Questions and Answers

BMW 325is Steering Problem Q. Vince, I have a 1993 BMW 325is with 165,000. It is a manual transmission car. Recently I have been noticing a grinding noise when I turn the steering wheel. It happens when you turn the wheel in either direction. You don't have to be moving. It happens both when you are parked and turn the wheel as well as when you are driving and make a turn.

You can feel the grind in the steering wheel as well as hear it if that makes sense. I also can feel that something is off, just when the car is idling. Any suggestions on what this problem might be?

Tim

A. The first thig to do is to make sure the power steering fluid is full. Make sure you check the label on the pump, there are very specific fluids for different pumps.

Then what I would do is to touch the top of the strut mounts while someone turns the wheel. If the noise is coming from a frozen strut bearing, you will be able to feel it. Feel the other piviot points, as with the strut mounts you will be able to feel where the noise is coming from.

You can also take a piece of garden hose and put it on the power steering pump to see if the noise is from there.

Tracking down a noise can be difficult and tricky. If you can't pin point it yourself, let a BMW dealer look at it.