[Dizzy330i]

Does anyone else get this? I don't know if I ever payed attention to it on my other cars, but when I turn my E90 all the way to the left or right until I hit the "lock" (i.e. can't steer any further in one direction) the power steering sounds really pained. I'm guessing it's the hydraulic pump working much harder than usual. I was also reading about someone on the forum who has broken their power-steering twice from just doing "donuts". I believe he has Active Steering, however.

Still, I don't want the favorite part of my car (steering feel) to get damaged any time soon.

Anyone else have the same pained sounds?

[E90Fleet]

All BMW's ive driven make a slightly different sound at the very end of travel of the wheel , to make you know you cant turn any further

[Dizzy330i]

I guess I shouldn't worry about it much, then.

Can I damage the steering if I steer hard onto the lock?

[fabolous]

My steering makes the same noise. Its louder than on any other car I have owned. Glad you posted it, makes me feel better im not the only one.

[joony79]

same here...

[KUweatherman]

You think its loud in the E90, listen to it in the E46. I've actually stalled a couple E46s by turning into the lock over and over and over again until the RPMs dropped too low. It's fun saying you "killed an automatic," but isnt too healthy for the power steering.

[Steve P.]

Why are you guys going so hard to lock anyways..... just TAKE IT EASY....

[Matt_UKTX]

Originally Posted by fabolous

My steering makes the same noise. Its louder than on any other car I have owned. Glad you posted it, makes me feel better im not the only one.

Me too... I actually noticed the same thing yesterday. I think it's normal.

[Dizzy330i]

It's just that I've gotten used to cars with tiny turning circles that can take a U-turn on a 2-lane road. So when I try to do the same with the E90, I hold it to the lock (But the E90's radius is still comparatively larger). It IS kinda loud though, at the lock.

I'm glad others have noticed it too. I was just a bit concerned, is all. Thanks for the responses.

Oh and nice avatar, joony79.

[lux.sh]

Are you asking about the weird screeching noise coming from the engine bay area when your steering wheel is in lock-to-lock position?

if so, I made a thread regarding this before(my previous cars never made this noise). People told me its normal so I don't really care for it anymore.

but it does sound pretty nasty.

[Broken1]

The noise is normal, and it should cause any harm if you're not moving too fast. You should be moving too fast anyways at full lock :-)

[JamieA]

Normal. Most manufacturers put a warning in their manual about keeping the wheel in full lock for an extended period of time as it is bad for the pump.

[JackMac]

Just a different perspective... My E90 does not do this at all. I actually noticed the absense of steering pump noise at full lock recently, and was suprised that there was none. Late 11/05 build, 1200 miles.

[ward]

here's a crazy idea,

when the wheel hits the end of it's travel, STOP turning it

don't slam the wheel into the end of it's travel

[Dizzy330i]

Originally Posted by lux.sh

Are you asking about the weird screeching noise coming from the engine bay area when your steering wheel is in lock-to-lock position?

if so, I made a thread regarding this before(my previous cars never made this noise). People told me its normal so I don't really care for it anymore.

but it does sound pretty nasty.

Yeah, that's it. So it's normal, then. I wonder why the previous cars I've owned never did that? Or maybe they did, but it was inaudible from inside the cabin...

JackMac, you don't hear anything at full lock? Not a buzz or a hint of whirr or something? Can anyone else confirm this? My car is pre-sept build. I wonder if the problem has been addressed.

Oh, and thanks for the advice, ward.

[Discodancingrover]

It's normal, mine had a nov build and does it.

[330m]

Why are you guys doing this? Do you have no mechanical sympathy?

The stop is their to tell you you've gone far enough!!! Never hold the wheel against it - back off a few degrees, please.

[JackMac]

Originally Posted by Dizzy330i

JackMac, you don't hear anything at full lock? Not a buzz or a hint of whirr or something?

Dizzy, after checking futher this evening, there is a very slight noise at full lock. This is completely normal. Turns out I was confusing it with our other new vehicle, which is silent at full lock.

If you think your car makes more than normal noise, suggest having your dealer check it out.

[aranjha]

okay so this noise that youre talking about comes when i accelerate from a parking lot while the wheel is turned. then the whole drive for the rest of the day, the same noise (even louder) appears when i take my foot off the accelerator and the RPM drops. it sounds horrible and is embarrassing to people who ride with me. its not like im flooring it with the wheel turned, but this never happens on my friends 330i (i have a 325). Can anyone tell me how to fix this because its driving me nuts and my dealer doesn't know crap.

Thanks a lot

[rebelfocus]

Originally Posted by JackMac

Just a different perspective... My E90 does not do this at all. I actually noticed the absense of steering pump noise at full lock recently, and was suprised that there was none. Late 11/05 build, 1200 miles.

Same here. I don't hear the noise all of you are describing... again my car is 11/05 production... perhaps they changed some component at the factory.