[335tim]

I had a fault code pop up the other day. (see below)

Took it in to BMW today. Got a phone call later basically saying that part of the steering column needs to be replaced at a cost of over £1000!!!!!!!

After discussion, they lowered the price to just under £800 as I know the service manager but come on, its still £800!!!!!!!!!!!!

I promptly called my indy mechanic who is a family friend who done all work on my last car (Honda S2000). He is basically a supercar and very high performance mechanic and that is pretty much all he does. Really does know his onions! He spoke to a head tech at BMW contact of his who said that usually if there is a physical fault with a column, you would feel or hear something wrong. I have not.

Now I have had a fair few experiences where main dealers have told me something needs doing and it doesnt. One such instance was when I was told by Honda that my timing chain needed to be replaced on my S2000 at a cost of around £800. I took the car to my indy mechanic who promptly discovered nothing wrong with the chain and only a chain tensioner at fault which was a fraction of the cost! Because of examples like this, I have learned not to take main dealers at their word. I mean, the car has done under 34000 miles. Should a steering column or part of it be failing at this stage? I am thinking not!

So, I told them I will be picking it up in the morning and taking it to my mechanic. He has assured me that even if what they are saying is true, he will be able to do the job a good deal cheaper. He can also get everything reprogrammed by his contacts at BMW so no worries there.

Has anyone had this warning light? I have googled it and it seems quite a common thing that can often be fixed with a software upgrade? On the other hand, has anyone had this light and had to actually replace the column as BMW suggest?

Either way, I will keep you all updated.

[davyk31]

Nearly always fixed with a software upgrade. A very well known fault which BMW should either cover under warranty or via goodwill depending on how good a customer you are to them. apply plenty of pressure but certainly try the software upgrade. Both the 3 Series I have had developed the fault.

[335tim]

Originally Posted by davyk31

Nearly always fixed with a software upgrade. A very well known fault which BMW should either cover under warranty or via goodwill depending on how good a customer you are to them. apply plenty of pressure but certainly try the software upgrade. Both the 3 Series I have had developed the fault.

I have tried the goodwill route but straight away they have said the car is too old as an 06 - even though its only done under 34k miles!

[sabato]

Well mine is going in Monday...
The light is yellow..they said if it goes red BMW say not to drive the car...as I have extended warranty its covered but ill have to pay an excess...I'm gonna try and get them to pay it...but don't fancy my chances...
Getting a bit fed up with BMW ownership...my 2 fists have beenless ball ache!

[sabato]

Originally Posted by 335tim

I have tried the goodwill route but straight away they have said the car is too old as an 06 - even though its only done under 34k miles!

Counts mine out then...It's a 55!

[m1bjr]

Interesting colour icon on the iDrive top right.
Mines a 2006 and AFAIK most recent firmware.
But I have never seen that icon before....

[davyk31]

It is something you need sorted reasonably quickly as the result can be that the lock breaks in the locked position. That makes it mega hard to get a stranded car with no steering onto a lorry and then into a workshop.

[335tim]

Picked car up from BMW this morning to take it to my Indy mechanic. No light???

Have driven it all day, still no light??

[jimmylad]

i have seen a video or a diy fix for this where it can be the motor sticking in the electric locking part & all that was needed was to take the motor out & grease certain parts & was good to go again.

I make a point of always parking with the steering wheel in the "dead straight" position to help the lock so the steering isnt hindering its operation.

Typical dealers. I hate the theivin tw4ts

[G_M_S]

I had the same problem on my 55 plate car, and in conjunction with the error messages that you are getting I also had problems with the physical key slot and I had to sometimes remove the key, lock / unlock the car reinsert the key in order to clear the fault.

Car was still under AUC warranty, so I didn't have to worry about the cost (feel for you - if you've got to pay), but is wasn't just recoding that was required part of the steering column and key slot was replaced.

Seems it was a known issue with earlier cars - with a fix, which is what annoys me about the sort of push back you're getting from your dealer (have you tried BMW UK directly?)

Remember if you do end up paying for it, you will get a 2 year warranty on the parts and labour!

[335tim]

Originally Posted by G_M_S

I had the same problem on my 55 plate car, and in conjunction with the error messages that you are getting I also had problems with the physical key slot and I had to sometimes remove the key, lock / unlock the car reinsert the key in order to clear the fault.

Car was still under AUC warranty, so I didn't have to worry about the cost (feel for you - if you've got to pay), but is wasn't just recoding that was required part of the steering column and key slot was replaced.

Seems it was a known issue with earlier cars - with a fix, which is what annoys me about the sort of push back you're getting from your dealer (have you tried BMW UK directly?)

Remember if you do end up paying for it, you will get a 2 year warranty on the parts and labour!

If the light comes back on, I wont be going to BMW. I will be going to my independent. Having spoke to his head tech contact at BMW he has been told that to replace the steering column module is only about an hours work. The recoding that needs doing is minimal and he was shocked at the amount of recoding BMW had put on the estimate.

Its just another example of dealers being stealers. I just dont trust them and am going to stay well away.

[gchild]

What year range of cars had this issue?

[m1bjr]

Yes, with EU regulation change and better data on older cars, the dealers work bank must be dwindling daily.
No wonder they keep emerging with new models - its to keep the workshop busy!

[wayne71]

Stories like these are why I have no qualms whatsoever about taking off a map and denying all knowledge of it to a dealer to get work done under warranty. It's a game they are quite prepared to play so I'm happy to join in. Hope you get it sorted op.

[335tim]

Originally Posted by wayne71

Stories like these are why I have no qualms whatsoever about taking off a map and denying all knowledge of it to a dealer to get work done under warranty. It's a game they are quite prepared to play so I'm happy to join in. Hope you get it sorted op.

Cheers Wayne. Dont blame you either mate

[M3_Dylan]

I had this exact issue after I came back from holiday. The techs the worked on it were all good friends of mine and assured me that BMW would have to replace the entire steering column no way around it. So i ended up towing the car to BMW and the quoted me $1800 but upon pick up they informed me that they covered it all for $50 under my CPO! Needless to say I got lucky and hope I never see that damn warning light again!

[335tim]

UPDATE: Still no return of the light since collecting car from BMW last week. Steering feels and sounds fine as it always did. Im not going to do a thing unless it comes back on and even then I will take it back to my indy mechanic, not BMW.

[sabato]

They are going to do a software update on mine....and charge me for the privilege!
Surely if they need to do this, it's a known fault?

[m1bjr]

I still dont know what effect the software has on this.
Its a mechanical steering lock, driven in/out by a solenoid.

Only thing is perhaps it senses current to ascertain if its begining to stick or not lock off reliably.
And they have adjusted the parameters of the fault sensing?

Anyone?

[leeadam]

whoo hoo the ole faulty steering lock issue, i had this exact same prob, car left me stranded 20 miles from home..recovery costs on top...nice. Its a very common issue just look it up on google...BUT according to the woman at BMW there is no issue with this problem being common, and its unheard of, even though its all over the web and my mate knows of it and runs a bmw specialist, but several letters to BMW to try and do a good will, were all thrown back at me saying this is not a common issue on the bmw...tough!... and dont believe everything you read on internet, so we are basically all liars making up these problems i guess.
They flatly refused to replace mine (late 2007) or even offer any good will, including the recovery expense. THANKS BMW, I’ll seriously consider before i buy another, I’ve had 5 bmws over the last 10 years. Brand Loyalty means bugger all to them.
So i forked out about 750 quid to have the job done and replace the whole thing..
so good luck.

[leeadam]

...oh and to top it off, they wanted to charge about £50 quid at the start just to run it through their computer to determine it was the faulty steering lock, even though i knew this was the problem as my mate had run it through his computer. So they wanted £50 to tell me what i already knew it was!!!!!!

[sabato]

that excuse must be drilled into them then...as the service advisor said that in 13 years of working at the service desk she has never heard of a steering lock fault aswell! and not to believe everything you hear on the net!
strange eh?
so no hope of goodwill then by the looks of it!...lucky i have a warranty then i suppose but still have to pay the excess which guts me!
at this rate im better to change my policy to the no excess...