BMW Z3: Steering Problems & Multiple Warning Lights

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2002 BMW Z4 last summer (also owned a 3 Series before). I have some experience working on cars, mostly basic maintenance stuff. The symptoms you're describing sound exactly like what I dealt with. My tire pressure warning came on, and I noticed the steering getting heavy with vibrations. Took it to my regular workshop, and it turned out one of the tire valve sensors was faulty, triggering both the ABS and tire pressure warnings. The fix wasn't too complicated, but it cost me around 280 Euro for parts and labor. Could you share more details about when this started happening? Like, did it come on suddenly or gradually? Also, have you noticed if it gets worse at certain speeds? This info would help determine if you're dealing with the same issue I had.

Thanks for sharing your experience! Mine's at 158914 KM and just had its service last month. I notice the shaking gets really bad around highway speeds, and yeah, it definitely came on pretty suddenly, like within a couple of days. I checked the tire pressure manually and they all seem fine, so I'm thinking it might be something similar to what you experienced with the sensors. Been dealing with these symptoms for about a week now. Did your steering also feel noticeably heavier when you had this issue? The combined symptoms are making me a bit nervous to drive it too much.

Hey again! Thanks for those extra details about your Z3. You know what's interesting? When I had this issue with my Z4, I also manually checked the tire pressure and everything seemed fine, just like in your case. And yes, my steering definitely felt heavier, especially when turning at low speeds, it was kind of like doing an arm workout every time I had to park! The sudden onset and the shaking at highway speeds you're describing matches my experience exactly. In my case, though, after they replaced the faulty tire sensor, they actually found that the wheel bearing was also starting to go bad, which was contributing to the vibration. That explained why the shaking got worse at higher speeds. Since your car's at 158914 KM, it might be worth having them check the wheel bearings while they're looking at the sensors. I know it's not what you want to hear, but it's better to catch these things early. My repair ended up being a bit more expensive than initially quoted because of the bearing issue, but it was worth fixing both problems at once. I totally get being nervous about driving it, I was the same way. If you're experiencing the same thing I did, it's probably safe to drive to the workshop, just take it easy on the highway. Keep us posted on what your mechanic finds!

Wow, thanks so much for all that detailed info! That's really helpful to know about the wheel bearing issue too. You're probably right about getting everything checked while it's in the shop, might as well be thorough since these symptoms seem so similar to what you experienced. I've actually got an appointment booked for tomorrow morning, and I'll definitely ask them to inspect the wheel bearings along with the tire sensors. It makes total sense that both could be causing problems, especially given the mileage on my Z3. I was getting worried about the repair costs, but honestly, knowing that someone else has dealt with the same thing and got it fixed successfully makes me feel a lot better. I'll stick to the back roads on my way to the workshop tomorrow just to be safe. I'll definitely update the thread once I find out what's actually causing all these issues. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, it's been super helpful!