2018 BMW 340i steering wheel shake

Waylo340i · 06-26-2023, 09:18 PM

Hello everyone. I have been unable to find any answers in threads and I have been looking for months. My car has a steering wheel shimy / shake below 60 mph and goes away after that. I can feel an almost like pulsating vibration and have a visible shake under acceleration but not under braking. I have replaced the following parts and have seen no difference. The shop that balances my wheels on all my cars is leading me to believe it is a steering rack.

Tie rods inner and outer

Control arms upper and lower

Struts have been replaced with Coilovers

Bought a set of stock wheels to ensure it is not the apex wheels I was previously running.

Wheels have been balanced a total of 4 times now.

I have had the car alligned a total of 3 times now.

Tried both run flat and non run flat tires.

My suspicion : All signs are pointing towards a steering rack failure. I am not sure if anyone else has experienced this. I have taken the car to both of my local bmw dealers and they have been unable to diagnose. I have taken it to multiple aftermarket shops in my area and they have failed to diagnose. Am I going crazy? Any help is appreciated. I am in the Las Vegas area if anyone has a recommendation as to where I may be able to take it. I have thrown tons of parts at this car and don’t know where to go from here.

LA430 · 06-26-2023, 11:59 PM

Might be a long shot, but check your guibos.
Mine shook in the steering as well. My thought are it was shaking the rearend which in turn shook the front.

Oksamit78 · 06-27-2023, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LA430

Might be a long shot, but check your guibos.
Mine shook in the steering as well. My thought are it was shaking the rearend which in turn shook the front.

I think it is a good idea to check guibo joint and anything else that has to do with power transfer to the wheels since OP says that vibration comes in under acceleration or, in other words, under engine load... I think if the rack was the culprit - the shaking would be under braking as well.

Waylo340i · 06-27-2023, 02:55 PM

I will definitely give that a shot. As for the shake i did forget to mention this happens during coasting as well and typically below 60 mph. I can feel it on the highway but cannot visibly see itX

Waylo340i · 06-27-2023, 03:02 PM

Attached are a few links to videos I have taken. I know they are not the best quality but I can see the shake in them so maybe you can too. It’s not a massive shaking motion but it is the most annoying issue I have had with any of my bmws In the past. Previous to this car I owned a m240i and e92 335i that never had this issue.

Link 1 : https://youtube.com/shorts/_Ob2ZlSlntc?feature=share

Link 2: https://youtube.com/shorts/dukmoHFYPOw?feature=share

Link 3 : https://youtube.com/shorts/vFDwzXEB01I?feature=share

Oksamit78 · 06-29-2023, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waylo340i

Attached are a few links to videos I have taken. I know they are not the best quality but I can see the shake in them so maybe you can too. It’s not a massive shaking motion but it is the most annoying issue I have had with any of my bmws In the past. Previous to this car I owned a m240i and e92 335i that never had this issue.

Link 1 : https://youtube.com/shorts/_Ob2ZlSlntc?feature=share

Link 2: https://youtube.com/shorts/dukmoHFYPOw?feature=share

Link 3 : https://youtube.com/shorts/vFDwzXEB01I?feature=share

Man, that must be annoying...

One last question... you said the wheels were balanced multiple times, but did you have the shop actually run the balance on the rims bare without tires? I had this issue with two piece BMW rim in the past.

If you say that vibration is still there in coasting, I do not believe the guibo joint causes that.

Waylo340i · 06-29-2023, 03:12 PM

I have not had them ran on a balance machine without the tires. However if it were a balance issue wouldn’t it get worse with speed? The shake is worst around 40-60 but not as noticeable at highway speeds. I got a better video of the shake today as well as found another f30 with the same issue but there was no fix listed with his video. Videos below

https://youtu.be/-7R4bJQAkM0 video found

My video - https://youtube.com/shorts/mQIRGm4ak5I?feature=share

06-26-2023, 09:18 PM	#1
Waylo340i New Member 0 Rep 8 Posts Drives: 340i Join Date: Jan 2023 Location: Nevada iTrader: (0)	2018 BMW 340i steering wheel shake Hello everyone. I have been unable to find any answers in threads and I have been looking for months. My car has a steering wheel shimy / shake below 60 mph and goes away after that. I can feel an almost like pulsating vibration and have a visible shake under acceleration but not under braking. I have replaced the following parts and have seen no difference. The shop that balances my wheels on all my cars is leading me to believe it is a steering rack. Tie rods inner and outer Control arms upper and lower Struts have been replaced with Coilovers Bought a set of stock wheels to ensure it is not the apex wheels I was previously running. Wheels have been balanced a total of 4 times now. I have had the car alligned a total of 3 times now. Tried both run flat and non run flat tires. My suspicion : All signs are pointing towards a steering rack failure. I am not sure if anyone else has experienced this. I have taken the car to both of my local bmw dealers and they have been unable to diagnose. I have taken it to multiple aftermarket shops in my area and they have failed to diagnose. Am I going crazy? Any help is appreciated. I am in the Las Vegas area if anyone has a recommendation as to where I may be able to take it. I have thrown tons of parts at this car and don’t know where to go from here.
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06-26-2023, 11:59 PM	#2
LA430 Private First Class 58 Rep 104 Posts Drives: 430i Join Date: Jun 2023 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	Might be a long shot, but check your guibos. Mine shook in the steering as well. My thought are it was shaking the rearend which in turn shook the front.
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06-27-2023, 02:55 PM	#4
Waylo340i New Member 0 Rep 8 Posts Drives: 340i Join Date: Jan 2023 Location: Nevada iTrader: (0)	I will definitely give that a shot. As for the shake i did forget to mention this happens during coasting as well and typically below 60 mph. I can feel it on the highway but cannot visibly see itX
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06-27-2023, 03:02 PM	#5
Waylo340i New Member 0 Rep 8 Posts Drives: 340i Join Date: Jan 2023 Location: Nevada iTrader: (0)	Attached are a few links to videos I have taken. I know they are not the best quality but I can see the shake in them so maybe you can too. It’s not a massive shaking motion but it is the most annoying issue I have had with any of my bmws In the past. Previous to this car I owned a m240i and e92 335i that never had this issue. Link 1 : https://youtube.com/shorts/_Ob2ZlSlntc?feature=share Link 2: https://youtube.com/shorts/dukmoHFYPOw?feature=share Link 3 : https://youtube.com/shorts/vFDwzXEB01I?feature=share
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06-29-2023, 03:12 PM	#7
Waylo340i New Member 0 Rep 8 Posts Drives: 340i Join Date: Jan 2023 Location: Nevada iTrader: (0)	I have not had them ran on a balance machine without the tires. However if it were a balance issue wouldn’t it get worse with speed? The shake is worst around 40-60 but not as noticeable at highway speeds. I got a better video of the shake today as well as found another f30 with the same issue but there was no fix listed with his video. Videos below https://youtu.be/-7R4bJQAkM0 video found My video - https://youtube.com/shorts/mQIRGm4ak5I?feature=share
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