steering Wheel became Hard to turn

[JohnWasser]

Steering effort abnormalities a known software issue for a long time, finally corrected by BMW TSB #B321119 late last year. The TSB was not publicized, you have to complain to a dealer to get them to load the latest operating system software under warranty. We have an 2018 I3S that had steering problems for a year, the TSB procedure fixed the glitches and improved the steering feel overall.

The TSB: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/ ... 5-9999.pdf
"Update vehicle integration level to ISTA 4.20.1x, or higher"
"Target Integration Level: I001-19-11-510 or higher"

[trumpetdoug]

WOW folks!

Thanks to this forum and all the great info here.

Briefly I purchased my 2017 i3 about 6 weeks ago. 20,000 mile on it and I love it.


I have always thought the steering was a little difficult compared to other vehicles I've owned, but I have gotten used to it.
Question:
How would i know if this issue has already been addressed in this car? I still have a bit of warranty left and also the CPO warranty. What would you guys do to make sure I don't have a problem in the future?

Thanks,
Doug - out

[eNate]

Doug, you could ask. The dealership I bought from provided a print of the full service history, including a visit to a different dealership. There should be a record.

Because this update was only available October of last year, should be easy to pin down.

Sales won't necessarily take the car over to service if there's no pressing need, so don't assume it's been updated based on date of sale.

Failsafe option if they're uncooperative or the status is undetermined is to make a service appointment and tell them your power steering felt funny one day and you'd like it diagnosed.

[JohnWasser]

Question:
How would i know if this issue has already been addressed in this car? I still have a bit of warranty left and also the CPO warranty. What would you guys do to make sure I don't have a problem in the future?

Export your profile to a USB stick (iDrive Settings > Profiles > Export) and then open the file in a text editor to see the 'i-step':

<header>
<date>2016-01-21T17:23:54</date>
<version>1</version>
<username>YOURNAME</username>
<vin>XX12345</vin>
<i-step>I001-15-11-504</i-step>
</header>

I have heard that the dealership won't do a firmware (Integration Level) update just on request. You have to have a 'complaint', like "Sometimes when I'm driving the power steering will just cut out, making it hard to steer at low speed. Turning the car off and on again usually fixes it."

[trumpetdoug]

Thanks everyone! Lots of good information and advice.

Not exactly sure how to export my profile to a thumb drive, but I will look into it.

Doug - out

[pradeeprox]

I had a similar issue in my 2019 i3 Rex with only 5k miles...I just reported it to NHTSA
Will be calling the service center for the software update for the service bulletin SIB 32 11 19 SPORADIC REDUCTION OF STEERING ASSISTANCE

[alohart]

I had a similar issue in my 2019 i3 Rex with only 5k miles...I just reported it to NHTSA
Will be calling the service center for the software update for the service bulletin SIB 32 11 19 SPORADIC REDUCTION OF STEERING ASSISTANCE

Sad to learn that this problem hasn't been fixed several years after it was first reported. I haven't experienced this problem on our 2014 BEV at integration level I001-18-11-520 (November, 2018, system software version). However, if it happens, would BMW fix the problem at its expense even though the warranty has expired?

[Neil]

I had a similar issue in my 2019 i3 Rex with only 5k miles...I just reported it to NHTSA
Will be calling the service center for the software update for the service bulletin SIB 32 11 19 SPORADIC REDUCTION OF STEERING ASSISTANCE

Sad to learn that this problem hasn't been fixed several years after it was first reported. I haven't experienced this problem on our 2014 BEV at integration level I001-18-11-520 (November, 2018, system software version). However, if it happens, would BMW fix the problem at its expense even though the warranty has expired?

I have a 2014 Rex with 73000 miles. It has parking assist which I haven't used in years. Fortunately I've never experienced this issue through multiple software updates. Perhaps I've never encountered the conditions which cause it. The car is now at I001-19-07-539 if that is useful to help determine when this bug may have been introduced although it could be more complicated than that.

[alohart]

The car is now at I001-19-07-539 if that is useful to help determine when this bug may have been introduced although it could be more complicated than that.

Why did you have I001-19-07-539 installed? Did you have to pay?

[Neil]

The car is now at I001-19-07-539 if that is useful to help determine when this bug may have been introduced although it could be more complicated than that.

Why did you have I001-19-07-539 installed? Did you have to pay?

I did not have to pay for this and I didn't request it. I did bring my car in last year 9/16/19 to take care of a recall for the pressure temperature sensor (rex gas tank issue) and also there was a program vehicle recall - "updated software per sib 65 23 17" which was performed.

I've saved some profiles over the years (some of them missed) and here's the progression:

I001-15-07-501
I001-16-03-505
I001-17-07-500
I001-19-07-539