Yellow Steering Lock Warning Light

[johnny12]

Hey guys,

I was doing a few bits in my garage and my 3 year old son was sitting in the car (E87, 2006, 130i) putting the key in and out (so the steering lock activating / locking as he was putting the key in and out) / pretending to drive / turning the steering wheel etc.

When I sat in the car a few mins later the yellow steering wheel warning lamp was on. When I put the key in, I can still hear the steering lock activating and it still locks when I turn the car off but the yellow warning symbol is still showing up. I'm dreading that he's damaged the steering lock and it will eventually turn red and strand me.

What are the odds that it's just a warning light showing up and a reset will sort it?

Apparently Bmw will say "needs a new column" but there's been a few places showing that taking it apart and cleaning it / putting an emulator on works too. Has anyone any experience with either?

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=483387

http://www.ecuvonix.com/steering-loc...ml?language=en

Anyone know if the emulator would work on the pre-LCI model as I think the later models did away with the electronic steering lock?

Any help would be great.

Cheers

[johnny12]

Also - it it possible to code a second hand column to the car or does it need to be a new one if that's the extreme solution?

[mr.fabulous]

I realize this isn't helpful, but I thought I'd chime in to say my pre-LCI '11 does not have a steering lock (and I do not miss it)

[johnny12]

Was your steering lock changed under warranty to the later type or something? Thanks.

[Downeaster1]

BMW Tech here; you're going to need a new steering column; sorry for the bad news. Very common on both these and the early E90's. Prob just a coincidence about timing though. You can't really damage the locking unit from playing with the wheel/key.

[johnny12]

Thanks for the reply - have you ever heard of the emulator that I posted in the first post? Seems to be a way to completely bypass the steering lock and seems a pretty cheap fix.

[mr.fabulous]

Originally Posted by johnny12

Was your steering lock changed under warranty to the later type or something? Thanks.

I'm assuming you're asking me? I am not the original owner, but I have BMW service records and there is no mention of a column recall.

[Downeaster1]

I've personally never heard of it, but it looks pretty straight forward and should work? I have no experience with it though.

[johnny12]

Yea, I've ordered one anyway, will see how it goes.

[Downeaster1]

Originally Posted by johnny12

Yea, I've ordered one anyway, will see how it goes.

Keep me posted, I'm curious how it'll work.

[johnny12]

I rang a few independent Bmw specialists to suss out how much I was going to get bent over for a new column and it wasn't good. I was quoted $1800 from a local independent specialist. When I picked myself up from the floor I needed another solution as $1800 was a joke / horrible nightmare.

With the E87 / E90 column you can't buy a new electronic lock part so you have to buy a new column - a $1200 part from Bmw and the independent was quoting me 5 hours to change the column and then the column needed coding to the car. I asked if a second hand column would do the reply was "no it's coded to the car with specific VIN etc" With the smell of suspected bullshit still strong in my nostrils, I rang a mate of mine Sam who's a Bmw technician - he was a bit shocked when I told him what I was quoted. He said Bmw themselves allow about 1.25 hours to change the column and the only coding needed was the proper software to clear the CAS module and the ELV internal counter reset. As I was sussing out any other options I came across an emulator (a chip) for E90 models. Basically you take the loom out from the steering column, plug this emulator in and it fools the ECU into thinking that everything is ok with the column and you never have a steering column fault again. So I ordered one which was around 90 euro (about $150) + delivery from the UK, popped it in and all good - job done and a hell of alot cheaper than $1800. It was pretty good to fix, it still needed a CAS and ELV reset but after that it was all good again.

Can be ordered from here:
http://www.ecuvonix.com/steering-lock-p-646.html

or here:

http://www.tek-tronics.co.uk/product...roducts_id=185

[Downeaster1]

To be honest, I wasn't aware such a product existed. This is exciting for the early E82/E90 guys. I'm a service advisor now (former factory master tech), and I'll try to use these more often.

[johnny12]

Yes, I was delighted to have found a much more cost effective solution to the problem.

[Mr Gasser]

I had an older 95 318ti that I had to drill out the mechanism that was locking my steering wheel...later found out it was an autocross requirement for obvious safety reasons.

[doublevanosrc]

Originally Posted by mr.fabulous

I realize this isn't helpful, but I thought I'd chime in to say my pre-LCI '11 does not have a steering lock (and I do not miss it)

So which E82s have this so called "steering lock"??

[Downeaster1]

Originally Posted by doublevanosrc

So which E82s have this so called "steering lock"??

07's and 08's (production year).

[doublevanosrc]

Originally Posted by Downeaster1

07's and 08's (production year).

Ah I see.

Highly appreciated.

[berne]

Originally Posted by johnny12

I rang a few independent Bmw specialists to suss out how much I was going to get bent over for a new column and it wasn't good. I was quoted $1800 from a local independent specialist. When I picked myself up from the floor I needed another solution as $1800 was a joke / horrible nightmare.

With the E87 / E90 column you can't buy a new electronic lock part so you have to buy a new column - a $1200 part from Bmw and the independent was quoting me 5 hours to change the column and then the column needed coding to the car. I asked if a second hand column would do the reply was "no it's coded to the car with specific VIN etc" With the smell of suspected bullshit still strong in my nostrils, I rang a mate of mine Sam who's a Bmw technician - he was a bit shocked when I told him what I was quoted. He said Bmw themselves allow about 1.25 hours to change the column and the only coding needed was the proper software to clear the CAS module and the ELV internal counter reset. As I was sussing out any other options I came across an emulator (a chip) for E90 models. Basically you take the loom out from the steering column, plug this emulator in and it fools the ECU into thinking that everything is ok with the column and you never have a steering column fault again. So I ordered one which was around 90 euro (about $150) + delivery from the UK, popped it in and all good - job done and a hell of alot cheaper than $1800. It was pretty good to fix, it still needed a CAS and ELV reset but after that it was all good again.

Can be ordered from here:
http://www.ecuvonix.com/steering-lock-p-646.html

or here:

http://www.tek-tronics.co.uk/product...roducts_id=185

holde oure horses

i have a bmw E82.. i yesterday i got the same.
At first I could get the steering wheel lock to releas at all, so i toke the battery of. and waited a 30min. After it i can start the car, no problem. but i got the symbol after a went for i drive.

Talkt to bmw they want 1*446dollar do make the change.

Did this solve u problem? do nu need any conding or just plug and play?

[johnny12]

Originally Posted by berne

holde oure horses

i have a bmw E82.. i yesterday i got the same.
At first I could get the steering wheel lock to releas at all, so i toke the battery of. and waited a 30min. After it i can start the car, no problem. but i got the symbol after a went for i drive.

Talkt to bmw they want 1*446dollar do make the change.

Did this solve u problem? do nu need any conding or just plug and play?

It will work by just plug and play but you will need to get the internal counts reset by BMW software to reset the CAS / ELV. Cheaper software apparently can't do this.

[berne]

Originally Posted by johnny12

It will work by just plug and play but you will need to get the internal counts reset by BMW software to reset the CAS / ELV. Cheaper software apparently can't do this.

i need to get the stereen whell lock, to be unlockt:S have no ide how to fix it,
if i put the battery of, and then trying to start. i get the yhellow logo
i have carely but cant coonect it, i cant get to "stage 2" in the igninont

and i asume i need to get the look away before it makes ant diffrent using hte chip?

any ides how to solve it ?

[dojk]

Question,
If the new replacement steering column does not have the steering lock mechanism, are we not just buying what we already have in the car MINUS the steering lock mechanism? So can we just remove that locking mechanism and code the car to think we have actually replaced a mechanical part which was not faulty in the first place?