Strange Steering Sound

[bdavis385]

Occasionally when I turn the steering wheel of my 1997 Z3 (in either direction) I get a sound that I can best describe as the sound a zip tie makes. Anyone have a clue on why or how to address. It bothers me.

[PhilPhil]

It could be the plastic skin of the steering wheel rubbing a little bit on the plastic clamshell (two halves - upper and lower) that goes around the steering column. They're both textured plastic - kind of like a basketball - and when you steer, they may be rubbing just enough to make a little sound.

[bluptgm3]

E36 Coupe/Sedan/ti are notorious for steering column lower bearing ‘squeak’ and some have reported steering wheel clock spring noise.

Search on-line for cures - lubing the lower bearing with multi-straw white lithium grease aerosol spray and/or lubing clock spring with copper based lube (anti-seize.)


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[daven]

If you can't find any binding/scraping spots with an external visual inspection, its probably the internal slip ring assembly. Its a coiled flat ribbon cable in a plastic case. As you turn the wheel, the ribbon cable moves so that the electrical connections don't get tangled. Replacing it is not a hard job . The price new is a little high, I bought a refurbished one off EBay. The plastic-cy scritch sound is gone. It looks like you could take the assembly apart and refurbish yourself, but I didn't want to mess with the airbag wiring.

[Vintage42]

... its probably the internal slip ring assembly. Its a coiled flat ribbon cable in a plastic case. As you turn the wheel, the ribbon cable moves so that the electrical connections don't get tangled. Replacing it is not a hard job . The price new is a little high, I bought a refurbished one off EBay. The plastic-cy scritch sound is gone. It looks like you could take the assembly apart and refurbish yourself, but I didn't want to mess with the airbag wiring.

A scritchy sound is most likely the slip ring aka clock spring. I had changed a 1976 BMW's steering wheel, but after looking at a couple of DIYs, removing the Z3 steering wheel and airbag was too much for me. So I had a shop do it.
The DIYs:
https://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/tec...eplacement.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vgW5oXGeWQ

[s8ilver]

After you disconnect the battery and wait a bit for discharge, a Torx bit and 2 minutes is all it takes to remove the airbag. Steering wheel off in another minute with a socket. I mark the steering wheel hub and steering column with a Sharpie in a couple spots so it's easy to line back up.

20160527_144054.jpg

The slip ring is a couple more fasteners but very straightforward.

[bdavis385]

Thanks for all the information.

[crashgordan]

did the above solutions resolve it??
have the same sound. what did you discover?

[Hirsch990]

I just got rid of my scraping noise. I just kept lubing one thing at a time and putting it back together. What ultimately solved my issue was a thin coat of grease on the edge of the slip ring where the two plastic halves come together. YMMV.