Table 1 shows two common steering related problems of the 2003 BMW 540.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Steering Is Loose problems | |
| Power Steering Pump problems |
Driving home one evening, I noticed a binding feeling being transmitted through the drive-train, drive-ability did not seem too affected, other than the odd bind being felt. The next morning upon start-up, the car began making a loud, rpm sensitive whining noise. I shut the car off and drove one of my others. When I opened the hood it was obvious that the serpentine belt was not aligned correctly. Through further observation, it was clear that the power steering pump mounts were broken. The broken mounts caused the pump to push forward and not be aligned. The belt was being chewed up in the process. While removing the pump I noticed that the bolts holding it in place were loose. These loose bolts were alarming and could have resulted in the power steering pump loosening even further cause the belt to jump. In my opinion, it is completely unacceptable for this to have happened. The fact that a molded piece of aluminum would fracture and break is alarming, and the loose bolts is even worse. It is very possible that the belt could have jumped (has happened to fellow 540i drivers) which would have resulted in no power steering.
Started the car and began to drive out of driveway when I heard a noise in the engine. Shut down engine and popped the hood- found drive belt shredded because power steering pump snapped and let loose into tension pulley- luckily I was not at speed and belt did not fail- otherwise catastrophic engine failure would occur along with loss of power steering.