# BMW steering problems

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-steering-problems/56084>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** bmw, 745\
**Created:** [October 7, 2010, 8:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-steering-problems/56084 "2010-10-07T20:04:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![lowridyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lowridyn](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lowridyn)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 8:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-steering-problems/56084/1 "2010-10-07T20:04:02Z")

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So first of all love the show, I have a 1997 E38 BMW, I have had the gear box, power steering pump, Tensioner for the belt,the belt itself, and fluid already replaced on my car, and the steering is hard @ 5mph or less, I have noticed that the first few seconds when you start the car it is very very easy, then all of a sudden it gets hard, @ high speeds no problem, just very hard to get in & out tight spots, with no steering (btw car doesn’t have self-leveling)oh & when front wheels are lifted and you start it, smooth even @ idle- thanks guys

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**Author:** ![ignoramus9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d07c76/32.png) [@ignoramus9](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ignoramus9)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 8:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-steering-problems/56084/2 "2010-10-07T20:19:11Z")

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does it have a power streering ram?

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**Author:** ![oldschool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e19adc/32.png) [@oldschool](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldschool)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 8:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-steering-problems/56084/3 "2010-10-07T20:56:21Z")

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This is a at base a recirculatiang ball steering box,and the e-38 is the only car I have ever seen multiple cars need steering boxes. I never really thought about getting deeper into the problem, let me ask around,by the way this is a “7” series car. Perhaps something in TSB’s but my free service is really lacking when it comes to BMW.

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**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 11:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-steering-problems/56084/4 "2010-10-07T23:28:52Z")

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Putting Oldschool’s and Oblivion’s posts together, it sounds to me like this is like my '64 Fairlane…a reciculating ball steering box with a hydraulic assist ram connected to the tierod, being controlled by a proportional hydraulic valve in the steering box assembly. If that’s true, then I’d suspect the hydraulic valve in the steering box.

But I gotta say, it sounds wierd to be describing a steering system this way on a '97. If I’m incorrect, I can accept that.

The attached link might help  
[http://www.e38.org/e39/](http://www.e38.org/e39/)

I’d also suggest looking at the ball joints as well as all the other articulated joints. Binding can cause these type of symptoms.