Steering wheel play
 

My steering wheel has about 1 inch of play on the highway. Is that normal?

It also "clicks" if I turn it back and forth quickly -- the dealer told me it was the lower joint where the steering column meets the steering rack, and that it will cost about $750 to replace.

Dealer says all my suspension parts are fine including ball joints and the sway bar links, and tie rod ends.

Anyone ever heard of this joint going bad?

I believe I had the same problem. The dealer replaced it under my extended warranty. It made the problem slightly better for me. I still here a faint click when turning the wheel left and right quickly. The play has been reduced a little as well. But, if I had to pay for it, I would say it's not worth it.

I can't remember what the car felt like when it was new since the precision has probably degraded little by little over the years/miles, so it's hard for me to say how bad the steering wheel play is. I'm just gonna figure it's part of the car getting old. :dunno:

I have changed a few... and would consider DIY on it for that price. It would be #2 on this link:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...88&hg=32&fg=30

with rack'n'pinion steering, you should have no play - any play indicates excessive wear or something else very wrong - Brakes, Steering, & Tires are the 3 things you should always fix immediately

I notice all the guys here have 4.6's. this was my only complaint in test driving the 4.6, everyone told me it was how it should be, but it can be tightened up?

I have brand new road force balanced Sessantas on it and the brakes are in good shape. Should I try changing the other parts first, like the sway bar links?

Can the "chopstick" sway bar link thingies cause steering wheel play?

excuse my lack of knowledge, but am just curious how you define "play" in this situation? is it that you can wiggle the wheel a little bit without the car moving side to side, or something completely different?

I believe it is just that. I think the 4.6 has a lot more play compared to the 4.8 due to different steering system.

No, it does not have more play, just easier steering/less effort. And no the end link "chopstics" won't cause play in steering wheel.

Try this, sitting with engine off gently wiggle the steering wheel left/right. Is the play felt there? If it is then have someone wiggle it back and forth for you and look at the joint in question under the hood checking for the slack.

why is it technically that the 4.8 is so much easier to steer? when I went from the 3.0 to the 4.8 its night and day..

I am still a bit confused what "play" is, can someone define it? I want to make sure that I know to watch for it