E46 325 Coupe Steering...

[FoxPaul]

Recently purchased a 02 plate 325Ci Sport Coupe with 80k ish for the missus as a shopping cart (it gets used once a week to go to the shops), but it was a nice car and suited the purpose..

The steering however weighs up very strangly ie: 1/4 turn gets v heavy and then lightens up again.

I'ts been suggested that I need to pop it in for diagnostics as it could be either a sensor or the pump..

Are there any other suggestions or an easier way or identifying the issue witout having diagnostic equipment of stripping teh whole thing down and replaceing the aforementioned items.

Also - HOW BAD is the steptronic gearbox or again is an issue with thsi car ie: very jerky when pulling off and shifting...

All help appreciated.

[the hack]

I'm not sure about your steering issue, but I have a 2002 E46 320iSE and the auto box is silky smooth with no jerks. So it sounds as if ther's something seriously wrong with it and I'd advise getting a good BMW Indy to look at it.

[Sticks.]

My E46 330d 51 plate used to jerk when decelerating into 2nd. Dealer suggested they cold fix it by plugging it into their puter and resetting it (or something, never bothered).

[mini1380cc]

The steering issue might be the lower steering column bearing. It was a common issue with the E36 and Z3, something that i believe was not rectified in the e46. Does it creak slightly when turning slowly?

[bikealarmblair]

On my 01 325 coupe (now a 5.7l V8) there are no sensors connected to the rack or column