For those who are suffering steering wheel play and could not find the cure, I would like to share my horrendous story with you:



I first discovered a little “looseness” at the steering wheel about 3~4 months ago. The symptom is like when I steer to either right or left, the first inch the car won’t turn. I sent my car to the garage and they fixed a re-built steering rack and OEM control arms. That didn’t help a bit.



Then I visited another BMW workshop to see if they can find out what’s wrong. These geniuses test drove and checked whole day and confirmed the vane pump is to blame. Well, they are not even close. The play did not go and my USD 1000 is gone. I complained and they insisted that unless I am willing to replace with a BRAND NEW BMW steering rack, I’ll have to live with the play. That’s complete rubbish.:argue:



The third workshop I visited focused on the chassis. They blame the OEM control arms and replaced with original BMW ones. They also have the tie rod end replaced. Guess what? The play is still there, even they kept saying it has improved and it can only be better unless a new steering rack fixed. Another bull ****. :tsk:



Then I went back to the first garage and complained about the “re-built” rack they fixed for me. They turned the steering wheel a few times and immediately they found the culprit—a u-joint in the steering column. I waited for 2 weeks to get the part and again, zero improvement. They garage said it (the play) is normal for E46 and asked me to get used to it. What a total nonsense. :read:



I almost gave up until I met our workshop manager who is looking after all the construction equipment on site. I told him the sad stories of my car and he volunteered to check the car. He asked a helper to turn the steering wheel and we checked all the connections/joints looking up from the service trench. Less than one minute we found the problem, a flexible coupling connecting the lower steering column was worn. I ordered the part and have it replaced. Everything is now perfect. The solid and tight handling is back again. Total cost? 30 USD. :thumbsup:



If you are having a similar problem of your E46, try to follow my rout, backward.