Rattling/Jingling noise coming from my steering column

[dannyt]

Im posting because I've exhausted all of my searches...

I have a noise coming from my steering column in my 2013 135i DCT, I hear it when I go over bumps- specifically rail road tracks. It sounds like nickels in plastic pill container or keys jingling. it is driving me absolutely insane. It started after I took the car to the track... oops.

Its also intermittent, sometimes it'll go quiet for a while, sometimes it jingles over any imperfection in the road. I've been doing a lot of driving in St. Louis city lately and it seems to be more common on the cratered surface of the urban roads.

I've taken apart the dash under the steering wheel and didn't see anything loose. Its also impossible to re-produce unless you're driving.

the closest thing I've found online was this- but I held the gauge cluster over bumps and it still occurred. It does not happen under the same conditions as the OP described in the thread, more like later posters. https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=630838

Any ideas fellas?

[dannyt]

------BUMP------

Im also posting some new information- I have discovered my steering lock does not function at all, its possible something is broken on that causing the noise. Anyone have experience with this?

I really dont care whether it works or not, I just hate the noise haha.

[Lester]

It sounds like you have solved it. These locks are not usually breakable. Someone must have deliberately done it, perhaps the car was stolen at one time?

Most likely the steering wheel assembly has to be taken apart, and the broken and loose parts cleaned out.

[dannyt]

After tearing apart the better part of my interior I found the source of the rattle...

It had nothing to do with the steering column, it was the pin in the fire extinguisher I installed for my track day... situated under the drivers seat. I felt monumentally stupid when I figured out thats what it was the entire time. Especially because I discovered this after tearing apart my steering column.

Thread closed, very anti-climactic.