Steering Wheel suddenly feels tight heavy stiff
05-18-2011, 12:50 PM
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My Ride: BMW E60 520d SE Saloon M47 2.0dTitanium Grey II, Grey−Dakota Leather, Visibility Package, Media Package, Through Load System, Lumbar support − fr seats, Automatic Air Conditioning−Advanced, High beam assistant, Hi−Fi Loudspeak
Model Year: 2006
So, today my wife was driving the car and said that the steering wheel felt stiffer than normal. I just dismissed the comment but as she drove she complained more and more. So in the car park I decided to check this for myself. Firstly I wanted to confirm that the Power Steering pump was kicking in, and it is. But then sure enough I too felt the steering wheel a lot stiffer than it was the last time the car was driven.
What should I look for to check before the car goes into the dealers?
She also mentioned that the car seemed a lot more sluggish off the mark. But I think that has nothing to do with the steering issues. Or at the two linked in any way?
What should I look for to check before the car goes into the dealers?
She also mentioned that the car seemed a lot more sluggish off the mark. But I think that has nothing to do with the steering issues. Or at the two linked in any way?
05-18-2011, 01:03 PM
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front tires pressure would be the first thing I check 
On serious note, I've never have this kind of problem with my E60 so far but with my other car. I did and it turned out to be a leakage with the power steering. I think the leak caused loss of pressure or something like that. It was too long ago and back then I didn't really care much about taking care of my own car. Just bring it to the shop whenever there was a problem.
On serious note, I've never have this kind of problem with my E60 so far but with my other car. I did and it turned out to be a leakage with the power steering. I think the leak caused loss of pressure or something like that. It was too long ago and back then I didn't really care much about taking care of my own car. Just bring it to the shop whenever there was a problem.
05-18-2011, 01:10 PM
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My Ride: BMW E60 520d SE Saloon M47 2.0dTitanium Grey II, Grey−Dakota Leather, Visibility Package, Media Package, Through Load System, Lumbar support − fr seats, Automatic Air Conditioning−Advanced, High beam assistant, Hi−Fi Loudspeak
Model Year: 2006
I've already checked tyre pressure and its fine. Another thing, my wife mentioned that the steering felt fine sometime and but then not again.
05-19-2011, 05:21 AM
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My Ride: 2008 528i, Space Grey, Nav, PDC, Premium, Sports, Grey Leather, Xenon, Cornering...
05-19-2011, 06:30 AM
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Model Year: 2006
05-19-2011, 07:11 AM
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Bruce, look for a container like the one pictured, should be roughly in the same area of the engine bay. When you take out the cap, it will have an extension that has two indentations like a dipstick: "medium" and "full." They are not marked but you can tell which one is which. If you don't see any fluid on the extension, it is low.
05-19-2011, 07:53 AM
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Bruce, look for a container like the one pictured, should be roughly in the same area of the engine bay. When you take out the cap, it will have an extension that has two indentations like a dipstick: "medium" and "full." They are not marked but you can tell which one is which. If you don't see any fluid on the extension, it is low.
05-19-2011, 11:37 AM
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My Ride: BMW E60 520d SE Saloon M47 2.0dTitanium Grey II, Grey−Dakota Leather, Visibility Package, Media Package, Through Load System, Lumbar support − fr seats, Automatic Air Conditioning−Advanced, High beam assistant, Hi−Fi Loudspeak
Model Year: 2006
Yup I don't and you'll see why if you see the inside of a Diesel 520D. It's got nothing that looks like that. I suspect the PAS cap is under the engine hood.