Easy Fix: BMW i3 Steering Issue - From rough to smooth again

If your BMW steering has gone a bit rough and no longer the smooth feeling when you first bought it, then the steering column has probably become dry and needs some lube!

BMW's official documentation is here. As the Americans are just so much better with recalls, they have documented the fix. I couldn't find a UK equivalent but its the same parts.

I'm sure there are even better products so let me know in comments.

Enjoy!

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Thanks for watching,

Kate and Andy

[RebootNinja]

I’ve done this job as well, and I suspect your issue may be slightly different than described.
In case it’s helpful I wanted to share my experience here.

BMW recommends a plastic-specific lubricant for that part of the shaft where it makes contact with the rubber shaft seal/housing.
And it’s advised to address a squeak rather than a significant change in steering feel/feedback.
Lithium grease has petroleum that could degrade the rubber, so I chose not to use it here.

I used silicone spray and it seems fine, but haven’t really noticed a difference from that alone.
Oh also, loosening the adjustment lever then moving the steering wheel in & out and up & down helps get the lubricant into better contact with all the needed areas on the steering shaft and rubber boot/seal.

I went a bit further and removed the u-joint at the base of the steering shaft - it’s just 2 more bolts and alignment is easy because there’s only 4 orientations possible.
I did tie off my steering wheel first so it wouldn’t move out of its alignment or spin all the way around and potentially damage the clock spring inside it.

I found my u-joint to be quite sticky and in need of a cleanup and re-greasing.
It was caked in road grime as well.

Many people just add lithium grease here and report success, but that’s not the grease that comes in the joint originally. I used a thick break caliper slide grease because it’s what I had on hand that seemed closer to the factory grease than lithium.

While I do love lithium grease and use it all over the place like home door hinges, squeaky office chairs, latches and more… it can get runny over time and drip, especially when hot.

I suspect some of this grease may be sliding down the shaft and into the u-joint, which would explain it taking some time/miles to become effective.

After cleaning and re-lubricating my u-joint, I worked it around by hand for several minutes and found it got much smoother and easier to move.
Once reassembled, it felt like the steering had improved slightly - tho it’s honestly a bit hard to gauge as I’ve been troubleshooting some other handling issues on my particular car.

Each change I make helps a bit more, I’ve learned a lot from other owner videos like yours - so thank you for taking the time & effort to share your experience here.

[Robert-ybgm]

Great video I have similar issues, a couple of weeks ago I accidentally drove through a dip in road full of water the noise started shortly after, my mate a retired mechanic suggested it could be the top suspension mount but I’m now thinking it’s a column problem which looks an easy fix 🤞. I’ve only just discovered your channel and I’m very thankful I did !

[TuskenOmega]

This solution helped me. Thank you :) I had slight steering jerkiness the first few seconds after the car had been stationary for at least 5 hours. Now the problem is gone. My car just turned 2, 5 years with only 15, 000 km on the odometer when the problem occurred..

[fogartym]

I love a video that gets straight to the point and the solution is a nice easy fix. Thanks!

[mc]

Great video - good and clear. And some great comments from other viewers too. I changed my gaiters and top mounts which needed doing anyway, but at the extremes (when reversing into my drive on lock), I can hear a bit of a grouching, so will be trying this soon…. Thanks!

[splynk]

Marine silicon grease works great too, probably the hardest type of lubricant to get washed off by waterspray :-)

[rydinorwin]

I agree with RebootNinja. Silicone grease is what you use ion rubber parts. Hold the can bottom down, when you spray with the can upside down, you are just going to expel the air. The video has made me think, I didn't get up under the seal. I do find it amazing that you did not think about the Universal joint requiring lubrication. Still, a good video, thanks. I will have to get back out there, as my steering is stiff on a 120k mile 2014 model. - Ive done 100k in it.

[Rson]

Thanks, I did it with WD-40 Silicon spray and it seems to have worked good!

[mikemadasafish]

Used a PTFE spray on the UJ: success. Easy and cheap,

[Robbie-mwuu]

beautiful car color

i use white lithium grease for my bicycle so it is nice to know I can use it for the car

[perfectsoundpursuit]

Good video! I have one i3 Rex, the same colour and weels. BR

[trousersnorkel]

Had a swedish car that had the same problem. Mixed zink based antisieze with wd40...slather.... and never looked back. 👍🇨🇦

[spielor]

I picked up my used i3 REX today and almost collided with an oncoming vehicle on the way home. With the slightest steering input, the car began to sway and became virtually uncontrollable. Is this normal?

[simonreeves]

Thanks for this video. I haven’t had this issue with my i3, which is 2019 with 47k miles, but I do have some interior trim rattles from glovebox and door cards - any thoughts on these?

[lastboyscout]

Thanks. Great video 🙂
Personally I am going to see if I can find an alternative to that product. Due to the resent awareness of how PTFE/Teflon (PFAS products) effect on mens reproductive ability 🧐

[woobsmudgeh]

I've got a sort of creaking through the steering wheel on ours, is that how you would describe what you were feeling that this resolved?