BMW X3 Heavy Steering & Vibration, Power Unit Issues

Hey there! Had the exact same issue with my 2006 BMW X5 last summer. The symptoms match perfectly, heavy steering, vibrations, and that mushy feel. Turned out the power steering control module had a bad connection, and there was corrosion on the plug pins. The fix wasn't actually too complex, they cleaned the connections, replaced the damaged pins, and reseated the module properly. The mechanic showed me the corroded parts, and it was pretty obvious why the system was acting up. It wasn't a major repair, but it definitely needed proper diagnosis because these symptoms can point to other issues too. For what it's worth, I'd get it checked soon. My mistake was driving it like that for a couple weeks, which could've led to bigger problems. The error code is definitely your power steering system crying for help. Best of luck with the repair!

Thanks so much for sharing your experience! That's really helpful info. My symptoms do sound exactly like what you dealt with. Knowing it might just be the control module and connections gives me some hope it won't be a complete wallet-killer. Do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the fix? Also, has everything been working smoothly since the repair, or have you noticed any other steering-related issues pop up?

Happy to give you a quick update! Got the car fixed last week, and guess what, it was exactly what I suspected. Just like my previous repair, it was indeed a faulty connection issue. The mechanic found a damaged cable and some corroded plug connections in the power steering system. Total bill came to 95 € for fixing the cable and cleaning/repairing the connections. Pretty reasonable, if you ask me! The steering's working like a charm now, no more heavy wheel, no vibrations, and that annoying spongy feeling is completely gone. It's honestly driving like new again. Since the repair, I haven't had a single issue with the steering. The error code's gone too, which is always a good sign. Looking back, I'm really glad I got it sorted quickly before it could cause any bigger problems. Let me know how you get on with yours! These BMWs are great cars when everything's working as it should. Take care.

Hey all! Just wanted to update everyone on my BMW X3 situation. Finally got it checked out today, and I'm relieved! Turns out Tom was spot on about the power steering issue. The mechanic I found actually took the time to show me what was wrong, some corroded connections and a worn cable in the steering system. The whole repair took about two hours and cost around 120 bucks. Way less than I was worried about! The steering's back to normal now, no more wrestling with the wheel or dealing with those weird vibrations. Car drives smooth as butter again. Thanks everyone for the advice, especially Tom. Really helped me feel more confident about getting it fixed instead of putting it off. Sometimes these car issues seem scarier than they actually are!