Its a 2006 BMW 5 series 520d E61.
Every now and then a steering lock error comes up on the dash. Its an electromechanical lock. Normally the warning (yellow steering wheel with a lock) comes up if the steering wheel wont release as you insert the key. Wiggle the wheel, all good, warning goes and car starts. A day or so ago, this symbol came up, wheel was free and car started but the warning doesnt go off.
I think, from reading around, there is an error counter in the Car Access System that has a total count of steering lock errors and at a certain number it triggers the warning I am seeing. At some point, it may turn red at which point the car wont start as an anti theft measure.
I have ordered an emulator which basically replaces the steering lock and fools the car into thinking it is working normally - you leave it in place but it does nothing.
The car is starting and stopping fine but i need to do another 500 mile trip between tomorrow and Friday and dont know if i am on borrowed time before the car locks out. The emulator is being delivered to my first destination. I dont know if it will clear the error of if i will still have to clear the error counts somehow? My diagnostic tool is a cheapie and wont do it. Am hoping a mate can borrow a snapon reader which may stand a chance.
Does anyone know more about this system and whether i am likely to end up with an immobilised car in the next few drives? It seems a bit of a lottery reading around. I am hoping that if i can get to my destination and fit the emulator, even if the fault wont clear it wont add any more to the error count and so wont lock out!
Every now and then a steering lock error comes up on the dash. Its an electromechanical lock. Normally the warning (yellow steering wheel with a lock) comes up if the steering wheel wont release as you insert the key. Wiggle the wheel, all good, warning goes and car starts. A day or so ago, this symbol came up, wheel was free and car started but the warning doesnt go off.
I think, from reading around, there is an error counter in the Car Access System that has a total count of steering lock errors and at a certain number it triggers the warning I am seeing. At some point, it may turn red at which point the car wont start as an anti theft measure.
I have ordered an emulator which basically replaces the steering lock and fools the car into thinking it is working normally - you leave it in place but it does nothing.
The car is starting and stopping fine but i need to do another 500 mile trip between tomorrow and Friday and dont know if i am on borrowed time before the car locks out. The emulator is being delivered to my first destination. I dont know if it will clear the error of if i will still have to clear the error counts somehow? My diagnostic tool is a cheapie and wont do it. Am hoping a mate can borrow a snapon reader which may stand a chance.
Does anyone know more about this system and whether i am likely to end up with an immobilised car in the next few drives? It seems a bit of a lottery reading around. I am hoping that if i can get to my destination and fit the emulator, even if the fault wont clear it wont add any more to the error count and so wont lock out!
