2005 BMW Z4 Problems

While moving, especially in warm weather, the steering will stick. This requires excessive force to move the steering wheel which results in a "jump" when the steering moves (breaks loose). This sudden "jump" results in vehicle moving excessively, especially scary in traffic! I have not had the vehicle inspected by a mechanic but reading various forums this appears to be a common problem with BMW Z4s.

Generally described as sticky steering. Steering wheel binds up and needs pressure to overcome, then released and the car overcorrects so steering is erratic. This is particularly dangerous when cornering. Issue seems temperature related and is worse in high temperatures. This is a well known problem in 2003-2005 BMW Z4. The car has been sittting in my garage for a year as it is unsafe to drive. When is the recall?

The passenger air bag suddenly deployed while the car was parked in my driveway, braking the dashboard and the windshield.

Passenger airbag dash deploys while car is parked. It’s deploy from nothing.

HEATER/AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED BLOWING. TOOK TO LOCAL SHOP AND FOUND MULTIPLE WIRES MELTED. CONCERNED DUE TO FIRE RISK SO RESEARCHED AND FOUND THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH MANY NOW RECALLED BMWS-MINE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS BUT IT'S HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS THAT I'M HAVING THE APPARENT EXACT SAME ISSUE AS THOSE VEHICLES BEING RECALLED. I SAW WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER MY HOOD AND SMELLED A BURNING ODOR A FEW MONTHS AGO SO DROVE STRAIGHT HOME AND POPPED THE HOOD-SAW NO ADDITIONAL SMOKE BUT DID SMELL SOME RESIDUAL BURNING ODOR BUT NOTHING WAS VISIBLE. THIS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 2 OTHER TIMES BUT NOTHING WAS EVER FOUND AND IT WAS ASSUMED IT WAS A SPILLAGE OR OVERFLOW. WASN'T UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN THE HEATER AND A/C STOPPED BLOWING THAT FURTHER INVESTIGATION WAS DONE. THANK GOODNESS NO FIRE STARTED. STILL SCARY THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN IN THE FIRST PLACE AND WILL IT HAPPEN AGAIN ESPECIALLY AFTER IT'S PARKED IN MY ATTACHED GARAGE! MAKES ME JUST WANT TO PARK IT IN THE DRIVEWAY AWAY FROM THE HOUSE. THIS REALLY NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND LOOK INTO EXPANDING THE CURRENT RECALLS!! SEEMS JUST TOO COINCIDENTAL.

FIRST THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, I WENT TO HOUSTON MOMENTUM BMW DEALER TO CHECK AND THEY FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY SIGNAL FROM SOMEWHERE THEY WERE NOT SURE ABOUT. THEY GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE FOR THAN A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FIND IT AND REPAIR IT. IT WOULD COST MORE IF THEY FOUND OUT THE REAL PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM THIS SHOULD BE UNDER BMW WARRANTY, BUT THEY SAID IT WASN'T. I REFUSED THE WORK. THIS CASE HAPPENED FEW YEARS AGO. NOW I HAVE AIR BAG LIGHT ON, I DON'T KNOW WHY. I DON'T DARE TO GO BACK TO DEALER TO CHECK BECAUSE I'M AFRAID THEY WILL RIP ME OFF AGAIN AND AGAIN. I HOPE ONE DAY I CAN GET RID OF BMW AND FIND A MORE RELIABLE CAR TO DRIVE. *TR

STEERING COLUMN EXPERIENCE SUDDEN JERKS TO THE LEFT, OR TO THE RIGHT RANDOMLY MAKING THE CAR REALLY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE SAFELY. IT'S WORSE WHEN DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY. ALL TIRES PSI ARE NORMAL AND TIRES JUST BRAND NEW. CAR WAS ALIGNED TO DISCARD EVERYTHING. EVEN WITH MANY SIMILAR ISSUES FROM OTHER CUSTOMERS BMW IS NOT ACCEPTING THIS FAILURE AS ONE TO RECALL. BUT WHEN I GETS INTO THE DEALERSHIPS THEY DIAGNOSE THAT THE HOLE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. MY CAR HAS ONLY 86,000 MILES AND THIS IS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE VEHICLE HAD 80,000 MILES.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OVER 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

OCCASIONALLY, WHEN BRAKING AND PRESSING CLUTCH, RPMS JUMP AND ENGINE REVS UP.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TURNING ON THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BELT TENSIONER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,800.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VEERED OUT OF ITS LANE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO REGAIN STEERING CONTROL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

ORIGINAL OWNER NEW 2005 Z4 BMW 18475 MILES STEERING STICKS WHILE DRIVING FEELS LIKE IT MAY NOT COME BACK WHEN YOU TURN WHEEL KIND OF LIKE FLAT SPOT ON COLUMN HARD TO EXPLAIN. *TR

2005 BMW Z4 3.0I FAULTY FUEL PUMPS. I HAVE HAD 3 FUEL PUMPS REPLACED ON MY CAR AND STILL HAVE THE VERY SAME PROBLEM. MY CAR STALLED, THE IDLING DROPS, THE FUEL PUMP MAKES A LOUD VIBRATING RUMBLING NOISE. MANY OTHERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM, THE YRS AFFECTED ARE FROM 2003 - 2009. *TR

The front headlight wiring harness is flaking off and could cause a short and lose your lights at night and cause a accident. there has been no recall and it's happening to all of the bmw cars that had this environmentally friendly insulation. It is a hazard because you can lose both headlights without notice and have a accident. It has been going on for years according to several mechanics I've spoken too. It also is a huge expense to replace.

The contact owns a 2005 BMW Z4. The contact stated that after entering the vehicle, the heavy plastic interior liner panel fell on his head. The contact stated that the plastic cover was used to hide the windshield clasps that hold the convertible top in place when the convertible top was closed. The contact attempted to reattach the plastic liner however, the fasteners had fractured. The contact placed the plastic liner into the rear of the vehicle. The contact stated while driving, the rear view of the vehicle was blocked by the detached plastic liner. The contact stated that the convertible top was able to retract and return into place, but the convertible top attachment clasps and mechanism were exposed. The contact was unable to reattach the liner. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer or to an independent. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 99,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE A PASSENGER WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, WITH A SEATBELT ON, A WARNING BELL WOULD SOUND IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATS SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE.THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,400.

OCCASIONALLY, WHEN BRAKING AND PRESSING CLUTCH, RPMS JUMP AND ENGINE REVS UP.

VEHICLE WOULD RUN FINE IN THE MORNING BEFORE THE DAY HEATED UP. AT NOON, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD STICK AND MORE FORCE THAN USUAL HAD TO BE APPLIED WITH BOTH HANDS TO OPERATE THE STEERING WHEEL. ALSO, THERE ARE TIMES THE CAR WILL JERK LEFT OR RIGHT UPON BREAKING. IF THE ROAD IS SLIGHTLY UNEVEN, YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED IN CASE THE CAR JERKS IN ANY DIRECTION. I HAVE TRIED UPGRADING THE VEHICLES SUSPENSION SYSTEM TO NO AVAIL. MAKES THE CAR FEEL UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I LOVE THE CAR, BUT I WOULD LIKE THESE ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR EVEN KILLED IF IT HASN'T HAPPENED ALREADY. *TR