Heated steering wheel not working.

[giodog2000]

Hi guys,

I just finished fixing the X (see what was done below just in case it could be related) and suddenly heated steering stopped working.

I checked the fuse in glove box and it's good. When I push the button, the red light doesn't light up . WHat else should I check ?

Work done:
My expansion tank busted and coolant was spraying all over the engine bay. I finished the work today and went for a ride and noticed the heated steering doesn't work and was working just fine before I parked it for the fix.

[X5SND]

Green relay on top of the fuse panel. If all else checks out you may have a defunct clockspring.

[giodog2000]

Originally Posted by X5SND

Green relay on top of the fuse panel. If all else checks out you may have a defunct clockspring.

The fuse panel in glove box or in the trunk? And whats a defunct clockspring?
Sry not familiar with electrical stuff.

[X5SND]

Originally Posted by giodog2000

The fuse panel in glove box or in the trunk? And whats a defunct clockspring?
Sry not familiar with electrical stuff.

For problems like this it really helps to know where relevant items are located.

On top of the fuse panel (you have to pull the glovebox and remove the 4 torx screws to drop the fuse WHOLE fuse panel) there are a number of green relays along the left hand side. The second or 3rd one should be your heated steering wheel relay...I'll have to double check which slot. If your HSW button doesn't even light up, my money is on a toast clock spring, burnt or incorrectly located relay.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by giodog2000

...whats a ... clockspring? Sry not familiar with electrical stuff.

In BMW "speak"...a clock spring is called the "slipring"...and in the e53 and many BMWs since 3/99-up build date...the "steering column switch" (which contains the slipring). It is a device that allows the air bag & buttons on the MFL (multi-functional) steering wheel to be powered yet allows for unfettered steering wheel rotation.

Back before the debut of the dual stage airbags (around 3/99)...the slip ring used to be mounted to the back of the steering wheel (see pic below)...then both would be mounted to the steering column:

(this is the slipring on the back of my single stage 3-spoke steering wheel installed in my 97 740iL)

BMW changed the design and now the slipring (aka clockspring) is incorporated into the steering column switch and is physically mounted to the steering column itself...with the steering column stalks plugging into the switch (see images below):

Steering Column Switch w/incorporated Slip ring (aka clockspring)

[giodog2000]

Thx for info

[upallnight]

Does the horn work? Does the rest of the controls on the steering wheel works? If not Google steering wheel clockspring.

Sound like now the time to SELL.

[giodog2000]

Originally Posted by upallnight

Does the horn work? Does the rest of the controls on the steering wheel works? If not Google steering wheel clockspring.

Sound like now the time to SELL.

Everything else works ....

Yup . I'm kinda fed up now with it.

[romeokc10]

Damn giodog2000, you've got more active threads going than anybody I've ever seen...lol!! Which we all know can't be a good thing, I see you're up north, must be that cold polar vortex weather. Well, like you said in your other thread, it may be time to get rid of it, the cash register will just keep a ringing.

[giodog2000]

Originally Posted by romeokc10

Damn giodog2000, you've got more active threads going than anybody I've ever seen...lol!! Which we all know can't be a good thing, I see you're up north, must be that cold polar vortex weather. Well, like you said in your other thread, it may be time to get rid of it, the cash register will just keep a ringing.

If you ask me tonight , I'm ready to sell. After spending all day fixing it and happy about it , it's just a major blow at moral to have another problem pop up not even 30sec into the road test. Very disappointed I must say. But, if you ask me tomorrow morning after the ride to work , I'd tell you I want to keep it. In the other thread "It'll end when I sell it" , this is just what that thread is about. It never was about the money (not happy about it but I can live with that) it's the constant deceptions and loosing the trust of this beautiful car. Tonight, I just can't see how, even though I'm on top of my game for maintenance, it's gonna stop and it's giving me no sign that it will stop.