I enjoy your videos, your well spoken and explain things thoroughly. I have a 1998 528i and love it..... and dream of an M5 someday. Regarfless my 528 is an amazing car and it is very well kept
Really enjoyed your detailed video Ryan. Am closely thinking of the steering in my E34 535i and its reputed dead-to-centre road feel vs one of these steering boxes instead along with learning generally of the E39 range. Like you, don't know much of the various engineering factors involved but very curious to learn and a general admirer of the E39M5 though have preferred the styling of the '34. Ohio looks bloody fantastic weatherwise. James L, (Western) Australia
I replaced the servotronic solenoid on my E38 because my steering was heavy when the engine was hot. The dealer had never sold one before. It solved my problem. I agree the steering box cars feel nicer. Particularly at high speeds.
Best of luck with replacement the steering box. I recently just swapped the steering box on my 2000 BMW 540i. I had about 125k miles on my car when I did. I sourced the box from Clemster and retrofitted the servotronic to work with my 540i. Problem I was having is the inside of my box was worn and the car was aligned but the wheel wouldn't be straight due to the play in the box. Best of luck with this. I did the job myself and dropping the subframe and putting in the steering box was a PITA. The part is heavy and it wasn't fun to do.
Hey Ryan, first off I wanna say I love your videos - just picked up my very own E39 about a month ago and I love it to death! I noticed while you were trying to capture your steering clunk it was making a ringing noise... mine does the same and I can't figure out what or why it's doing that. Assuming since you hadn't addressed it, is it something to worry about? Thanks for the help and happy driving!
Hello,i got my e39 m5 before 2 weeks ago everything is great but from the start when i took it i notice weird stearing and i think its geting worse sometimes the stearing gets much harder for a second when i move stearing whell do the "edge"is that servo pump or what any help appreciate
hello!! Thank you for all the videos to help me diagnose and repair them with my basic mechanic knowledge!! I have been searching the interweb for weeks, and still can't seem to find the correct remedy repair for steering wheel play (about 10 degrees left and right from the center). I have replaced front trust arm, control arm, sway bar bushing and end links and both inner and outer tie rods. I really hope its not my steering rack. Ant insight would be greatly appreciated!!!
How old is the power steering pump? I am fairly sure that I have the same dull "thud" felt through the wheel as if there is some slack or movement in the steering system. Curious to see what you end up finding out. 2002 540iA Sport.
Just a follow up, A friends E46 323ci has the same clunking feel through the steering. Being a rack and pinion set up, this leads me to believe that it isn't down to the recirculating ball steering box.
I prefer the rack and pinion to recirc ball steering. I will say that the E39 has slow all steering, which doesn't help. A quicker rack would be so much better. Just like in the E46 a purple tag rack makes all the difference
I didn't miss that and understand it totally. All I was saying is that I prefer R&P steering. I think the M5 won't be all that bad as it will have a tighter steering box from the factory.
Nate, I am gonna say no on that. If it was the case I reckon many people would have done it, and for the better. My early E46 feels much less connected compared to my E46 with the quicker rack. An E39 with a quick rack would be even more of a transformation.
Bummer. I've looked to see if any parts are interchangeable, but it would seem that E39 R&Ps only fit E39s. I wonder about the E60, though, since they have a very similar chassis...
e39 is a car that can never be perfect...u can rebuild it completely, something is gonna break right after anyway....its because people abuse these heavy cars and try to drift with them....
e39 is my fav. car and i owned it for past 2 years...i fixed and replaced ton of parts and more keeps braking....its 15 year old car, there is no other way around it....my e39 isnt for museum and i dont keep it in fucking garage as collectable....i drive it hard and i drift it on weekends and holidays....stuff breaks and has to be replaced all the time...
