BMW X5 Power Steering Failure, Seeking Solutions

Hey there! I had a somewhat similar issue with my 2020 BMW X3 last year. The symptoms you're describing sound exactly like what I experienced, really heavy steering and that scary wheel shake. Turned out it was just a faulty connection in the power steering wiring harness. My mechanic found a loose cable connection that was causing intermittent power steering failures. The fix was pretty straightforward, they replaced the damaged connector and secured all cables properly. Cost me around 95 Euro for the whole job. To help you better, could you share: Does the steering get heavier at lower speeds? Did the issue start suddenly or gradually? Any other warning lights on the dash besides the power steering one? Since you have a newer X5, the system might be slightly different from my X3, but these electrical gremlins tend to be similar across models.

Thanks for sharing your experience! Mine's at 29491 KM and had its last service just two months ago. The steering definitely gets much heavier at parking speeds, and it started pretty suddenly during a regular drive. No other warning lights except the power steering one. Really hoping it's just a wiring issue like yours, that repair cost sounds way better than what I was fearing! Did your mechanic mention if this is a common problem with newer BMWs? I'm going to get it checked tomorrow, but it's good to have an idea of what to expect.

Hey again! Yes, when my mechanic worked on my X3, he actually mentioned seeing similar issues in quite a few newer BMWs. From what I learned after my experience, these electrical connection problems are more common than you'd think in modern cars with all their complex electronics. In my case, the sudden onset and the symptoms being worse at low speeds were exactly the same as what you're describing. Given that your X5 is even newer than my X3 was when this happened, and with similar mileage too, I'd bet you're looking at the same kind of electrical gremlin. Quick tip, when my mechanic diagnosed it, he actually showed me how the connection had worked loose over time from normal driving vibrations. Make sure they check all the connection points thoroughly, not just the obvious ones. Mine initially looked fine until they really got in there and tested each connection point. The repair was surprisingly quick once they identified the exact spot, took about an hour and a half total. Just get them to double-check all the connections while they're in there. Better to catch any potential issues now than have to go back later. Let me know how it goes tomorrow! I'm really curious if it turns out to be the same issue.

Thanks so much for all the detailed info! It's actually really reassuring to hear this might just be a relatively simple electrical issue. I'll definitely mention the connection points to my mechanic tomorrow and ask them to do a thorough check of all the wiring. The fact that your repair was quick and affordable gives me hope, I was honestly dreading some massive steering rack replacement! It's interesting that these issues are somewhat common in newer BMWs. Kind of surprising for such premium cars, but I guess with all the advanced tech these days, there's bound to be some quirks. I'll update the thread tomorrow after the mechanic takes a look. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and all those helpful tips. Fingers crossed it's as straightforward as yours was!