I'm waiting on the mechanic to call back and confirm what exactly is wrong, but it is either the rack or the column (assuming they are different...). I have an '01 with just over 90k miles. I'm not the first owner, but it looks well maintained. The problem started after a long road trip, now, the wheel feels like it is catching at 9 and 3. It is usually only bad going slow, but when it does catch, sometimes you can let go of the wheel and it won't return to center, it will just stay there. I took it to a local shop that works on a lot of BMW's and they looked down in there with a camera and said they could see the "gears mashing". I don't have anything more to add b/c I was rushing off to an appointment when he called and I couldn't write anything down or talk for very long. All I know is he said the part, new, from BMW runs about 1600 dollars, but he could get one for about 800 + 475 installation fee.

My question... Does this sound about right? Anyone have this go out before? What about the cost? We really don't have a lot of people in this town, other than the dealer, capable of working on it, so I don't think another estimate (certainly not from the dealer) would be worthwhile. If this does sound right, I have a line on a part from a recently wrecked vehicle that comes with a very generous warranty.

It sorta sounds similar to this thread: http://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e53-forum/...=steering+rack


EDIT: quick update as he just called. It is the steering rack and he could hear it grinding inside with something, not a camera (not sure where I got the "gears mashing" from). He won't put on customer supplied parts, so, if I go with his less expensive rack, I'm looking at 1285 + tax and supplies...