Help! What is this?

[cawimmer430]

This morning when I started the 118i this symbol appeared and the car wouldn't start at first try. When I attempted to start the engine a second time it started and the symbol went away. Just to be sure, I turned off the engine and this symbol appeared again. Engine started without a problem though but the symbol keeps appearing when I turn the engine off.

What's wrong? Couldn't find this symbol in the instruction manual (which doesn't even tell me which oil my 1er needs!).

I recently had an ignition coil fail at a mere 32,000 km that was replaced by BMW's Mobile Service.

Link: BMW left me stranded!

^By the way, when I say "POS" in that thread I am being SARCASTIC because those guys there just listen to the crap from Consumer Reports!^

 

[Deleted member 1071]

Störung der Wegfahrsperre-Steuerelektronik oder elek. Lenkradschloss ??

I have never seen an indicator like the one you have posted above.

Am Besten Fehlerspeicher beim BMW-Händler auslesen lassen.

Good Luck anyway !

 

[Sayyaaf]

a frog in a damn ice cube. guys please upload your images on another host. Imageshack started to be funny

 

[DeDe]

a frog in a damn ice cube. guys please upload your images on another host. Imageshack started to be funny

I still can see all imageshack-pictures (with Firefox).

 

[Sayyaaf]

I use firefox too.

 

[Michael]

Isn't that the security key indicator? Saying that there is something wrong with the security chip in the key when communicating with the car? In other words, I think this light comes on when people repo cars and the car only moves for 15 seconds, then shuts down, and then has to be restarted and this indicator says that the way the car is being started is not with the original key.

 

[south]

That's a steering wheel lock error. Sometimes it wouldn't unlock the electronic steering wheel lock correctly (rather common issue). Bring the car to your dealer if this happens again, they might repair it for free.


Best regards,
south

 

[Pekka]

This issue stills exists??? Years ago, I the same issue with my 3er.

More info >> Read me

 

[Beemer B773ER]

Isn't the E87 1er based on the E46 3er architecture/electronics ? If so, that could be a reason why this common issue still persists.

Then again, I did some quick searching and even some E90 3er owners are having this problem.

 

[cawimmer430]

Störung der Wegfahrsperre-Steuerelektronik oder elek. Lenkradschloss ??

I have never seen an indicator like the one you have posted above.

Am Besten Fehlerspeicher beim BMW-Händler auslesen lassen.

Good Luck anyway !

Ah, I don't want to call BMW again and have 'em come all the way over. And I don't want to visit a BMW dealership since I'm a little busy right now and can't afford to go out of my way.

If that's the issue I think I can have the BMW dealer in Mühldorf look it over when I head there on Monday.

 

[cawimmer430]

Thank you all for the responses and help!

I'm going to have the issue checked out on Monday. I probably won't be using the car for the remainder of this week and the weekend because I'm so busy with things. Ah, the hectics of modern life!

 

[Nikos120i]

Rather common issue amongst 3er and 1er.

It's the steering column lock.

There are two ways to cure this:
1. A rather expensive, new steering column
2. A software update that seems to cure it

Try the second one, and don't let the dealer rip you off.

Also, some times it unlocks if you move the steering wheel about.

 

[cawimmer430]

UPDATE!

So I was at the BMW dealership in Mühldorf today. The diagnosis? Potentially dangerous steering system failure. Holy sheet! I drove the car on the Autobahn today at 200 km/h and they're telling me the steering system could have failed at any moment? DAMN!!! The car is gone for a week and I am using the Mercedes E350 CGI (yay!!!) for this week! Expect a review.

And a few hours ago I get a call from my dad who informs me that BMW called and the whole steering system will need to be replaced since this is "one component" according to BMW. We're hoping that BMW will pay most of these costs, because this is going to get pricey! Replacing an entire steering system!?

 

[Sayyaaf]

They should replace it for free, I would fight for it. This is a life risk here, not a window power system or wipers. This is as bad as those Toyota sticky pedals

 

[Giannis]

UPDATE!

So I was at the BMW dealership in Mühldorf today. The diagnosis? Potentially dangerous steering system failure. Holy sheet! I drove the car on the Autobahn today at 200 km/h and they're telling me the steering system could have failed at any moment? DAMN!!! The car is gone for a week and I am using the Mercedes E350 CGI (yay!!!) for this week! Expect a review.

And a few hours ago I get a call from my dad who informs me that BMW called and the whole steering system will need to be replaced since this is "one component" according to BMW. We're hoping that BMW will pay most of these costs, because this is going to get pricey! Replacing an entire steering system!?

This is getting interesting. So, I have a few questions:

1) No replacement car?
2) Is your car still under warranty?
3) The most important thing: When that light appeared on the dashboard of your car (the one that south explained as "steering wheel lock error") the BMW Technician that came to you, said that it was a faulty ignition coil. Yet, now that you went to the dealership the diagnosis was something related to the nature of the warning light, not something irrelevant, like an ignition coil. Isn't that kind of weird?

PS. The steering wheel column comes as one part in all brands

 

[Zafiro]

Wow I hope it wont happen with my car

 

[Giannis]

Wow I hope it wont happen with my car

You can still change it with a Scirocco

 

[Mark]

Wow I hope it wont happen with my car

At least you get a warning! Most cars don't even have that!

 

[cawimmer430]

They should replace it for free, I would fight for it. This is a life risk here, not a window power system or wipers. This is as bad as those Toyota sticky pedals

You bet! My dad is currently working things out with them, trying to get them to fix it on guarantee costs. He's optimistic that they'll handle it under their own costs.

 

[cawimmer430]

This is getting interesting. So, I have a few questions:

1) No replacement car?
2) Is your car still under warranty?
3) The most important thing: When that light appeared on the dashboard of your car (the one that south explained as "steering wheel lock error") the BMW Technician that came to you, said that it was a faulty ignition coil. Yet, now that you went to the dealership the diagnosis was something related to the nature of the warning light, not something irrelevant, like an ignition coil. Isn't that kind of weird?

PS. The steering wheel column comes as one part in all brands

1) No replacement car. If we wanted a replacement car we'd have to "lease" it for a few days. This is standard practice at BMW and MB in my region. Not sure about the other brands.

2) Yes, the car is still under warranty. It's been problem-free so far until the ignition coil failure and this.

3) I think you mixed things up. The failure of the ignition coil didn't have a warning light feature. When I started the engine the whole car began to vibrate and shake because the motor was only firing on 3-cylinders instead of four. This current problem isn't related to the ignition coil as far as I can tell. Call it "bad luck" that two things just went wrong on this car in such a short time span.