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Thread: Ignition locked after car hit?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    Phoenix, AZ
    Posts
    8
    My Cars
    2001 740iL Sport

    Ignition locked after car hit?

    Hello All,

    E38 newbie owner here. Two weeks after getting my 2001 740iL Sport and getting her into solid mechanical and cosmetic shape, some knucklehead did a hit-and-run on her in the wee hours of the morning last night. I've noticed that the ignition is now locked. Is there something I need to do to unlock the ignition so I can at least get her to no longer block my neighbor's driveway?

    Also, does anyone know of a good body shop in the San Diego area that can take care of the repairs and do it right? I expect that my insurance company is going to want to write her off as a total loss. Thanks in advance for any assistance you can provide. I was getting ready to post an "I've got a new ride" thread when this happened!


    20190615_061359.jpg20190615_061350.jpg20190615_061407.jpg
    2001 BMW 740iL Sport

    Sold:
    2000 BMW 528i Sport
    2005 Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    KC North, MO, USA
    Posts
    11,153
    My Cars
    1996 740iL
    Welcome here. That is odd. Here is a link from Tim's site on the ignition barrel. Also note the info on the shift interlock at the top of the page. Has to be something mechanical. Is the 'P' light on when you get in the car?

    http://www.meeknet.co.uk/e31/Lock/E3...eplacement.htm

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    Phoenix, AZ
    Posts
    8
    My Cars
    2001 740iL Sport
    Yes. P light is on. Steering wheel and ignition barrel locked up tight. Car was hit in right rear quarter-panel and the rear end moved about a foot to the left.
    2001 BMW 740iL Sport

    Sold:
    2000 BMW 528i Sport
    2005 Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    The Motor City
    Posts
    5,719
    My Cars
    1997 750 IL
    Probably have the trans park lock pinned up tight. You could try to jack up the rear tires and set them back down to free up any load on them. Sorry man I've been hit and run twice myself with this 750.

    Did you try to pull on the wheel both ways while turning key?
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  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    KC North, MO, USA
    Posts
    11,153
    My Cars
    1996 740iL
    Seems like I've heard people rocking the car back and forth will sometimes free it up as well.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    Phoenix, AZ
    Posts
    8
    My Cars
    2001 740iL Sport
    Thanks for all the advice, guys, but unfortunately the key just doesn't want to turn. I pulled the wheel both ways, jacked the car up and put it back down on both sides, and rocked the car back and forth and from side to side. The steering wheel feels like it is just locked up tight and doesn't want to turn in any direction. The gear shift is definitely locked in P, as well.
    2001 BMW 740iL Sport

    Sold:
    2000 BMW 528i Sport
    2005 Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    Phoenix, AZ
    Posts
    8
    My Cars
    2001 740iL Sport
    We have success! Thanks for all the great suggestions, guys. I let her sit for a few hours and then gave the wheel a solid left-to-right turn and the wheel came free so I could start her up. She's now parked safely, waiting for the insurance adjuster to do their thing.
    2001 BMW 740iL Sport

    Sold:
    2000 BMW 528i Sport
    2005 Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    KC North, MO, USA
    Posts
    11,153
    My Cars
    1996 740iL
    Good work.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    80
    My Cars
    E38 740i Sport in Titan
    Good news, poor girl was just in shock ...

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Ft. Lauderdale, FL
    Posts
    5,083
    My Cars
    98 740il, 00 540i,04 ZHP
    Man that stinks. I was going to suggest lifting the whole front. The rear got hit and shifted the car in relation to the front wheels, which essentially turned the steering wheel very tight against the steering lock. Lifting only one side wouldn't let the pressure on the steering lock relieve, since the other front wheel was stuck on the ground. Anyway, glad you got it loose.

    Find a good insurance adjuster that will work with you to figure out what the car's value is and estimate what the repair costs are before you decide to have them total them out. It would have been much easier if it was just the rear bumper and didn't involve the quarter panel
    '98 740il | 9/97 build | schwarz 2 | sandbeige | 5AT | 270k
    '04 330i ZHP sedan | Mystic blue | Alcantara | 6MT | 120k
    '00 540i sport | Titanium silver | Black | 5AT | 152k
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  11. #11
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    Phoenix, AZ
    Posts
    8
    My Cars
    2001 740iL Sport
    Thanks again for all the advice. This newbie feels very welcome already. As far as insurance goes, I did exactly what you suggest and thankfully my adjuster says that the car is fixable and I won't have to deal with getting a salvage title. I'll be very glad once all the repairs are done!
    2001 BMW 740iL Sport

    Sold:
    2000 BMW 528i Sport
    2005 Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Ft. Lauderdale, FL
    Posts
    5,083
    My Cars
    98 740il, 00 540i,04 ZHP
    Wonderful news!
    '98 740il | 9/97 build | schwarz 2 | sandbeige | 5AT | 270k
    '04 330i ZHP sedan | Mystic blue | Alcantara | 6MT | 120k
    '00 540i sport | Titanium silver | Black | 5AT | 152k
    '85 Mustang GT convertible | Medium charcoal metallic | Gray | 5MT | 216k | one owner, all original

    mods: m-pars | Bilsteins & B&G springs | ValentineOne | StealthOne
    retrofits: full nav | MKIV | bluetooth TCU | BM53 w/ AUX input | video module w/ AV input & backup cam | oem sirius xm | xenon | shades | PDC | rain sensor | BMW DWS TPMS | lighted door handles | front seat heaters | heated steering wheel | euro rear fog lights | ski pass | folding mirrors


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