How do you remove the steering lock?

[Bimmer Nut Ed]

I've removed the plate on top of the steering column, the one with the two anti theft bolts, but now I don't know how to remove the steering lock itself. I see no way to continue the removal process. There's nothing under the plate, very weird, the plate doesn't even seem to be necessary.

This is essentially a continuation of a previous thread where you all, and especially Bubba helped diagnose a no-start condition on my Nieces 1995 525ia. I got the car started by removing the ignition switch, and manually turning it with a large slotted screw driver.

I dremeled slots in the the anitheft bolts, but they would not budge. I ended up dremelling the whole head off the bolt. The top plate is off the steering column, but the steering is still locked. So I can drive the car, but only straight.

[Bimmer Nut Ed]

Because of some weird problems with the board, and an itchy trigger finger, I accidentally blew away the previous thread where I originally asked the question. So I will add Bubba's post here as I had it saved in an Email I had sent off to my niece.

Here's bubba's post:

She shouldn't have been able to get the key out of the ignition with the shifter still in reverse. If it is actually still in reverse and she did get the key out it sounds a lot like a broken steering lock.

Though what's confusing me is the fact that the tranny lock should only be engaged while it's in park. But it could be possible that the steering lock broke while the tranny was in reverse and broke in a manner to allow the tranny lock to engage even though the tranny isn't in park.

I can't tell you for sure though as mine broke when the tranny was in park.

You can make it temporarily driveable if the steering wheel isn't locked.

You need to take the shroud off of the steering column. Disconnect the tranny lock cable off of the right hand side (it's next to the ignition cylinder) of the steering lock. You can then push the button on the end of thee cable in to disengage the tranny lock.

And then you have to take the ignition switch off of the steering lock by unscrewing the two very small slotted screws, one on each side of switch. Then you can pull it off of the steering lock and use either a large (like a #3 philips, or a larger slotted) screwdriver or even the key to put into the hole that the steering lock engages and turn the ignition switch with that.

If the car has EWS II you'll have to have the key very close to or in the ignition cylinder as the EWS II receiver is around the ignition barrel.

But if the steering wheel is locked and the steering lock is broke you won't be able to unlock the wheel until you take the steering lock off.

You can take the steering lock off and pull out the cam that locks the wheel and put the lock back on as a temporary repair. But you'd still have to pull the ignition switch & tranny locks off the steering lock and use them like I mentioned every time you wanted to start the car.

Once the steering lock is broke there's no disengaging the tranny lock or turning the ignition switch while everything is still together.

You might want to ask if the steering is locked. And does anything happen when she turns the key to the start position. If she turns it to the start position and gets no resistance, and gets no radio, no cluster, no dash lights etc. then the steering lock is broke.

Unfortunately I'm rather sure that the steering lock is broke. A new steering lock is about $150 at the dealer. And you'll need a set of snap ring pliers and a dremel tool to fix it. You'll need the dremel for the anti-tamper bolts on the top plate of the steering lock.

If buying a new steering lock is in order, make sure they get you the one for the auto tranny, and make sure any other steering column parts are for the airbag column. You might want to get a new bearing (#2 here http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...& hg=32&fg=30) and possibly a new snap ring (which'd be #5).

Steering lock is #2 here http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...& hg=32&fg=30

And the tranny lock cable is #13 in that diagram.

[Bimmer Nut Ed]

This is the realoem link:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...06&hg=32&fg=30

[Bimmer Nut Ed]

This is the realoem link:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...06&hg=32&fg=30

[dacoyote]

It's been a while.. however I think once I pulled the two antitampers out I was able to slide the entire assmebly off and pulled out the lock...

[Bimmer Nut Ed]

Oh, I assume that the steering wheel needs to come off then? right?

[dacoyote]

Oh, I assume that the steering wheel needs to come off then? right?

It's been almost 4 years... however I think I took the wheel off....

Now... as some others would attest... my way and the best way are normally not that same...

[bubba966]

Ed,

You need to pull the steering wheel off.

After that is off there's a large snap ring that needs to come off. It's #5 in this pic
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...22&hg=32&fg=30
#8 is the bolt that holds the steering wheel on.
Then you pull off the spacer (#6) to see the snap ring.

Get yourself a pair of snap ring pliers if you don't have them already. It's a bitch to get that thing off without one. And putting it back on makes pulling it off look really easy. Really wished I'd bought a pair when I did mine.

After the snap ring is off you can then pull the spacer off that's underneath it (#3). Then the steering lock just pulls off. #2 is that bearing I said you might want to replace while you've got it all apart.

#1 is that inner steering column piece I mentioned that kinda sucks itself into the steering column which then sucks the snap ring groove too far into the column to get the snap ring back on. Which is why I used the steering wheel bolt & a box end wrench to pull that center piece back out far enough to get the snap ring on.

I'm sure that with a set of snap ring pliers you can get it all back together by yourself. But when I was doing it without a set of pliers I had to have help as I couldn't hold the center column shaft out and try to force the snap ring back on the shaft at the same time. But with the pliers you should be able to hold the center shaft out far enough with one hand and quickly (because there's a shitload of force trying to pull that shaft back into the column) get the snap ring back into place with the other hand.

[bubba966]

Oh, and if you need anymore info on how to fix this PM me and I'll tell 'ya what you need to know.

Your niece's car isn't anywhere near Seattle is it? If it is I'd be happy to just fix it since I know quite well how to deal with it now...

[dternst]

http://www.bimmernut.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27696