Click in steering column

[The Cleaner]

Been lurking this site for a long time, and really like the good advise.

I have 3 BMW’s, one of which is an 01 X5 3.0. We drive it the most by far and it’s our favorite of the 3. It has had a total of 2 problem since we purchased it. The a/c control unit inside started to freak out and……….

The second is so annoying I am beginning to enjoy driving it less. The problem is a clicking in the steering column. Slow and over bumps the steering wheel clicks when I turn fast it clicks, when I am on a bumpy road it click. It has been looked at numerous times and had the steering rack and ball joints replaced. That did not fix it, they have checked the steering knuckle and locking collar in the column and they are fine. Last time into the dealer I got taken around the lot and shown other X5’s with a similar problem. Told it was normal.

There is no way on the planet this is normal, nor was it present when I purchased this rig new in 01. With 54K on the clock this problem has been around for at least 25K in some form.

I am eager to hear any other experiences with this “click” problem in the steering column.