New '07 335i

Nexus-6 · 12-30-2006, 06:19 PM

Hey guys,

I took delivery of my '07 335i this past Wednesday - love the car. Absolutely wonderful machine.

I've read that several people had the opposite issue that I'm having - that their steering columns would lock at inappropriate times or simply didn't want to unlock when it should.

My issue is that my steering simply will not lock and I'm wondering if this is something anyone else is experiencing.

I don't have active steering but do have CA - the manual states that it should lock if you eject your key after stopping the car. I've tried every combo of stopping and locking the car and I can still steer the front wheels - shut down and locked or otherwise. I've tried locking/unlocking with the key, with comfort access only - even tried having my wife lock me in the car from a distance to see if it would lock - nada.

I don't have idrive either but have looked and found nothing in the normal setup menus for turning a steering lock on or off (I know, long shot but what the hell).

This lack of a steering lock doesn't bother me too much, but the reason I am a little concerned is that if it is supposed to work, it makes me a touch nervous that if it's malfunctioning in this way that it could decide suddenly start locking at the wrong time.

Anyone else experience this on their car? Is it possible (though remarkably unlikely) that only active steering cars have a steering column lock? Did BMW decide "screw it - deactivate the lock until we figure it out for now"?

My 335i is an '07 produced during the third week of November. 200 miles on the clock as of today...

Thanks for any insight - I'm hoping this is totally normal behavior...don't want to head back in so soon for a service call.

wj4 · 12-30-2006, 06:23 PM

When in doubt, go back to the dealership and ask them. Better to be sure now, than to have it develop into a more severe problem later on the line.
Best of luck

dArNeLLi · 12-30-2006, 08:38 PM

i have a few issues with it too, it won't lock in any position i try to set it to, it really only locks close to all the way up and close to all the way down, but none in between

BK · 12-30-2006, 10:22 PM

You should hear it lock/unlock when you have CA. It's an audible "slide-lock" sound. Note it is a little different than without CA:

1 - When you turn off the car fully, the steering wheel locks when you open the driver's door.

2 - When you open the car, the steering wheel unlocks as soon as the key is inside.

Nexus-6 · 12-31-2006, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dArNeLLi

i have a few issues with it too, it won't lock in any position i try to set it to, it really only locks close to all the way up and close to all the way down, but none in between

Interesting - I tried moving it all over the place and it won't lock in any of 'em...

Dollars to donuts I have a column replaced in the next week or so. Ah well...I needed to take it back in for the alarm install anyhow sometime.

dArNeLLi · 12-31-2006, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nexus-6

Interesting - I tried moving it all over the place and it won't lock in any of 'em...

Dollars to donuts I have a column replaced in the next week or so. Ah well...I needed to take it back in for the alarm install anyhow sometime.

hmm...good idea, maybe i should have them look at my steering column also

Nexus-6 · 01-02-2007, 07:39 PM

Interesting update...

Called the dealer today and asked if they had heard of any other cars doing this and the service rep said "oops - sounds like we didn't take it out of transport mode during PDI". They were great in getting the car in and into my hands very quickly and apparently went maybe just a touch too fast.

He said it wasn't anything to worry about and easy to remedy - thought it was interesting though that they have a "transport mode" so when they are moving the cars around and on and off of ships they don't have to worry about the steering lock.

Just some FYI in case anyone else wanders into this thread in the future with a similar situation.

Nexus-6 · 01-05-2007, 11:08 PM

Another update on my issue...

I took my 335i into the dealer today and it's not the car still being in transport mode - they have not seen my problem before...it would appear that my car was born without a column lock!

Looks like they will probably be replacing the column in a few weeks...my dealer is 40 miles away and I have to go back anyhow for the alarm install and to get my plates when they arrive, so I'm gonna do it all at once. They seemed pretty confident that it was safe as is in the meantime - I'm almost wondering if my "mutant" 335i sans column lock almost isn't better off this way with some of the column issues I've heard of.

Meanwhile, 500 miles later and other than the column lock issue, the car has been flawless.

F30Toad · 01-06-2007, 12:58 AM

I realize now that I was able to turn the wheel to my E90 335 with CA while doing a wheel swap. I was checking the fit of my ASA's, making sure there was no rubbing, and the wheel turned no problem while I stood outside the car reaching in. Guess I'll have to check this out.

carjon · 01-08-2007, 01:15 PM

I thought that the governement removed the requirement for steering column locks sometime in the last year. Not that BMW would try and save money and remove something useful(dip stick), but if my memory about regulation is correct then BMW probably started making cars without.

Nexus-6 · 01-08-2007, 06:40 PM

carjon,

I wondered that too but other 335is at the dealership had working column locks (according to my salesman).

It sounds like folks with '07 335is here have working column locks as well from some of the posts above though it sounds like at least two other folks may also be sans lock.

Could someone with a recent (late November build or later) 335i confirm that they have a working column lock, just to rule this out?

Thanks!

Red335i · 01-08-2007, 06:57 PM

I was reading this thread and I ran outside to check my steering wheel and it was not locked. My baby started production on 11/6 so I guess I will be calling the service dept for a check. The car is perfect so far I have 1400 miles on it. I would hate to take it in for the steering wheel lock and then something else starts acting up. I think I will leave well enough alone.

F30Toad · 01-09-2007, 08:00 AM

My E90 is a Nov 13 production and I just went out without a key and the colum is not locked.

Kid Eh · 01-09-2007, 09:11 AM

My e92 328i does NOT lock either. This is very strange.

picus · 01-09-2007, 09:15 AM

I just checked mine because of this thread, e92 335i with CA; mine locks when I turn the car off fully (two pushes of the start/stop button) and open the door. I hear a little mechanical slide in the column and the wheel locks.

Nexus-6 · 01-09-2007, 08:20 PM

picus,

Do you happen to know the build date of your 335i?

Is it an '06 or '07?

Thanks!

picus · 01-09-2007, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nexus-6

picus,

Do you happen to know the build date of your 335i?

Is it an '06 or '07?

Thanks!

It's an '07, there are no '06 335is afaik unless you mean actual build date. It was produced in November; from the 7th to the 15th (week 47 I think?); shipped in November and arrived in December. '07 335i coupe auto with comfort access.

KevinC · 01-09-2007, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by picus

I just checked mine because of this thread, e92 335i with CA; mine locks when I turn the car off fully (two pushes of the start/stop button) and open the door. I hear a little mechanical slide in the column and the wheel locks.

+1. Jan '06 build date.

I did have a problem with mine on new year's eve. Got in to start the car at the grocery store, heard the column lock make a sort of a buzzing noise, as if the electromagnetic actuation of the column lock was trying but failing to engage.. got the column lock idiot light and the car wouldn't start. Great, figured I was stranded on NYE. Got out, locked the car, got back in, then it worked but I now have a "SERVICE" indicator every time it starts.. but no error stored. I think it might be because I'm at about 1200 miles till my first scheduled service. The column is definitely locking again. I'll have it looked at when it's in.

Kid Eh · 01-10-2007, 08:55 AM

*BUMP*

Surely someone has to know more about this issue.

Nexus-6 · 01-10-2007, 02:19 PM

Interesting - my car was built in week 48 then it appears (1 week after your car on Nov 21st).

I honestly don't miss it that much, and if I knew for certain it wasn't going to suddenly start working or screw up I'd be fine not having it. Just seems odd that that dealer knows nada and a fairly good cross section of us have no column locks.

Kid Eh · 01-10-2007, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nexus-6

Interesting - my car was built in week 48 then it appears (1 week after your car on Nov 21st).

I honestly don't miss it that much, and if I knew for certain it wasn't going to suddenly start working or screw up I'd be fine not having it. Just seems odd that that dealer knows nada and a fairly good cross section of us have no column locks.

Exactly. I called my dealer to have them look at it and they said they know nothing of it. Hard to believe. I'll find out Monday. I should make a poll to see how many people have the proper setup.

picus · 01-10-2007, 03:41 PM

Don't listen to dealers when they say "this is the first I've heard of it"; every problem I've ever had with any car ever was the "first they had ever heard of it", including my Audi's ignition coils, which like 90,000 people got recalled on... "first I ever heard of it!", my ass.

12-30-2006, 06:19 PM	#1
Nexus-6 Private First Class 10 Rep 170 Posts Drives: '07 BMW 335i Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Wherever there is hockey iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 335i [0.00]	New '07 335i - steering column won't lock Hey guys, I took delivery of my '07 335i this past Wednesday - love the car. Absolutely wonderful machine. I've read that several people had the opposite issue that I'm having - that their steering columns would lock at inappropriate times or simply didn't want to unlock when it should. My issue is that my steering simply will not lock and I'm wondering if this is something anyone else is experiencing. I don't have active steering but do have CA - the manual states that it should lock if you eject your key after stopping the car. I've tried every combo of stopping and locking the car and I can still steer the front wheels - shut down and locked or otherwise. I've tried locking/unlocking with the key, with comfort access only - even tried having my wife lock me in the car from a distance to see if it would lock - nada. I don't have idrive either but have looked and found nothing in the normal setup menus for turning a steering lock on or off (I know, long shot but what the hell). This lack of a steering lock doesn't bother me too much, but the reason I am a little concerned is that if it is supposed to work, it makes me a touch nervous that if it's malfunctioning in this way that it could decide suddenly start locking at the wrong time. Anyone else experience this on their car? Is it possible (though remarkably unlikely) that only active steering cars have a steering column lock? Did BMW decide "screw it - deactivate the lock until we figure it out for now"? My 335i is an '07 produced during the third week of November. 200 miles on the clock as of today... Thanks for any insight - I'm hoping this is totally normal behavior...don't want to head back in so soon for a service call.
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12-30-2006, 06:23 PM	#2
wj4 Major General 335 Rep 7,719 Posts Drives: E90 manual 335i Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Burbank, CA iTrader: (8)	When in doubt, go back to the dealership and ask them. Better to be sure now, than to have it develop into a more severe problem later on the line. Best of luck
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12-30-2006, 08:38 PM	#3
dArNeLLi Lieutenant 76 Rep 579 Posts Drives: 335i on ED, pickup 10/6 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (2)	i have a few issues with it too, it won't lock in any position i try to set it to, it really only locks close to all the way up and close to all the way down, but none in between
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12-30-2006, 10:22 PM	#4
BK Smiling politely 165 Rep 7,931 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Washington DC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [9.00]	You should hear it lock/unlock when you have CA. It's an audible "slide-lock" sound. Note it is a little different than without CA: 1 - When you turn off the car fully, the steering wheel locks when you open the driver's door. 2 - When you open the car, the steering wheel unlocks as soon as the key is inside. __________________ E90 330i Black Sapphire 6MT \| 991.1 C4 Platinum Silver 7MT
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01-02-2007, 07:39 PM	#7
Nexus-6 Private First Class 10 Rep 170 Posts Drives: '07 BMW 335i Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Wherever there is hockey iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 335i [0.00]	Interesting update... Called the dealer today and asked if they had heard of any other cars doing this and the service rep said "oops - sounds like we didn't take it out of transport mode during PDI". They were great in getting the car in and into my hands very quickly and apparently went maybe just a touch too fast. He said it wasn't anything to worry about and easy to remedy - thought it was interesting though that they have a "transport mode" so when they are moving the cars around and on and off of ships they don't have to worry about the steering lock. Just some FYI in case anyone else wanders into this thread in the future with a similar situation.
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01-05-2007, 11:08 PM	#8
Nexus-6 Private First Class 10 Rep 170 Posts Drives: '07 BMW 335i Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Wherever there is hockey iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 335i [0.00]	Another update on my issue... I took my 335i into the dealer today and it's not the car still being in transport mode - they have not seen my problem before...it would appear that my car was born without a column lock! Looks like they will probably be replacing the column in a few weeks...my dealer is 40 miles away and I have to go back anyhow for the alarm install and to get my plates when they arrive, so I'm gonna do it all at once. They seemed pretty confident that it was safe as is in the meantime - I'm almost wondering if my "mutant" 335i sans column lock almost isn't better off this way with some of the column issues I've heard of. Meanwhile, 500 miles later and other than the column lock issue, the car has been flawless.
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01-06-2007, 12:58 AM	#9
F30Toad Lieutenant 26 Rep 521 Posts Drives: 2019 Genesis G70 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Colorado iTrader: (0)	I realize now that I was able to turn the wheel to my E90 335 with CA while doing a wheel swap. I was checking the fit of my ASA's, making sure there was no rubbing, and the wheel turned no problem while I stood outside the car reaching in. Guess I'll have to check this out.
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01-08-2007, 01:15 PM	#10
carjon First Lieutenant 7 Rep 349 Posts Drives: 328xi Sedan Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	I thought that the governement removed the requirement for steering column locks sometime in the last year. Not that BMW would try and save money and remove something useful(dip stick), but if my memory about regulation is correct then BMW probably started making cars without. __________________ 2011 328xi black on black. Nav, connect, apps, Sirius.
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01-08-2007, 06:40 PM	#11
Nexus-6 Private First Class 10 Rep 170 Posts Drives: '07 BMW 335i Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Wherever there is hockey iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 335i [0.00]	carjon, I wondered that too but other 335is at the dealership had working column locks (according to my salesman). It sounds like folks with '07 335is here have working column locks as well from some of the posts above though it sounds like at least two other folks may also be sans lock. Could someone with a recent (late November build or later) 335i confirm that they have a working column lock, just to rule this out? Thanks!
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01-08-2007, 06:57 PM	#12
Red335i Second Lieutenant 408 Rep 206 Posts Drives: 16 f82 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New york iTrader: (0)	Me Too! I was reading this thread and I ran outside to check my steering wheel and it was not locked. My baby started production on 11/6 so I guess I will be calling the service dept for a check. The car is perfect so far I have 1400 miles on it. I would hate to take it in for the steering wheel lock and then something else starts acting up. I think I will leave well enough alone.
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01-09-2007, 08:00 AM	#13
F30Toad Lieutenant 26 Rep 521 Posts Drives: 2019 Genesis G70 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Colorado iTrader: (0)	My E90 is a Nov 13 production and I just went out without a key and the colum is not locked.
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01-09-2007, 09:11 AM	#14
Kid Eh I used to be conceited, now I'm perfect. 570 Rep 1,826 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 CS Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (1) Garage List 2018 BMW M3 CS [0.00]	My e92 328i does NOT lock either. This is very strange.
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01-09-2007, 09:15 AM	#15
picus Brigadier General 125 Rep 4,172 Posts Drives: e92 SG 335i Coupe Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Toronto, ON iTrader: (0)	I just checked mine because of this thread, e92 335i with CA; mine locks when I turn the car off fully (two pushes of the start/stop button) and open the door. I hear a little mechanical slide in the column and the wheel locks.
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01-09-2007, 08:20 PM	#16
Nexus-6 Private First Class 10 Rep 170 Posts Drives: '07 BMW 335i Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Wherever there is hockey iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 335i [0.00]	picus, Do you happen to know the build date of your 335i? Is it an '06 or '07? Thanks!
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01-10-2007, 08:55 AM	#19
Kid Eh I used to be conceited, now I'm perfect. 570 Rep 1,826 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 CS Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (1) Garage List 2018 BMW M3 CS [0.00]	BUMP Surely someone has to know more about this issue.
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01-10-2007, 02:19 PM	#20
Nexus-6 Private First Class 10 Rep 170 Posts Drives: '07 BMW 335i Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Wherever there is hockey iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 335i [0.00]	Interesting - my car was built in week 48 then it appears (1 week after your car on Nov 21st). I honestly don't miss it that much, and if I knew for certain it wasn't going to suddenly start working or screw up I'd be fine not having it. Just seems odd that that dealer knows nada and a fairly good cross section of us have no column locks.
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01-10-2007, 03:41 PM	#22
picus Brigadier General 125 Rep 4,172 Posts Drives: e92 SG 335i Coupe Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Toronto, ON iTrader: (0)	Don't listen to dealers when they say "this is the first I've heard of it"; every problem I've ever had with any car ever was the "first they had ever heard of it", including my Audi's ignition coils, which like 90,000 people got recalled on... "first I ever heard of it!", my ass.
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