Telescopic Steering Column Issue / Problem

[ArNarX5]

Hi there...

I have a 2005 X5 3.0 and about a month ago I realized that the steering column was making some noise when going up and down. It was as if it needed oil or something on a gear. I took the car to the dealer and they said that the noise was normal. When I checked it after picking up the car, i noticed it was gone and perhaps they didn't hear it at all.

A week ago I realized that the UP/Down movement of the steering column is only limited to maybe 1 inch of travel where as before it was about 2 or 3 inches of travel. Also, as luck would have it, my car just hit 50,000 miles and so went the factory warranty.

Does anyone know if this is something that can be fixed easily or is it something major and costly? I wanted to take the bottom cover off and look at the column but I thought I'd ask and see if anyone else has come across this issue.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance...

[Quicksilver]

I still have my 2005 4.4.
It's either car notes or
maintenance. Take your choice.

Mine is paid for so I'm saving
my coins for the inevitable break
down. Kind of a self imposed personal
funded CPO warranty.

[motordavid]

Imo, you are missing the trees for the forest: you want to toss the car because
oe warranty expired and/or steering column motor is getting tired?

As for warranty, maybe a dlr would still do OriginalOwnerProtectionPlan,
(equal to a CPO), if you are orig owner. Not free, but worth considering...
or chase an extended warranty realizing in CA, you have fewer options
than many other states. Or, as QwkAg suggested, keep it for a couple
years, drive the sumbitch and keep a rainy day fund.

Not knowing your biz situ, driving a paid for, decent shape, good car is
much less costly than loan or lease payments for a new $70G E70, imo.

As for that sticky wheel column, it is a common problem and BMW replaced
motors under warranty, if one beefed enough. Not sure the steering column tilt
or motor problem is reason to toss the car.
GL,mD

[vinuneuro]

If you took the problem in recently while it was under warranty and it wasn't completely repaied, and the problem has returned they're supposed to fix it even now.

[X5Flyboy]

my in-out motors died a year ago, dealer tried to get me to also replace the up-down, but I declined as I never move the column up'n'down - noise is typical now, but originals were quiet, so I'm thinking something could be corrected, but don't ask me what

[chusteveb]

I'm at 60kmi now. I bought the extended warr but everytime I bring it in for warr work my dealership goodwill warranties the issue. This includes a torque converter and a new tranny!