1998 bmw 328is steering issue

[bmw555]

Hello everybody, I guess I'm new in this club here. I bought 1998 328is 2 weeks ago and I never owned bmw before. I like the car in general but one thing bothers me a lot - the steering feedback from the road bumbs and uneven pavement. One bump on the highway is enough for the car to change the direction so I have to hold the steering wheel very tight all the time. Is it normal for BMW 3 series or something is wrong with the car? Thanks for your response in advance.

 

[Shawn Wright]

I only hole my wheel with two fingers while cruising. Sound like you got a problem. My steering is very tight.

 

[kerph32]

BMWs are designed to have lots of steering feedback... it's what makes you feel like you're actually driving the car, instead of steering a boat like most japanese and American cars. My car doesn't normally change direction unless the bumps are quite large, but I always see those coming and am prepared for them. Just watch the road a little closer and you'll be fine... it takes some getting used to but it's so much more engaging to drive a car with communicative steering once you're experienced with it!

 

[bmw555]

BMWs are designed to have lots of steering feedback... it's what makes you feel like you're actually driving the car, instead of steering a boat like most japanese and American cars. My car doesn't normally change direction unless the bumps are quite large, but I always see those coming and am prepared for them. Just watch the road a little closer and you'll be fine... it takes some getting used to but it's so much more engaging to drive a car with communicative steering once you're experienced with it!

Yes, it takes a big bump on the road for the car to actually change direction a bit, but I can feel steering wheel pushing right and left even on small bumps and it makes me nervous. I drove other 3 series BMWs and they behave kind of the same but steering on my car still feels too loose comparing to them, it's too light too, not sure if it's normal.

 

[manuel]

try getting an alignment. also, might want to check out your front suspension/steering parts.

 

[bmwboy]

i odnt know bmws are supposed to have a sort of heavey steering and i can still steer the car with 2 fingers like shawn said.

 

[Lavalamp]

i have the same problem, i dunno what it is but my old 91 318is never did it so i dunno if it's normal or not.

 

[bmw555]

Update:
I took the car to Berkeley Motor Works this morning and just got a call from them: basically the car has 83K miles on it and all original suspension and bushing is worn out. I OK'd replacing the front and rear bushing arms and all wheels alignment (yes, rear wheels should be aligned too). All together with oil change and 1 brake light bulb change totals to $1,150, curious now if it's a fair price.

 

[manuel]

i would have done all that myself except the alignment.

 

[bmw555]

Yeah, I coud fix it myself if I had a garage with a pit, tools and whole day to waste I used to maintain my car myself when I was young and lived with my parents and in fact I liked it, I had plenty of free time for that back then too Anyways, parts itself (fornt and rear bushing arms)running in about $500 - I checked prices on internet.