2001 BMW 740I User Comment / Complaint

Driving on the interstate, clear weather, average traffic, and during a lane change there was an unusual feel to the steering response. i slowed and moved to the left, shimmied the car gently side-side. maybe a tire losing pressure, i thought. i tool the first exit, got out and found no obvious problem. i started out again but as i turned back to go straight, the steering wheel did not align with its usual 'straight' position. i parked it and called for a tow. again nothing obvious until we lowered the car off the flatbed. the left rear tire turned with the front edge in towards the center of the car and the outside edge turned out. the tire lightly rubbed the inside vendor liner. the mechanic found the tie rod bolt sheared in half with the nut side missing and the head side laying on top of the lower control arm! no damage to the tie rod ends indicates no loosening prior to the failure. by sheer blessings, the stub of the bolt held the tie rod in place while i was driving at interstate speeds! that result would have been catastrophic if the tie rod had totally freed as speed, especially during rush hour. this part had never been serviced during my ownership or according to service records held by bmw. i enter this just in case this problem turns out to be more widespread than i believe it to be. i am lucky- for $150 and towing, my car is good. this failure could not have been found prior to parts breaking. the bolt sheared fairly cleanly.