Steering Wheel blocks gauge removal

[squeasel]

Hello All ... I am having trouble searching, perhaps due to "Xoutpost is currently undergoing a planned server migration".


I have a 2003 X5 3.0i North American spec and need to remove the gauge cluster. However, the steering wheel adjustments are not responding and the wheel is blocking removal of the cluster.


Is there a way to adjust the steering wheel without using the lever below the turn signal? If so, how?


Otherwise, some possible clues for it not working ... maybe important, maybe not.

1) power seats work, but seat memory does not.
2) there is no noise (like a motor) when using the steering wheel adjuster lever.
3) The door locks work automatically when the car reaches 8 MPH (or whatever the setting).
4) I recall that the steering wheel would move out of the way when the ignition was turned off. This does NOT happen now.
5) My daughters have been driving the car for quite a while now, so I do not know if the steering wheel adjuster failure coincides with any work done. We have been inside the doors many times. I recall the seat controls not working for a time, but then, as through BMW magic, they began to function again.

Questions, thoughts, comments?


Much Thanks in Advance!

[andrewwynn]

You can’t adjust the steering wheel when the seat controller is defective. No memory is a clue.

Your need to replace the seat control module. You'll regain control of the wheel.

[squeasel]

Thank you @andrewwynn.

[Henn28]

I just did both of these repairs on my ‘02 X5 and would recommend just pulling the seat rather than trying to get the module out while the seat is in the car. The plastic is old and brittle and some of the contact points are very hard to get to while standing on your head.

Be advised though that the front, OR the rear bolts can come out but then the seat must be moved to gain access to the other two. Classic BMW booby-trap.

I say this because if you’ve pulled the battery terminal to remove the cluster, DME, etc. then you can’t move the seat. I know a guy who did this….

[andrewwynn]

What he said about seat.

I broke a couple of the plastic tabs doing the job with seat installed


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[wpoll]

Originally Posted by squeasel

Hello All ... I am having trouble searching, perhaps due to "Xoutpost is currently undergoing a planned server migration".
...

The site search isn't great so I use Google to seach the site. In a Google search, you can restrict a search to just this site, using the "site:" search term, along with a string of relevant terms related to your problem.

Like this: -

site:xoutpost.com dash cluster remove steering wheel move seat module

Try it - copy and past that search term into a Google search dialogue and see for yourself.

[upallnight]

Why not pull the steering wheel? Maybe I'm underthinking this solution.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i26q3pFX-Gs

[squeasel]

Thank you all for the various bits of advice. As for removing the steering wheel, I have a fear of air bags (note the I had already considered this). Probably unfounded, but a fear none the less. I have ordered a seat module, due around the end of the week, and already have the gauge cluster pieces I need, hopefully.

Sent from my SM-J337A using Tapatalk