TedStriker
Active member
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2024
- Messages
- 32
Have you driven another LCI i3 to compare its steering feel with your i3? Might be worth doing before spending any more time and money.
I've never driven another i3 so unfortunately not got anything to directly compare it to. I've watched a lot of i3 driving videos though and on those the steering does appear to centre itself certainly a lot better than mine does. Today I drove my partner's 2018 VW Polo for 100 miles then immediately got into the i3. No way would BMW have designed a car to drive like it does. I think I'd largely got used to it as I'd been pretty much exclusively driving the i3 for a few months so hadn't realised how 'different' it was. I also have a BMW 435d and 330d, both 4WD - they both have way wider tyres and feel light as a feather at or around straight ahead. Same goes for the FWD 2004 and 2012 VW Golfs I have.
My thinking is that this is likely a widespread problem that many owners will have to a certain degree but are unaware that it's not right and put it down to the car being 'quirky'. I believe I've eliminated any i3 related causes as at the moment it's just a steering rack with nothing attached and it's still stiff. Bearing in mind most cars for the last 15 years or so have used electric power steering I can't imagine they reinvented the wheel for the i3 and created a unique rack that is sticky!
As I have other cars that I can use I think my next plan is to remove the rack and dismantle it as far as I can and look for anything wrong. It does feel to me like a lack of lubrication and I've heard of at least one person report the issue to BMW and they ended up with a new rack due to 'corrosion' in the old one.
Watch this space, I'll post back when I've got the rack out. Hopefully won't have to end up dropping the front subframe but If I have to then so be it.
Of course in the mean time any and all suggestions, comments welcomed!
Cheers,
Ted