Do you have a higher-mileage BMW with looseness in the steering? You know—you can turn the wheel a couple of degrees before anything happens at the front tires. If so, you probably need new BMW Tie Rods. The BMW tie rods connect your steering rack to your steering knuckles, and actually transmit the motion of the steering wheel to your front wheels. So every time you turn the wheel, even slightly, you put a ton of force through your BMW tie rods.

Along with ball joints, tie rods are some of the hardest-working front end parts on your car. If your BMW tie rods are greasable (check your owner’s manual to find out), they should be lubricated at regular intervals. If they’re the permanently-lubricated type, there’s not much you can do to maintain them. Just drive and enjoy your car, and replace your BMW tie rods when the steering finally goes out of specification.