[Killerfish2012]

Last Wednesday I left work, and the '07 335I's electronic steering wheel lock prevented the car from starting. I tried and tired turning the wheel, to no avail. I eventually got the vehicle towed towed to the stealership. They worked on the vehicle outside, the next day, and then had to have it towed into the shop. The solution was to replace the entire steering wheel column. I just wanted to let all the high mileage guys like me with an electronic steering lock know about this. Basically, the locking mechanism will eventually fail, and leave you 100% stranded. My suggestion is to change the steering column when well north of 100K miles/8 years to prevent this. On a lighter, note the car steers more tightly now, as I continue to prepare for this track season Please see my attached billing invoice for the part number.

[Jeef]

What's your mileage?

[Killerfish2012]

Originally Posted by Jeef

What's your mileage?

It's on the invoice: 115K approx.

[BMW_drei]

Any warning signs at all leading up to it?

[X5-User]

This is a common problrm in 06 and 07 models. I haven't heard any issue in 08+ models.

[Killerfish2012]

Originally Posted by BMW_drei

Any warning signs at all leading up to it?

None whatsoever.

[Killerfish2012]

Originally Posted by Palestine

This is a common problrm in 06 and 07 models. I haven't heard any issue in 08+ models.

Sorry buddy, but Stealership techs have replaced it in 08+ models. It's the exact same locking mechanism for all cars. It locks and unlocks every single time you get in the car, so 10s of thousands of times in it's life span. Only thing you can do is take it apart at 50K miles, and grease it up, but even that is no guarantee against failure.

I want this thread to inform people, and not get derailed into some type of defense of BMW reliability.

[X5-User]

Sorry to tell you the the tech who told you that is just misleading you. It is VERY common problem in 07 models not 08+ models. Please do a search on this before stating facts that tech told you.

[Jeef]

Originally Posted by Killerfish2012

It's on the invoice: 115K approx.

Sorry on app can't see it. Many 3's are over 115k and not everyone has had this problem.

[Killerfish2012]

Originally Posted by Palestine

Sorry to tell you the the tech who told you that is just misleading you. It is VERY common problem in 07 models not 08+ models. Please do a search on this before stating facts that tech told you.

Again, I don't need this line of rhetoric. I meant to state that I didn't want any trolling from the onset but forgot about it. I saw with my very own eyes an '09 in for this exact same issue. Not sure how they resolved his, but I'm not kidding around. The point of this thread is to inform people, not defend BMW reliability. If you want to discuss reliability with me, we can start another thread where i can list for you the myriad of other problems that plague this platform.

[Bluesun]

I honestly don't even know what this is, or if my car has it. Reading these forums tends to make me paranoid about my car leaving me stranded. Thankfully everything that's gone wrong with it thus far was under warranty, but the warranty ran out last year.

Is there a poll or something somewhere where people can list the problems they've had, so we can try to get some statistics on what fails for most people?

[Killerfish2012]

Originally Posted by Bluesun

I honestly don't even know what this is, or if my car has it. Reading these forums tends to make me paranoid about my car leaving me stranded. Thankfully everything that's gone wrong with it thus far was under warranty, but the warranty ran out last year.

Get into your car, and insert the key fob into the slot, or just push start. You should hear a click coming from the steering wheel.

Originally Posted by Bluesun

Is there a poll or something somewhere where people can list the problems they've had, so we can try to get some statistics on what fails for most people?

The forum is not a reliable source for statical figures. The car has been faily reliable, however the water pump after 75K miles, and the electric steering wheel lock after 100k are ones to watch out for.

[Dustz]

This has happened to me before, but it just unlocked itself after about 2 hours of me trying to fiddle with it. and yeah i was pretty far from home at the time so lucky me. Hasn't happened since.

[16M4]

This happened to me a couple of days ago. Luckily, I just took the key out and inserted back in and it worked

[surrey 335i]

im on 190,000 miles and not had this problem yet.
can this be replaced using 2nd hand parts what is the actual part that fails?

[C.Pop]

Another good case to have AAA or some sort of towing/etc coverage.

[Greatdane84]

Originally Posted by C.Pop

Another good case to have AAA or some sort of towing/etc coverage.

+1 just got my AAA knowing one day my water pump will fail and that tow will come in handy lol

[JesseJames]

How much did this cost?im on 193k..

[unjukeable]

Originally Posted by Greatdane84

+1 just got my AAA knowing one day my water pump will fail and that tow will come in handy lol

I got AAA when my water pump failed.... wish i had it sooner though i had to tow it 40miles and only had the first 5 covered ...

i'm not near 100k but hoping i dont ever have to deal with this.