Scary Problem - steering wheel locked while driving

[NYCMCBM3]

i called up today, i spoke to a girl and she said i dont need to make an appointment, that i should bring it in for a emergancy service inspection,im gonna take it in on friday morning, today i just drove a few miles to work today and i was very careful, but it didnt happen again

[GT3 Tim]

"very careful"???

Dude, WHY are you driving it? You are crazy!

[Sergm3]

Never heard of such stuff happening. I take turns fast and hard. I would crash me m3 and that is crary thought. Hope the dealer doesn't give you the crap that the didn't find anything .Keep us posted.

[NYCMCBM3]

Originally Posted by GT3 Tim

"very careful"???

Dude, WHY are you driving it? You are crazy!

i know im taking a risk , but its only 3 turns to my job, so its a minor risk IMO, i dont live very far from work, about 2 miles, all local roads

[Finnegan]

Bam. That's my jaw dropping and hitting the floor.

I wouldn't drive if you paid me to.

[NYCMCBM3]

i was honestly scared out my ass, i seriously saw myself slamming into that tree, good thing i reacted fast , and floored the break

[JCtx]

Originally Posted by JIO

Maybe (just guessing) the key popped out slightly and locked the steering wheel.

As I said on my post above yours, no such thing on M3s anymore.

OP, did you check your power steering fluid? If fine, you're going to have to demand a new rack even if dealer is unable to find the problem (typical). There's probably a piece of metal inside your rack that jammed the gears, and it could happen again at the worst possible time. Hopefully it'll be something obvious so dealer won't give you a hard time.

If they're smart, and due to the issue being potentially deadly, they should replace it without the typical 'must be able to duplicate' crap, send it back to Germany, and see what the heck happened. If they refuse, make the SA write your complaint so you have it in writing. If unsuccessful, I'd contact BMWNA right away. If they give you any grief, I'd file a complaint with the NHTSA and they might investigate. And it'd cost them A TON more than a freaking rack. Good luck man.

[NYCMCBM3]

^Thanks alot man, you sure know what your talking about, im gona do whatever it take to get this fixed and resolved right

[Autotuned M3]

my e90 325i did this once.. luckily i was at a stop.. i believe it had to do something with the active steering malfunctioning

[Scoobe]

Just thinking outside the box here, is it possible some road debris flew up into you're wheel well or into the linkages? Did the powersteering feel like it was still trying (making noises) or did it like as if it was in park?

[NYCMCBM3]

^ it was like it was parked, it just stuck , the road was clean as well and no noises either

[crackberry]

Originally Posted by NycE93M3

my car only has 2500 miles, only had it for 2 months , im gonna call the dealer 2morrow

not as scary as the camry accelerator pedal recall.

but glad to hear youre not hurt. it could have ended way worst like you said. count your lucky stars

[c4pet0wn]

I know this is a old link but is it the same problem you are having ?

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=224750

sorry to link to another forum but Im about to take ownership of a 2011 and want to know if I should worry about this as well.

[Chako]

Yeah they will tow you with BMW assist. Good thing you were only going 30mph. Good luck with getting this issue fixed, first time I have heard of it. Glad you were able to stop damage to the vehicle, but moreover yourself and that there were no kids playing on the road, etc.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by c4pet0wn

I know this is a old link but is it the same problem you are having ?

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=224750

sorry to link to another forum but Im about to take ownership of a 2011 and want to know if I should worry about this as well.

Wow, I've never heard of this. Scary shit. OP in that thread has a 328i (I assume E9x, but it could be an e46 I suppose), and another poster has a 335i with a similar problem. He also mentions reading about e9x 330i with this problem. Although it might not be the same exact parts, I assume the M3 hasa similar steering assembly.

[mrdenis]

On two occasions in my E46 M3 I had a similar experience: When coasting towards the end of our driveway I put car car into neutral and as the music was loud I did not notice that the engine had shut off. When I saw that traffic was clear I wanted to turn the steering wheel but it seemed jammed. Apparently without engine assistance the steering is very heavy. I slammed on the brakes, restarted the engine and things were fine then. Gave me a good scare.

So: Was your engine running at the time steering seemed locked?

[NYCMCBM3]

Originally Posted by mrdenis

On two occasions in my E46 M3 I had a similar experience: When coasting towards the end of our driveway I put car car into neutral and as the music was loud I did not notice that the engine had shut off. When I saw that traffic was clear I wanted to turn the steering wheel but it seemed jammed. Apparently without engine assistance the steering is very heavy. I slammed on the brakes, restarted the engine and things were fine then. Gave me a good scare.

So: Was your engine running at the time steering seemed locked?

yea i was driving

[mylydiamy]

OP, don't be stupid like me!!!. About 20 years ago, I had a Lincoln Town Car and I had experienced the same thing you did a few times. And just like you I was fortunate enough to avoid getting into accident. But one day i was doing about 60-65 mph and steering wheel locked while I was going through a curve. Even though I has prior experiences I couldn't turn the steering wheel and hit the concrete divider had on. The car hit the wall and did not even move and inch. No bouncing, sliding, rolling whatsoever. The front of the car including the engine was totally gone. I was not wearing a seat belt (stupid of me). But some how I was able survive with a few fracture bones and bruises. No major injury. Emergency personal spent an hour to get me out of the car. And none of them could believe that I was still conscious.

Anyway it was probably the luckiest day of my life. So DO NOT TAKE ANY CHANCE. Just tow it to the dealer and don't take it back until they fix it.

[NYCMCBM3]

wow, thats serious, i let it slide by today again since i was so busy , but im defiantly going in asap

[Dntlvet]

wow, that would shake me

[NYCMCBM3]

Originally Posted by Dntlvet

wow, that would shake me

yea i felt like i had no control of the car at all

[quackbury]

What if the next time it happens, you are unable to avoid hitting a 10 year old girl riding her bicycle? Could you live with that knowing you SHOULD have had the car fixed the first time it happened?

BTW in discovery for the civil suit, the girl's family's ambulance chaser will find this thread, and convince the jury that YOU, not BMW, was culpable, because you willfully drove the car even though you knew the steering was defective. Are you really prepared to lose everything you have, just because you were too busy at work to have the car flat-bedded to the dealer?

DON'T DRIVE THE CAR. PERIOD. If you must go the 2 miles to work before your Center fixes your M, ride your bike, take a cab, or bum a ride with that cute blonde from Accounting.

G/L