E90 steering issue

[Sonn]

I've been driving around an e90 320d for a few weeks now and something funny happened sometime over the past 24 or so hours.

I've always noted how stiff the steering wheel is - much tighter than an Audi for example. But very responsive - no play in the wheel at all.

But now there seems to be. Driving along every now and then I feel a little "slip" on the steering wheel. It's very difficult to describe.

My heart dropped a bit when I pulled into a parking spot this morning - it felt like I had to keep turning for days (against very little resistance I might add) to get in. And I had a lot of trouble aligning the wheels in the parking spot.

It feels like the steering wheel will just keep turning and doesn't seem to reach that point where it locks and the power steering pump goes churning.

Is this power steering pump failure or is it a fluid issue? I couldn't check immediately (and any insight into doing that would be greatly appreciated - including what to actually put in it)

Quite upset with this issue on an otherwise magnificent car.

 

[Midas335i]

Check your power steering fluid, the cap in the engine bay is labelled ATF

 

[Sonn]

I checked it. There seems to be enough fluid in it - most of the dipstick shows fluid.

The wheels do turn with the steering wheel when the car is on and stationary (I know you're not supposed to do that). But there seems to be an exaggerated "lightness" or ease to the steering wheel while driving along and sometimes when I want to swerve a little bit there isn't much response. There seems to be an unusual amount of play on the steering wheel, which I picked up immediately because I've always been surprised at the relative stiffness of the wheel.

 

[M3_devil]

Stop driving car until problem is identified. There are 2 things you dont mess with on a car. Steering and brakes.

I hope you are able to resolve issue