BMW 6 Power Steering Failure, Symptoms and Solutions

I had almost identical symptoms with my 2005 BMW 5 Series last spring. The heavy steering and shaking were really concerning. Turned out it was a faulty connection in the power steering control module, basically, some corroded wiring and a loose plug. The mechanics found the issue after running diagnostics. They had to clean the connections, replace a damaged wire harness, and reseat the control module plug. Not a hugely expensive fix, but definitely something that needed immediate attention since power steering issues can get dangerous. The repair took about half a day at the shop. After that, the steering went back to normal, smooth and responsive. These electronic power steering systems are pretty reliable overall, but when connections go bad, you get those exact symptoms you're describing. Get it checked soon though, driving with compromised steering isn't worth the risk.

Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm really glad to hear you managed to get it sorted. Seems like our issues are super similar. Can you remember roughly how much the repair ended up costing you? Also, has everything been running smoothly since the fix, or have you noticed any other steering-related problems pop up? I'm trying to get a sense of what I might be looking at cost-wise and whether this is likely to be a one-and-done fix.

Hey there! Happy to give you an update. Since seeing my mechanic, the power steering has been working perfectly, not a single issue for months now. The total bill came to 95 € for fixing what turned out to be exactly what I suspected, just a faulty cable connection that needed cleaning and proper reconnecting. I'm actually really relieved it wasn't anything more serious. The steering is back to being smooth as butter, no more of that awful shaking or heaviness I mentioned before. Honestly, it feels like driving a new car compared to how it was handling before. The best part is that it's stayed completely problem-free since the repair. No warning lights, no weird noises, nothing. I'd say you're probably looking at something similar given how close our symptoms match up. Just make sure you get it checked out soon, I know firsthand how nerve-wracking it can be driving with dodgy steering! Let me know how it goes when you get yours fixed. Always good to hear how these things turn out.

Just got back from the mechanic and wanted to update everyone. You were spot on! Had almost the exact same issue, corroded wiring in the power steering module. Took them about 4 hours to fix everything, and the bill was actually pretty reasonable at 120 €. Honestly, what a difference! Took it for a test drive right after, and the steering's completely back to normal, no more fighting with the wheel or dealing with that scary shaking. The mechanic was super transparent about everything, showed me the damaged parts and explained what they were doing. Such a relief after my last bad experience with repairs. Thanks again for sharing your story, it really helped me know what to expect and gave me confidence to get it sorted quickly. The car's driving like a dream now, and I've learned my lesson about getting these things checked out sooner rather than later. Really appreciate everyone's help on this!