330 Steering feels too heavy

**Aeko** · 02-17-2020, 06:45 PM

The power steering in my 330ci feels too heavy. The build date is 11/01. Of my two e46s (330ci, M3) the M3 feels lighter even though the 330 is running 18x8s square and the M3 is running 18x9s square (both style 67s). I noticed the PS pump occasionally groans at low speeds in the 330ci but it only seems to happen in colder weather when the car is cold. I've already changed the PS fluid and it looked fairly fresh before it was changed.

Are there any tests I can do before I fire off the parts cannon?

**330ci77** · 02-17-2020, 09:24 PM

give it time to warm up...

**legobumb** · 02-17-2020, 11:34 PM

Usually a groaning sound is pretty indicative of low power steering fluid. If yours is "full", then it might be that the fluid isn't making it all of the way through the system initially. If you've owned the car long enough to be able to say "it didn't always do this" then it's definitely cause for concern.