Power steering vibration...

[VoytekM5]

So this vibration started a few months ago. I chalked it up to the tires and weather. But even when I switched to snow tires the vibration is still there.

This only happens on cold starts coming out of my garage. I do a 3 point turn coming out and it vibrates like hell... once I start going and the car gets warm everything is normal.

Anyone else have this happen?

[SapphireM5]

Hey bud, so let me get this straight. On a cold start, you roll out of the garage and for a few miles you get a slight vibration that goes away once the tires warm up basically?

[daddymalu]

Same thing is happening to my car.... I was gonna address this with SA during my front brake service which is in about 700 miles... Sometimes it even feels like something is tugging on the steering wheel...

[VoytekM5]

Originally Posted by SapphireM5

Hey bud, so let me get this straight. On a cold start, you roll out of the garage and for a few miles you get a slight vibration that goes away once the tires warm up basically?

no only when I'm rolling out of my garage, 3 point turn... front wheel jitter a lot when I'm turning. Once I'm on my street, it drives normal.

Originally Posted by daddymalu

Same thing is happening to my car.... I was gonna address this with SA during my front brake service which is in about 700 miles... Sometimes it even feels like something is tugging on the steering wheel...

Yeah weird... I used to get it in my panny and R8 but those were AWD and hard rubber in the winter but it's the same feeling.

[daddymalu]

If I don't drive my car all weekend and start her up Monday morning the vibrations on the steering wheel are almost violent....

[SapphireM5]

That is strange. My car sits alot, I drive it maybe once a week in the summer. Never anything like you guys describe. What I do get, is when I get on the highway I will get a slight vibration for about 1/2 mile and it disappears. It is the tiny flat spots it gets from sitting all week, my CTS-V did the same exact thing.

Good Luck guys, sounds like you guys have a totally different issue, hope you get it figured out.

[VoytekM5]

Originally Posted by daddymalu

If I don't drive my car all weekend and start her up Monday morning the vibrations on the steering wheel are almost violent....

I don't drive my M5 that much, maybe a few times a week. Maybe this is the cause... anyone else having this issue?

[daddymalu]

Voytek... How many miles are on your car?

[VoytekM5]

Originally Posted by daddymalu

Voytek... How many miles are on your car?

2013 36k

[daddymalu]

I am right at 30,000 miles.

[M5 TT]

Yes mine is the very same. Only had it 2 months at its starting to annoy me. I am still under warranty so intend booking it into BMW see what they find.

When at work I need to reverse out and do a "J" turn and that's when I feel it. Nothing apparent any other time.

22k miles on mine

[mlee4984]

I've brought it up to my SA sand shop foreman at BMW. The shop foreman was driving it and felt the vibrations I described. Comes back and tell me it's normal because it's doing the same on another M5 at service. I don't buy it at all...
I've then posted on a Facebook group, someone had the same issue described, he replaced the power steering lines but issue came back. He then replaced the pump and it seemed to resolved the issue. I'm going to see if I can get the pump replaced under warranty and I'll report back.

Mike

[aasanM5]

I have recently been experiencing the exact same issue - cold start, J turn, it pulses.. once I travel a few miles it goes away. I have a '13 with 34K.. I was thinking colder weather, cold start, maybe the weight of the fluid and needing to cycle through causing it..?

[KillerM5]

Guys, I have a 550i M-sport with the same issues. Seems to be worse in cold weather. I also have an issue with my steering feeling like it has a dead spot at high speeds. It feels like there is a flat spot when turning, the steering wheel is turning but the wheels arent and then they do a second later. Its scary at times at speed. Ive read a lot and it seems the F10 electric steering is full of problems. My GF's 11 yr old Audi A4 with 140k miles is more confident inspiring at speed. Not good at all!! So disappointing after falling in love with BMW's in my E60 M5!!

[VoytekM5]

I haven't had this issue since the weather warmed up. Must be cold fluid at start up.

[Blue Sky]

Originally Posted by VoytekM5

no only when I'm rolling out of my garage, 3 point turn... front wheel jitter a lot when I'm turning. Once I'm on my street, it drives normal.

The usual thing to get air out of a power steering system is to turn the wheel from lock to lock back and forth at least 3 complete cycles. If you try this first before driving out of the garage, and you don't have issues while getting out, that could be it.

Otherwise generally the M5 servotronic is an overly complicated hydraulic system with a variable pump that I think also tries to save energy, and my guess would be that most issues are probably coming from that.

I also can hear some kind of high pitched whine in the morning for the first few blocks, more when it's colder, but it is faint, off and on, and I can't tell where it comes from. I've suspected it may be the pump but really don't know.