Wobbly steering wheel on 1988 730i.

[SLT16]

Hi all,

I have a steering wheel on my 88 730i which wobbles by about 3 cm each way without any tyre movement. This is considered un-safe by Australian road standards, so i can't get it registered. A mechanic neighbor had a quick look and concluded that the bushings on the steering arms need to be replaced. However, there are many bushings underneath and the internet isn't very helpful at identifying which ones are which, so i am unsure of which bushings need to be replaced. Also, could this be a DIY job?

Thank you.

[shogun]

ask your mechanic neighbour if he means some of these parts, which are usually the problem http://www.bmwe34.net/E34main/Mainte...ering_link.htm
Parts which can be damaged there are tie-rod ends, pitman arm can be lose, idler arm bushing, and the center tie rod (drag link). There are 2 connections/ball joints on a drag link, 1 is basically solid/fixed, the other one is much more flexible.
BTW: RHD versions is just the opposite side. The shape of the metal at the bottom is different.
I checked last year the draglink of my E32, one ball joint is differently preloaded. So the shape of the drag link is the same LHD and RHD, it will fit, but the preload is on the opposite side.
http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/1229825/
http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/1198863/

Some more info on that here
http://bigcoupe.com/phpBB2/viewtopic...ht=rhd+problem

examples
sloppy steering caused by excessive play at the pitman arm http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/1269592/

One can DIY, but after installing the new parts, you need to make a new front wheel alignment. For that I have a Trakrite https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gunson-G400.../dp/B0012M9KEC
Another method http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/711044/
In case you do not have these tools, ask a shop to do it.
Upper control arm bushings, they usually cause a shimmy http://bmwe32.masscom.net/sean750/uc...%20bushing.htm

idler arm bushing DIY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p77tCQkP39s
steering play http://www.bmwe34.net/E34main/Trouble/Steeringplay.htm

Only if all that does not help, maybe a expert adjusts the steering box http://www.bmwe34.net/E34main/Mainte...eering_box.htm

Parts numbers you can find here based on your VIN http://www.realoem.com/bmw/select.do

workshop manual https://www.bmwtechinfo.com/repair/main/