[Z320i]

Hi guys,

Depressed yet again by my car giving me basic electronic faults
This time it was a crunching sound (clicking type) when i put the fob in to start the car but rather than starting it gave an active steering lock error and all lights went off and only that error light remained on and i couldnt do anything, jumped out of the car and locked and unlocked the car and it then started fine!
Upon some googling, i found that this was a common problem experienced by the Singapore and Malaysian owners and only way to fix it was , steering column replacement, active steering lock replacement, and software update!
Seriously questioning if i want to hold on to this car, amazing drive but constant stress of it breaking something or the other randomly!
Anyone else experience this and if they did how was it sorted?
cheers
Z

[WOPALX]

Common issue with early E9x's.

I'd suggest taking it to one of the larger BMW dealers and ask for a goodwill repair. I did this with my step mothers 325 which was a few months out of warranty. They supplied the parts gratis and we paid for labour, from memory it was $800 ish for the labor and the parts would have cost $1800.

Cheers,

S

Originally Posted by Z320i

Hi guys,

Depressed yet again by my car giving me basic electronic faults
This time it was a crunching sound (clicking type) when i put the fob in to start the car but rather than starting it gave an active steering lock error and all lights went off and only that error light remained on and i couldnt do anything, jumped out of the car and locked and unlocked the car and it then started fine!
Upon some googling, i found that this was a common problem experienced by the Singapore and Malaysian owners and only way to fix it was , steering column replacement, active steering lock replacement, and software update!
Seriously questioning if i want to hold on to this car, amazing drive but constant stress of it breaking something or the other randomly!
Anyone else experience this and if they did how was it sorted?
cheers
Z

[Z320i]

Thanks for the tip
What worries me is this going to be the last issue?
One before this was actuator in the door, and that fixed it self as i put in the 20A fuse instead of 15A, and it didnt fix striahgt away but after a couple of weeks all of a sudden it started working and has been fine ever since!
Now this steering thing happend once, and hasnt happened again, my only worry is if im far away some where and get stuck how annoying that will be..
plus my warranty ened oct/09 isnt that too far for a good will piece of work or i might still get away?

[WOPALX]

I'd give BMW a call and discuss your issue.

Any car will have post warranty repairs, it's always a jugement call how long to keep it for outside of the warrant period.

Originally Posted by Z320i

Thanks for the tip
What worries me is this going to be the last issue?
One before this was actuator in the door, and that fixed it self as i put in the 20A fuse instead of 15A, and it didnt fix striahgt away but after a couple of weeks all of a sudden it started working and has been fine ever since!
Now this steering thing happend once, and hasnt happened again, my only worry is if im far away some where and get stuck how annoying that will be..
plus my warranty ened oct/09 isnt that too far for a good will piece of work or i might still get away?

[cruvon]

Originally Posted by Z320i

Thanks for the tip
What worries me is this going to be the last issue?
One before this was actuator in the door, and that fixed it self as i put in the 20A fuse instead of 15A, and it didnt fix striahgt away but after a couple of weeks all of a sudden it started working and has been fine ever since!
Now this steering thing happend once, and hasnt happened again, my only worry is if im far away some where and get stuck how annoying that will be..
plus my warranty ened oct/09 isnt that too far for a good will piece of work or i might still get away?

Hi, I was a year out on my warranty when they replaced a faulty ABS so you should be fine

[mark325]

Fault like ABS, seatbelts and such falls under a different category as far as warranty claims go im sure. I thinks is all about saving face on safety features by repairing this stuff out of warranty.

[whyw8]

my wifes, 320 had the same problem - (also 1 year out of warranty) bmw fixed under good will - great stuff/ service