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Thread: How to disable steering wheel lock?

  1. #126
    Join Date
    May 2014
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    Florence, AZ
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    19
    My Cars
    '95 BMW 318i conv.
    '95 BMW 318i steel wheel locked up: Yesterday I drove 1/2 block away to get mail & while turning into the driveway my wheel locked up. Naturally I came here and found how to drill the hole (2nd. hole did it) and get the little spring out. Whoa! My steering wheel was no longer locked....but I still couldn't start the car! Key wouldn't turn all the way/the final click. Also I had to turn the black ring around the lock to get the key in. My husband, neighbor & I let it roll back to across the street and got a running start up our steep driveway into the garage.
    Though I haven't done a search yet but I am guessing I will have to replace my ignition lock cylinder (?) Any ideas?

  2. #127
    Join Date
    May 2014
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    Florence, AZ
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    19
    My Cars
    '95 BMW 318i conv.
    HELP PLEASE! Does anyone know what to do after spring is removed and steering wheel moves freely but key won't move to start the car???

  3. #128
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Novato, California
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    323
    My Cars
    Vette Roadster, 2800cs
    Try pushing the locking plate back up with a screwdriver to lock the steering wheel and then while holding the lock up wiggle the steering wheel lock to lock while trying to turn the key(may take a while). I've seen the ignition get locked and need pressure on the steering wheel lock to release it a couple times on these cars.
    Last edited by Nerevar; 08-13-2014 at 12:03 AM.

  4. #129
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Florence, AZ
    Posts
    19
    My Cars
    '95 BMW 318i conv.
    Thank you I will try this in the morning. I have already checked 2 sites to replace the ignition cylinder on the '95 318i. Thank heavens for the X3 or I'd be stuck in the middle of nowhere.

  5. #130
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Alabama
    Posts
    591
    My Cars
    1995 M3 Coupe
    Best thread ever!!! Fix works as described. Had issues with lock not disengaging and not allowing key to turn. Pulled spring and all is well again!
    1995 M3...Screwed

  6. #131
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    United States
    Posts
    1
    My Cars
    1997 Bmw Z3
    The steering locked on my Zed 3, im goung to try this frist thing in the morning. I will post my results

  7. #132
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Alice Springs
    Posts
    3
    My Cars
    BMW 318i
    I've got a 2000 318i with this issue, first the key was stuck but you could still start and drive it now I've got the key out and now the ignition and steering lock are stuck,,, I've drilled a number of holes looking for this F'n spring

  8. #133
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Alice Springs
    Posts
    3
    My Cars
    BMW 318i


    Any help what do do from now would be great

  9. #134
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Alice Springs
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    3
    My Cars
    BMW 318i
    Ok so I've been doing my head in and this method drilling out the spring you all talk about WILL NOT WORK on a 2000 BMW 318i

  10. #135
    Join Date
    Sep 2015
    Location
    Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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    1
    My Cars
    2004 BMW 325i M Sport
    Quote Originally Posted by PA7ON View Post
    Ok so I've been doing my head in and this method drilling out the spring you all talk about WILL NOT WORK on a 2000 BMW 318i
    Your car is a BMW E46 whereas this thread deals with BMW E36.
    You need to check out this thread instead: http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...ng-or-drilling!)

  11. #136
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    MA
    Posts
    2,706
    My Cars
    Cayman S, Golf GSW, E30
    Hey guys, I attempted this yesterday on my '97 M3 and drilled center, high, and low, but found no spring. The lock does seem to be disabled, but the car wouldn't start until I messed with the lock block piece that goes up and down to engage the lock.

    So now I can't totally trust that the car will start or that the lock will stay unlocked while driving. What does it take to take this all apart and remove the block for good?

    Think I have a spring in there somewhere? I saw a few posts mentioning a sideways spring...Thanks
    Last edited by TXBDan; 04-26-2016 at 09:22 AM.

  12. #137
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    sterling hts, michigan
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    1,507
    My Cars
    02 M3
    There is most definitely a spring in there, you may have deformed it when you were drilling.

  13. #138
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
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    MA
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    Cayman S, Golf GSW, E30
    Indeed, i found the spring. it must rest on that nub right in the middle where i first drilled. It was all mangled and smushed up to the side from drilling.

    That piece of metal flopping around does not sit well with me so i started trying to take it out.

    lock.jpg

    I ground the cover off with an angle grinder. Worked great, but i was hoping at this point it would fall out. It's very loose and floppy, but something is holding onto it up there. Maybe the tumbler in how it interfaces to the key. Any ideas?

  14. #139
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
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    MA
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    Cayman S, Golf GSW, E30
    Ah ha!, THIS is how you disable a steering wheel lock.

    Once the cover is ground off, you can drill the middle of the wiggly tilting lock part until you get it in two pieces. Then the two pieces fall out.
    lockremove2.jpg

    No more aluminum bottom part:
    lockremove1.jpg

    That steel part is the actual part that interfaces with the column to lock it. It's gotta go. Fortunately you can rotate and slide it out with some force.

    Here's the steel part:
    lockeremove4.jpg

    Here's the where the lock was. Nice and empty.
    lockremove3.jpg

    No chance of locking now! Minor weight reduction!

    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by TXBDan; 04-30-2016 at 07:01 PM.

  15. #140
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Houston, TX
    Posts
    34
    My Cars
    96 M3, 99 540i
    My steering locked at around 224,000 miles on my 96 m3. This was a very easy fix for me, essentially just drill, remove spring and clean up.
    96 M3 - Estoril Blu - h&r coilovers/springs - K&N intake - 214hp/218ftlb
    99 540i - Kashmere Biege - SP

  16. #141
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Location
    Fort Lauderdale Fl
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    1
    My Cars
    1998 BMW 323is

    thanks so much

    Thanks so much guys worked ! took me 10 min .. 2 holes drilled .. removed spring .. its free to turn and start . Craig



    Original post :

    Quote Originally Posted by CirrusSR22 View Post
    Just did it on my 318ti. So easy. I used an 11/32" bit. Thanks guys!!



  17. #142
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Springfield, IL
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    2,490
    My Cars
    '95m3(Avus)/996tt/4.8is
    Quote Originally Posted by CraigBMM View Post
    Thanks so much guys worked ! took me 10 min .. 2 holes drilled .. removed spring .. its free to turn and start . Craig

    Original post :
    Just did mine last weekend. Worked like a charm and great for coasting into the paddock spot!

  18. #143
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    1
    My Cars
    E36
    Hey so i drilled out the spring but my wheel is still locked what have i done wrong ?

  19. #144
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
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    MA
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    Cayman S, Golf GSW, E30
    Even with the spring out, its still technically possible for the wheel to lock since the mechanism is still there. It's unlikely and would take just the right bump, but possible. That's why i like my method above. The entire mechanism is removed.

  20. #145
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    washington dc
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    Avus Cosmos Calypso!
    So after drilling the hole and removing the spring, is it necessary to go back in there eventually and remove the steering lock pieces? Recommended for both street and track cars? Thanks.

    So when the steering wheel is locked, the spring is busted or lodged in sideways, or otherwise jammed in there? Proper fix is to replace spring or replace whole ignition housing?
    Last edited by scooper; 09-19-2017 at 05:23 PM.

  21. #146
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Colorado
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    1,102
    My Cars
    My E36 supercar
    Quote Originally Posted by TXBDan View Post
    Even with the spring out, its still technically possible for the wheel to lock since the mechanism is still there. It's unlikely and would take just the right bump, but possible. That's why i like my method above. The entire mechanism is removed.
    True, but after 8 years of all sorts of driving not once has the wheel locked on me. Gravity is our friend

  22. #147
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    washington dc
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    8,679
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    Avus Cosmos Calypso!
    Update: I drilled in the center portion of the rectangular area and while using a 21/64" bit, the spring popped out a bit. So I was able to grab it with my fingers. I used successively larger bits and cutting oil. Made drilling easy and accurate. Thanks to all who posted on this site. @218k miles

  23. #148
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    NJ
    Posts
    18
    My Cars
    90' M3, 97' M3/4/5,
    Has anyone fixed this issue without drilling? Replacing the actual locking mechanism? Part #2 showparts

  24. #149
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Location
    Dronfield,Derbyshire
    Posts
    1
    My Cars
    95 E36 saloon
    Drilled mine out today as i had a different but simular problem.my steering lock didnt engage when i removerd my key from ignition, so i put the key back in butwouldnt turn even one notch meaning i stranded and worst of all having to drive an audi to work and back until it is fixed ��
    anyway i drilled out the spring first time,easy peasy but i still cant turn the ignition? Key still wont turn so what do i need to do now? Anyone help?

  25. #150
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    1
    My Cars
    1995 318ti
    So, interesting day. Steering locked in my car park at work. The ignition was fine - I could happily drive backwards and forwards, just not left or right. No access to drill etc, so got a recovery guy out and got dropped as close to home as I could, bearing in mind I have no steering!

    Drilled out the spring as detailed above. The little steel plate thingy has dropped, but the steering is still locked! I'm assuming that somehow the steel rod must be stuck in the steering column. I'm going to take a hammer to it tomorrow as hope it dislodges, but has anyone else had similar? Or does anyone have any ideas other than hitting it had and hoping it falls out of the steering column?

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