was maybe rubbing against the column shroud and occasionally 'jamming'. However I've now realised it's the PAS working then not working

I'll be halfway through a turn, the PAS will go 'off' so the wheel will weight up meaning I have to put more effort in, then it will come back 'on' and I'll suddenly be steering too much. Obviously not good...

I bought it from an independent dealer so will take it back to him, but I'd rather have a rough idea of what it could be beforehand.

So, PAS pump? Entire rack? Something else?

The dealer isn't very local, so I wouldn't mind having an opinion from someone else before making the trek to see him — I'm sure the BM-dealer will charge me a fortune just to open the bonnet, so is this the sort of thing a decent independent mechanic could work out?

Other than that I bloody love it!!! Even though it's a bit 'pimp'...





Bought to tow this, which is currently stripped and awaiting a cage...

[thedweeb]

Welcome to the forum.... I would check the belt first as if it slips it will not spin the pump.

[Patrick-Irish]

Nice car mate, well done. Not too pimp ... I love the wheels.

Do you know if the steering issue only arrises when you are turning ? Stupid question I know, like why would you steer if you didn't want to turn ! But I'm wondering if you've got a slipping v-belt on the power steering pump pully. What kind of condition are the belts in ?

Another thought I'm having is electrical. X5's are very electrically complex and someone has changed the steering wheel. Very easy to knock something out in such an exercise. Does your airbag work by the way ? Another stupid question ..... I wouldn't recommend driving your car against a wall to find out !

Check the power steering fluid. Is it topped up ? Possibly there's air in the system and it might just need bleeding.

Good luck with it. Let us know how you get on.

[windy]

Cheers guys! Didn't realise it was belt driven? Assumed it was a gear/electric driven pump?

[windy]

Dealer looked at it today; it's the lower UJ on the steering column. It keeps on jamming up.

They say it's only available as part of the lower shaft = £470 fitted.

Any other suggestions?

Guessing it's something in this:

[FSETH]

You can try spraying some penetrating lube on the joint. This is a very common, cheap fix for hard steering on the e36's. I was having a similar issue and sprayed some of this on the joint in my 325i and it worked great. I jacked the front up, dripped some of this on the joint, turned the wheel a little dripped some more and then turned from lock to lock a few times. I used an entire small bottle of the lube to make sure it was pretty much saturated. I know something as simple as lube sounds silly, but my steering would function completely normally then all of a sudden bind up and feel like I was sterring a dump truck without any power steering. I couldn't believe the lube took care of it. Anyway, it is very easy to do and only a few dollars, so it may be worth a shot before you drop a lot of money on a repair.

Tri-Flow® Superior Lubricant Drip Bottle

Not sure if you have this over there, but I would try to find it or something similar. Make sure it is a penetrating lube.

[windy]

Cheers mate - good shout!

Anyone any idea how I get to it? I'm guessing it's on the engine-side of the firewall, so do I get to it above or below?

[toohotdoc]

Is there a diagram anywheres where the lube is placed? My steering wheel seems to hit a point everytime I turn more than a half the wheel and the steering wheel goes hard, almost like there is no Power steering and then it will click if I counter steer and then its normal. I havent took it in yet but I wanted to ask the friendly ppl on the board for their opinions and any diagram that might help me show where to lube the joint.

[windy]

*touch wood*

When I took it to the dealer, they diagnosed a replacement UJ because it was sticking, however they must have lubed it because it's been fine ever since!