How do you remove the steering lock?

[bubba966]

Oh, and here's some more useful info that was in the other thread that got deleted.

http://www.bimmernut.com/forum/showt...t=38488&page=2

That's an easier way to get the ignition tumbler out of the steering lock when you replace the steering lock.

Yes, many people report that the proper way of getting the tumbler out with a stiff wire works just fine. But it didn't work at all in my car as the grease in the tumbler had gotten dirty & gummed up to the point that you could no longer release the retaining catch with the wire.

[bubba966]

Looks like I did actually get that post up yesterday. Forum wasn't showing it, yet was telling me that I posted it. Ah well, at least it's now up and can possible help out Ed or anyone else that need to pull their ignition cylinder and can't get the wire method to work.

[Bimmer Nut Ed]

Well, I didn't take the steering lock off, I took the lock cylinder off, and pulled out the broken part out of the inside and stuck that OH SO HANDY BMW screwdriver into the steering lock, along with a bic pen. This pushed down on some mechanism in side the steering lock which unlocked the wheel. I just now drove the car home, and now I can take my time to fix correctly (using the bubba procedure above to replace the steering lock). I'll take more pics when I get a chance. Thanks again guys.

[Ross]

Ed, since you have access to the security bolts now try giving them a few raps with a sharp chisel along the edge before fooling around with Dremels and such. They don't require much torque to loosen.

[Austin]

Yah I just finished changing my tumbler and steering lock housing few days ago so lemme know if y'all have any questions. I'll try and post some pics I took.

[Bimmer Nut Ed]

Funny Ross! Those bolts were torqued down so much that after I dremmeled slots in them, The screwdirver, with pliers on them, simply stripped the slot. I dremmeled the whole head off, and got the palte off. I think Arnold was working at the factory that day when this car was built! lol

Thanks Austin, next I have to get that snap ring plier. Right now, the car is local (not 2 hours away anymore) so I'm going to take my time. I have a clutch to put in wifeys Z3 first.

[Ross]

Glad you got them off anyway. When installing the new bolts you'll see how little it takes to snap the heads off.

[Austin]

Here are a few pics I took of the process. Shows tapping the bolts off holding the plate down. I used some new bolts once I reinstalled everything. Also taking off that ring the first time was a PITA. To remove the tumbler I dremeled out the housing right above the locking tab so I could easily slide it in and out while making changes to the housing. I drilled the housing and used a screw to hold the tumbler in place instead of the factory locking system. The last picture shows how I reinstalled the ring. Used the steering wheel bolt to do the work for me.

[bubba966]

Instead of cutting the steering lock apart like that to remove the ignition cylinder you can just cut a slot in the steering lock perpendicular to where you have the Dremel cutting in that pic.

Once you have a slot cut through the steering lock at that position you'll see the release tab of the ignition cylinder as it'll be a brass color. You can use a small slotted screwdriver inserted into the slot you just cut to push down the release tab on the ignition cylinder and then pull the cylinder out. Just be careful to only cut the slot in the steering lock and to not cut into the release tab on the cylinder too much.

That way you preserve the integrity of the steering lock and the ignition cylinder.

I recommend doing that to the new steering lock as well to facilitate taking out the cylinder should you ever need to again (and I took mine out a few more times before I had it all back together properly).

[bubba966]

Oh, and one other slight advantage of cutting the small slot in the steering lock to access the release tab on the ignition cylinder is that it's not going to be terribly obvious to someone trying to steal the car what the slot is for. I'm sure it could be figured out by most professional thieves, but it'd take them a bit to figure it out.