Safety Recall: E34 5 Series Touring - Check the Steering Lock

[leicesterboy15]

I had a recall for my car this morning, I can't believe it, a recall for an 11 year old car! I'm well impressed by that!

Got the car booked in to the dealer in 4 weeks time (1st available courtesy car), but in truth if it hasn't broken by now I doubt it will although if it wasn't serious I guess they wouldn't have issued a recall.

I've added a picture of the letter below, sorry for the shakey image but my phone camera is ****, you should still be able to read it though - just.

Anyone else affected by this?

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e97/brighterbuys/IMAGE_054.jpg

[BuckNaked]

I had my steering lock fail the same way. how do they figure it is isolated to the touring?
In my case, the dealer supplied the wrong part based on the vin. They sent the lock for the auto trans which has a connection for the shifter position cable, which is deleted in the manual setup. Heads up to others with this issue.
I will be calling my local dealership to see if I have a case.


... dealer just called back. No open recalls on my car. Nothing in the system regarding a steering lock.

[Omega]

I thought this was emdemic across the entire e34 range not just the touring?

[edited]

Actually I just managed to squint and read the letter, it's the locking cam and not the barrel that they are recalling it for. The barrels tend to go on all e34's which takes out the cam when you "adjust" the barrel using a watchmakers screwdriver when trying to get the damn thing out...

Impressive that they are recalling an 11 year old car though. If it were Ford they'd be writing to breakers yards.

.

[Ross]

This is the second time I've heard of this. My dealer says no, there was something regarding a clip on the steering wheel airbag related but not the steering lock. Too bad as mine had already failed.

[Ross]

Trying to read your post I notice a recent date. Would you post the recall or campaign # please. Perhaps I'm due a refund.

[Tiger]

Can't find any data at government website... this must be a voluntary recall. However, during a search, I found this... scary...

http://nhthqnwws111.odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/docservlet/Artemis/Public/Recalls/1994/V/RC-94V219-NN.PDF

[leicesterboy15]

I've added some more pics hopefully to clear some things up but they're not much better. You should be able to get the info you need from the 3 together though! Don't take offence at me clearing my details, I not worried about anyone here, I just don't want all my car and address details on the net for all to see.

Can anyone explain what the Control Cam of the Steering lock actually is? Is there a pic on realoem? Any symptoms of failure? What does it do? Can I see / check it myself? My car is a UK auto if that makes any difference and I think the reference to Touring is just because I have one, I doubt it affects only the touring. There is no recall campaign no on the letter but it is recent, its dated Friday (29/02)!

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e97/brighterbuys/IMAGE_055.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e97/brighterbuys/IMAGE_057.jpg

[Ross]

My '89 started doing this, that's when I pulled the fuse.

[Tiger]

or fax it over to someone so he/she can scan the item into PDF that potential wagon owners can bring to BMW to request the recall service. Again... the recall # is important so the dealer can refer it when they look it up.

[Ross]

There is a potmetal piece that breaks inside these, I think that's what they refer to. No pics on realoem, only the complete assemby.This breaks the connection between the lock barrel and the pawl that locks the column as well as the switch. The key and lock barrel will turn but do nothing.
The replacement part is identical to the old one BTW. At least here in the U.S.
Would you please post the recall #? It's not visible.

[blue540]

I got one of those letters about 6 months ago. Funnily enough my car is with the dealer right now being done.

95' 540 Touring Auto

Strange that not everyone is contacted at the same time.

[mattyb]

There is no recall campaign no on the letter but it is recent, its dated Friday (29/02)!

[attack eagle]

maybe a UK thing ?
I certainly haven't heard anything from bmw...
other than the recent letter "explaining" the oil service interval lights, how to read them and how to turn them off
(drive to BMW so they can 'take care of all my service needs'... :) )

[leicesterboy15]

There is no recall campaign no on the letter but it is recent, its dated Friday (29/02)!

Exactly, there is no recall # on the letter, there are no reference numbers of any kind but it is dated 29/02/08 so it is recent. I can read out any info you need, I will use my proper camera tomorrow and get a hi res pic so you can see everything.

So they replace a part with a new one of the same!


I got one of those letters about 6 months ago. Funnily enough my car is with the dealer right now being done.

95' 540 Touring Auto

Strange that not everyone is contacted at the same time.

blue540 - will you let us know how it goes and if you find out anything?

[leicesterboy15]

There is no recall campaign no on the letter but it is recent, its dated Friday (29/02)!

Exactly, there is no recall # on the letter, there are no reference numbers of any kind but it is dated 29/02/08 so it is recent. I can read out any info you need, I will use my proper camera tomorrow and get a hi res pic so you can see everything.

So they replace a part with a new one of the same!


I got one of those letters about 6 months ago. Funnily enough my car is with the dealer right now being done.

95' 540 Touring Auto

Strange that not everyone is contacted at the same time.

blue540 - will you let us know how it goes and if you find out anything?

[Ross]

It looks like those of you in the U.K. are being taken care of while us yanks are left to twist in the wind.
Would you mind posting your service ticket after the work is done? I'm curious to see if the part replaced is what I think it is.
Thanks much,
Ross

[Bo525i]

maybe a UK thing ?
I certainly haven't heard anything from bmw...

Not a word here either..

[leicesterboy15]

heres a pic of the full letter if you can't see the others.
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e97/brighterbuys/Img_4614edited.jpg

[Ross]

Thanks. My BM dealer here claims to know nothing ( I trust the parts mngr.) so it looks like BMW U.S.A. is off the hook for now.
It also occurs to me that when I sold the touring all the receipts went with it so it would be a very hard case indeed to recover anything.
If they do recall it after all the denial I swear I'll make 'em fix my wrecked parts car too!

[bmwpower]

This is the second time I've heard of this. My dealer says no, there was something regarding a clip on the steering wheel airbag related but not the steering lock. Too bad as mine had already failed.

They should reimburse you for it. That's what most companies do, however, I don't see that clause in the letter.

I would imagine a LARGE number of people have already replaced it, so they should reimburse those that have.

[leicesterboy15]

I had the car back from the dealer yesterday after this work was carried out. The guy there said he has had a few e34s in with this recall and its not a new one, apparently they are not all called at the same time and this one has been issued for a while.

He said they would check and replace the part if necessary and when I got it back he said they had checked and decided to replace it! He said its most likely due to age rather than defect but you never know. Apparently its something to do with the steering lock housing, and it does feel much better now, the steering lock goes on much quieter and comes off much smoother but this could be just because it is new, not necessarily due to the old one having a defect. Sorry I can't explain any more, if I get a chance I will take the housing off and see if I can tell what they have replaced.

[Ross]

Did part # 32 32 1 160 278 appear on the work order?