Active Steering Malfunction
07-18-2007 | 11:27 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Members
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: boston
My Ride: 2004 5.30i Saphire Black on Auburn, Sports Pckg, Premium Pckg, Sound Pckg, HUD, Cold Weather Pckg, Heated Rear Seats, Electronic Rear Window Shade, Foldable Rear Seats with Ski Bag, European Reflectors, Active Steering, PDC, 19" AC Schnitzer Type II, Front: 245/35, Rear: 275/30 Toyo T1S, H&R Sports Springs, 35% Tinted Windows, B&B exhaust w/ custom straight pipe
I was driving to New York last week when I had an active steering malfunction and the steering just went dead on me. I could barely turn the wheel and it was really hard and heavy to turn. It almost felt like I was going to break the steering wheel off. I managed to exit the highway and with a lot of force got the car into a parking lot. Had to reignite my car about 4 times before the active steering activated, which took about a couple of minutes. Has this happened to anyone? This sh*t is dangerous....
07-19-2007 | 04:03 AM
#2
Senior Members
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 962
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
My Ride: 2001 BMW330ci, Steel Gray, Black leather, Steptronic, PP, SP, PDC, Heated seats, Xenon head lights, HK, 6 disk changer, OEM alarm, OEM clears,Iice white fog lights ,Universal trasnciver, 17 inch Michelin Pilot Sport Tires
2005 530i Titanium Gray,Black leather, Nav.,HUD,PP,CWP,SP,PDC,Xenon lights,Steptronic,Logic 7 sound system,,Fold down read seats,Power shades
ON ORDER
Originally Posted by bosg' post='449635' date='Jul 19 2007, 03:27 AM
I was driving to New York last week when I had an active steering malfunction and the steering just went dead on me. I could barely turn the wheel and it was really hard and heavy to turn. It almost felt like I was going to break the steering wheel off. I managed to exit the highway and with a lot of force got the car into a parking lot. Had to reignite my car about 4 times before the active steering activated, which took about a couple of minutes. Has this happened to anyone? This sh*t is dangerous....
cheers
vern
07-19-2007 | 06:32 AM
#3
Contributors
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,318
Likes: 0
From: Gurnee, Illinois
Originally Posted by bosg' post='449635' date='Jul 19 2007, 02:27 AM
I was driving to New York last week when I had an active steering malfunction and the steering just went dead on me. I could barely turn the wheel and it was really hard and heavy to turn. It almost felt like I was going to break the steering wheel off. I managed to exit the highway and with a lot of force got the car into a parking lot. Had to reignite my car about 4 times before the active steering activated, which took about a couple of minutes. Has this happened to anyone? This sh*t is dangerous....
07-19-2007 | 07:20 AM
#4
Senior Members
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta, GA
Originally Posted by Veight' post='449707' date='Jul 19 2007, 10:32 AM
Sounds like your power steering went out as well.
07-19-2007 | 07:54 PM
#5
Contributors
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 14,776
Likes: 0
From: So Cal, USA
My Ride: 545iSMGSilver GrayAuburn Dakota LeatherLogic 7 Premium SoundSports Package
Well BackonBlackonBlack last saturday had a dead battery and when the car was jump started he lost Active Steering but he still had normal power steering... so its possible that if AS fails it'll revert to Normal Power Steering... which I beleive is true... what sounds like happened was POWER steering failed so it affected AS...
07-20-2007 | 12:38 PM
#6
Members
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Temple City, CA
My Ride: 2004 545i, silver gray, beige leather with anthracite maple wood, sport package, premium sound, navigation, parking sensor, electric rear sunshade, folding rear seat. 20x8.5 front, 20x10 rear ACE executive wheels.
Originally Posted by bosg' post='449635' date='Jul 19 2007, 12:27 AM
I was driving to New York last week when I had an active steering malfunction and the steering just went dead on me. I could barely turn the wheel and it was really hard and heavy to turn. It almost felt like I was going to break the steering wheel off. I managed to exit the highway and with a lot of force got the car into a parking lot. Had to reignite my car about 4 times before the active steering activated, which took about a couple of minutes. Has this happened to anyone? This sh*t is dangerous....
07-20-2007 | 04:33 PM
#7
Contributors
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,303
Likes: 1
From: Long Island, NY
My Ride: 2008 535i: June 6th start build, complete June 17th, at NY Port July 5th, at dealer July 10th, took delivery Friday July 13- Plantimum Bronze/Natural Brown Leather/Light Poplar, Sport Package, Sport Auto, Active Steering, Premium Package, CWP & PDC. Dinan Performance Software 384hp & 421 ft/lbs.
I had an active steering light come on but steering was still power and a Ctrl-Alt-Delete fixed it.
Are you sure there wasn't a cat snuggled up in your steering rack when you last parked the car?
Are you sure there wasn't a cat snuggled up in your steering rack when you last parked the car?
07-20-2007 | 05:23 PM
#8
Members
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by EBMCS03' post='450015' date='Jul 19 2007, 10:54 PM
Well BackonBlackonBlack last saturday had a dead battery and when the car was jump started he lost Active Steering but he still had normal power steering... so its possible that if AS fails it'll revert to Normal Power Steering... which I beleive is true... what sounds like happened was POWER steering failed so it affected AS...
07-21-2007 | 01:22 AM
#9
Contributors
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 883
Likes: 0
From: East Coast
My Ride: 530i 6 speed
This happened to me once in my "old" 545i.
It was at work in the parking lot leaving work. The car started normally, I drove for ~ 10-20s, and then the AS malfunction light came on, and the steering was extremely heavy, just like when the power steering goes out. Power steering was definitely out, not just the AS. I turned off the car, restarted, and it worked again.
The dealer told me its not possible and I was dreaming....
It was at work in the parking lot leaving work. The car started normally, I drove for ~ 10-20s, and then the AS malfunction light came on, and the steering was extremely heavy, just like when the power steering goes out. Power steering was definitely out, not just the AS. I turned off the car, restarted, and it worked again.
The dealer told me its not possible and I was dreaming....
07-24-2007 | 08:05 AM
#10
Senior Members
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
Originally Posted by bosg' post='449635' date='Jul 19 2007, 03:27 AM
I was driving to New York last week when I had an active steering malfunction and the steering just went dead on me. I could barely turn the wheel and it was really hard and heavy to turn. It almost felt like I was going to break the steering wheel off. I managed to exit the highway and with a lot of force got the car into a parking lot. Had to reignite my car about 4 times before the active steering activated, which took about a couple of minutes. Has this happened to anyone? This sh*t is dangerous....
I'm with BMW of North America, LLC. I've passed this message on to a BMW NA Customer Relations Representative who will be in touch with you soon.