12-06-2012, 12:26 PM | #1 |
Driver
97
Rep 636
Posts |
Steering failure during snow training course
Steering wheel got jammed during snow slalom while driving.
It's now 4 days that I've been on a snow slalom and drifting driving courses. For 3 days I drove a Honda Civic (FWD, manual) and I finally decided to take my own car. Everything was fine for 30 minutes of slalom (drifting between cones in snow). After that my driving instructor asked me to do circles (donuts) around a cone. I drove about 15 circles (donuts) around a cone when the steering wheel became extremely heavy and jammed. It was as if it went to Sport Plus Plus Plus Plus Plus Plus mode - it was stuck sideways and I couldn't turn anymore. I kept the ignition on and after about 20 seconds it became normal again. I tried 2 more circles and steering got jammed again. After that I stopped for 1 minute, it came back to normal and I continued drifting between cones (no more circles) - the steering wheel jammed again. At this point I left it for 1 more minute, steering wheel came back to normal and I left the driving course and drove home. It almost felt as if something is overheating and jams the steering wheel and goes away after a short period of cooling down. Nonetheless it sounds extremely dangerous in some road situations and when tracking your car when there are many turns. Please help with any input may have from experience or knowledge:
Does #1 and #2 issue sound like a temporary hydraulic pump failure? Please help with any advice you can have. It's a rare issue that is difficult to reproduce, especially for BMW service. Thanks in advance! Last edited by singularity; 12-07-2012 at 07:17 PM.. |
12-06-2012, 03:21 PM | #2 |
Driver
97
Rep 636
Posts |
If your steering wheel gets jammed in a u-turn or on a track - don't say it wasn't brought up. This is one major safety issue that requires attention more than those topics about glamorous wheel and cosmetic parts. Anyway taking my car for another slalom tomorrow to see if the issue persists and then taking the car to BMW service for investigation.
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-06-2012, 03:46 PM | #3 |
Driver
11
Rep 155
Posts |
We don't have much snow in Canada yet but in a few weeks I will do some donuts and see if I can replicate the problem. My car was a March 26 2012 build.
Just a thought did you have the BMW winter rims and tires put on the car could that be causing a problem ? I had mine put on the other day and only drove home but noticed a heavier feel in the steering thought it was the Pirelli winter tires. Don |
Appreciate
0
|
12-06-2012, 04:07 PM | #4 | |
Driver
97
Rep 636
Posts |
Quote:
This was the most dangerous issue I've seen with this car so far. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-07-2012, 01:59 AM | #5 |
Driver
97
Rep 636
Posts |
After doing a lot of reading on other forums I've come to a conclusion that the issue is either a hydraulic pump failure or belt getting wet from snow. The rattle sound when the steering wheel is at maximum left/right position persists.
Conslusion: M5 F10 steering fails after 15 circles on snow. Buying a used 535i + 911 Turbo would've been more suitable. |
Appreciate
0
|
12-07-2012, 06:46 PM | #6 | |
Private
8
Rep 79
Posts |
Quote:
Still, yikes... |
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-07-2012, 07:06 PM | #7 | |
Driver
97
Rep 636
Posts |
Quote:
BMW service confirmed the problem and said it's likely a factory defect which became more evident after a short stress. They said that the filter in the pump leak metal or something. New new oil pump has been ordered and the car will stay in garage for a few weeks. Getting the impression this is the "businessman's autobahn car", was quite embarrassing when STI/Evolution/Civic and even Hyundais kept rolling through the slalom where a big M5 failed after a few tries. Last edited by singularity; 12-07-2012 at 07:11 PM.. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-07-2012, 07:28 PM | #8 | ||
Private
8
Rep 79
Posts |
Quote:
|
||
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|