BMW 530i xDrive Steering wheel feels loose Inspection at your home or office.

Our certified mobile mechanics come to you 7 days a week between 7 AM and 9 PM.

Estimate price near me

Service Location

Customer Ratings

(6,828)

How A Diagnostic Works

Instantly book a certified mobile mechanic to come to you

Mechanic diagnoses the problem and quotes necessary repairs

Your vehicle is ready to go

Fair, upfront & transparent pricing for all services

Our certified mobile mechanics can come to you now.

Customer Ratings

(6,828)

Steering wheel feels loose Inspection Service

How much does a Steering wheel feels loose Inspection cost?

On average, the cost for a BMW 530i xDrive Steering wheel feels loose Inspection is $95 with $0 for parts and $95 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

CarServiceEstimateShop/Dealer Price
2022 BMW 530i xDriveL4-2.0L TurboService typeSteering wheel feels loose InspectionEstimate$114.99Shop/Dealer Price$124.99 - $132.49
2018 BMW 530i xDriveL4-2.0L TurboService typeSteering wheel feels loose InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
2019 BMW 530i xDriveL4-2.0L TurboService typeSteering wheel feels loose InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
2017 BMW 530i xDriveL4-2.0L TurboService typeSteering wheel feels loose InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$104.99 - $112.48
2021 BMW 530i xDriveL4-2.0L TurboService typeSteering wheel feels loose InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.02 - $112.55
2020 BMW 530i xDriveL4-2.0L TurboService typeSteering wheel feels loose InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
Show example BMW 530i xDrive Steering wheel feels loose Inspection prices

A steering wheel that feels loose or has “play” in it prevents the driver form getting an accurate interpretation of how the wheels are turned. Any steering setup where you can move the wheel more than one to one and a half inches without moving the wheels is too lose and may have an issue. When the steering wheel feels loose it can be difficult from drivers to accurately know the position of the front wheels. This lack of responsiveness can be dangerous for drivers, especially in heavy traffic or winding roads.

How this system works:

The majority of modern vehicles use two different kinds of steering setup to help control the movement of the car. Rack and pinion steering is typically used on cars, small trucks and SUVs, while recirculating-ball steering is used on large SUVs and trucks. The similarities and differences in the two systems begin to manifest themselves when components fail, causing the steering wheel to feel loose.

Common reasons for this to happen:

  • Worn Tie Rods: Tie rods serve as the driver’s connection between the steering unit and the tires. Tie rods are present in both rack and pinion and recirculating ball setups. If tie rod ends become worn, they may cause the steering wheel to feel loose. A vehicle with worn tie rods may also squeak as the steering wheel is turned and be out of alignment.

  • Worn Pitman Arm: A pitman arm is only present in vehicles with recirculating-ball steering. The pitman arm connects a gear attached to the steering wheel to the steering rack itself. When the pitman arm becomes worn or the teeth in the gear connecting the pitman arm begin to slip, it can cause the steering wheel to feel loose.

  • Worn Ball Joint: Ball joints connect the vehicle’s wheel hubs to the rest of the suspension components. Depending on the vehicle, one or two ball joints per wheel and may or may not be load bearing. A ball joint that is worn may cause the steering to feel loose and may also create a banging sound, especially when going over bumps.

What to expect:

A top-rated mobile mechanic will come to your home or office to determine the reason for the loose-feeling steering. The mechanic will then provide a detailed inspection report outlining the reason for the loose steering and the cost of any repairs that need to be made.

How it's done:

When the mechanic arrives, he or she will first lift the vehicle and remove the wheels so that they can better access the suspension and steering components. From here, the mechanic will be able to assess the reason why the steering has become loose.

If the mechanic suspects that worn tie rods may be the issue, he or she will inspect the tie rod for superficial damage. If the tie rod end had become worn or loose, the mechanic will remove it and replace it with a new one. The mechanic will also ensure after installation, that the new tie rod end is properly lubricated.

If the mechanic believes that the pitman arm has become worn, he or she will remove the pitman arm from the track bar and replace it with a new pitman arm. The mechanic should ensure that the new part is properly tightened.

If the mechanic suspects worn ball joints, he or she will remove the control arm(s) in order to access the faulty ball joint. He or she will then remove the old ball joint and replace it with a new one. The mechanic should also ensure that the new ball joint is properly lubricated in order to ensure longer life.

In the case of all repairs the mechanic will make sure that all the new parts have been installed correctly and are properly lubricated. In order to ensure that the steering is working properly, the mechanic may test drive the vehicle to check for excess play.

How important is this service?

A steering wheel that feels loose may not be giving an accurate indication of the front wheel’s position. Loose-feeling steering may also indicate that a problem has occurred with the steering unit or suspension. If you notice that the steering does not seem to be as responsive, you should stop driving the vehicle and have it inspected by a mechanic.

Fast and easy service at your home or office

Backed by 12-month, 12.000-mile guarantee


Meet some of our expert BMW mechanics

Real customer reviews from BMW owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(6,828)

Rating Summary
6,369
206
60
45
148
6,369
206
60
45
148

James

31 years of experience
705 reviews
James
31 years of experience
BMW 530i xDrive L4-2.0L Turbo - Oil Change - Brea, California
Great Service

Mark

11 years of experience
349 reviews
Mark
11 years of experience
BMW 323i L6-2.5L - Brake light is not working - Newark, California
He is awesome! We will move our schedule around just so only Mark works on our car!

Christopher

18 years of experience
14 reviews
Christopher
18 years of experience
BMW X1 L4-2.0L Turbo - Initial Safety Inspection - Humble, Texas
Christopher was great!!! He was knowledgeable and professional. I’m so glad I booked!

Mike

26 years of experience
181 reviews
Mike
26 years of experience
BMW 528i xDrive L4-2.0L Turbo - Brake Pads Replacement (Rear) - Farmington, Michigan
Mike is friendly, personable and competent

Excellent Rating

(6,828)

Rating Summary
6,369
206
60
45
148
6,369
206
60
45
148
Number of BMW services completed
75108+
services done by our mechanics
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXPERT BMW MECHANICS
1100+
experts on our platform

Recent articles & questions

What Are Toggle Switches and How Are They Used in Cars?
When When you operate any function inside your car, you are using a switch in some fashion. There are rocker switches, push buttons, lever switches, and toggle switches, among many styles. All have different appearances and while some operate in...
3 Essential Things to Know About Your Car’s Turn Signal
The turn signal on your vehicle is mounted on the front and back of the vehicle, on both the...
How to Replace an Air Diverter Valve
Car air diverter valves add clean air from the air pump to the emissions system to push out pollutants. Air valves are critical for car performance.

Car clicking when starting

Hi there. This sounds to me as like an issue in your anti-theft system. When your vehicle has its battery changed, the power is reset. This commonly triggers the anti-theft system which tell your computer to lock up. Have a...

New Fuel Pump in June. Gas Gauge didn't work after. November to present will not kick over, sounds like will but won't.

Hello, thank you for writing in. The battery being 4-5 years old is at an age where it may start to fail. When it comes to a no-start situation, this is the first place you want to start. Have the...

Installing an aftermarket [starter](/topics-starter-ford/) I accidentally cut an obd wire, can I splice a new wire in to fix it?

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (844) 997-3624 · hi@yourmechanic.com