BMW 8 Power Steering Failure, Symptoms & Solutions

Hi there! I had similar issues with my 2021 BMW 6 Series (I also own a BMW 3 Series). I have some experience working on cars, but mainly basic maintenance stuff. My steering started acting weird too, vibrating and getting super heavy, especially at low speeds. Took it to my regular workshop and turned out it was just a faulty connection in the power steering wiring harness. They had to replace some cables and clean the connectors. Fixed it for about 95 Euro and it's been working perfectly since then. Could you share more details about when exactly this started happening? Does it get worse when turning in a specific direction? Also, what's the mileage on your 8 Series? This info would help me understand if you're dealing with the same issue I had.

Thanks for sharing your experience! My car just hit 56460 KM and had its last service two months ago. The issue started about a week ago and seems worse when turning left. Initially thought it might be power steering fluid, but seeing that error code got me worried it could be something more serious. Really hoping it's just a wiring issue like yours and not the entire power steering unit. Just want to avoid any major repairs since the car is still fairly new.

Hey again! Thanks for those extra details about your BMW 8. You know, hearing that it started suddenly and gets worse turning left, it's sounding even more similar to what I experienced with my BMW 6. When mine acted up, it also had that left-turn issue you mentioned. The fact that yours is still pretty new with just 56460 KM actually makes me more confident it's probably an electrical gremlin like mine was, rather than a mechanical failure. These modern BMWs have pretty robust power steering systems, but they can be sensitive to electrical issues. Since you mentioned the recent service, did they do any work near the steering components? Sometimes these problems can pop up after routine maintenance if a connector wasn't fully seated or if something got knocked loose. Mine started acting weird about two weeks after an oil change, and it turned out the mechanic had accidentally disturbed some wiring while working. I'd suggest getting it checked out soon though. While mine was a simple fix, you definitely don't want to risk damaging anything by driving too long with the system not working properly. Really hope it turns out to be just wiring like mine was, way better than needing a whole new power steering unit! Let me know what you find out when you get it checked. Always curious to hear how these things turn out!

Thanks so much for the detailed follow-up! You've actually made me feel a lot better about this whole situation. Now that you mention it, they did replace my air filter during the last service, which required working in that general area. I'm going to schedule an appointment for tomorrow, you're right about not wanting to risk any further damage. Actually thinking about it, the steering did feel slightly different right after that service, but it wasn't bad enough for me to worry about until now. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. I'll definitely update you once I get it checked out. Fingers crossed it's just a loose connection like yours was! These modern cars are amazing but sometimes I miss the simplicity of older vehicles where you could easily spot what was wrong. At least the warranty should cover it if it turns out to be something major.