E39 (5281) has the steering wheel shakes! Please help !!

[essabill]

$1,700 later, my 1997 E39 still has the shakes on the steering wheel.

This problem persists EVEN THOUGH I've:
1) purchased new factory spec tires
2) had the tires balanced 3 times including a road force test
3) had new brake rotors and pads installed,
4) had a new left side control arm replaced, and also
5) had both lower control arm booshings replaced.

What gives? This is like a giant mistery. Can anybody out there provide guidance or suggestions?

[xjoeharperx]

has anyone checked the tie rod ends yet?.. if all the front suspension comonents are ok then its time to start looking at the steering rack..the control valve might be worn out and not staying centered anymore..only fix is to replace the rack...$$$$$.... :-(

[essabill]

Thanks for your reply. I will pass it along to the folks at BMW to see if that may be the issue. Perhaps it is also something covered by the extended warranty I purchased. Cross my fingers.

[124ingeling]

Have had the same problem with mine since I bought it 7 years ago. Changed the tyres,rebalanced etc again and again and problem still keeps coming back. Wonder if this has been a common problem.

[essabill]

I think BMW is not very forthcoming about this issue. I have spent thousands of dollars and visited a couple of factory authorized BMW dealers and they tell me there's nothing wrong - yet the problems persist. Regretably I've learned to just ignore the issue, but is it annoying. BMW tells me there is NO history of that with other cars. That has to be a lie. They just don't want to admit it.

I don't know what to tell you. Believe it or not, I'm still trying to get to the root of the problem ... if I find the answer I will post it.