Compare BMW 1 Series steering rack repair quotes from specialist garages

Looming hundreds of feet up in Munich's skyline is BMW's headquarters, a vast and impressive building designed to look like four engine cylinders - the configuration that drove much of the brand's early success.

BMW has come a long way since 1927, when it produced its first car, the Dixi, shortly to be renamed the BMW 3/15. In 2022, it was awarded 'Best Manufacturer' at the AutoCar Britain's Best Car Awards, and the same year, it triumphed at the WhatCar? Awards, winning more accolades than any other brand. The M5 special edition, celebrating 20 years of BMW motorsport, is one of the rarest M automobiles in the world.

See how BMW's maintenance prices compare to Audi and Mercedes in this guide.

Rack and pinion steering relies on a gear set to convert the turning movement of the steering wheel into the motion required to turn the wheels. When this system is combined with power steering, the configuration changes slightly to include a cylinder with a piston in the middle.

Check out this guide for a detailed explanation of how your a car's steering system works.

The three top reasons for a steering rack repair or replacement are cracked rubber lines and hoses, loose connections, and failed seals between the steering column and rack and pinion.

Common signs of a problem include:

• Leaking power steering fluid
• Loose or inconsistent steering
• Vibrating steering wheel
• Wheels not returning to the centre
• Instability on the motorway