The X is at the dealer and they finally confess, the click is the SRS ring bearing, CPO repair for everyone that has it and wants it gone. Getting a new right mirror motor and tail lights on BMW CPO as well today.

Glad you got one solved!:thumbup:

Hey, The Cleaner what year is your X5?

01 with 70k

I've been searching all over for this topic and glad I finally found it!

YES, I have that. When I turn my steering wheel to the left a bit before the end it clicks. Sometimes it doesnt, others it clicks so loudly I feel something is going to break. The sound can also be heard if you are sticking your ears by the left wheel. Took it to BMW they replaced a lot of things because they said they are worn out but the noise is still there (unfortunately it never comes out when you are at the dealers how funny).

Am going crazy here.. what is it? is it fixable or is it just a normal thing that i can continue driving with?

Seems, finally, from what I hear that am not the only one who has it. I have a 3.0 2002 X- German imported though not from the U.S. Could it be a universal issue?

i have it.
the dealer said it is the steering rack - it was replaced but the noise is still there. do not know what else to fix, but since the dealer is useless, i left it as it is.

UPDATE: problem NOT solved, It's been at the dealer for 3 days. They are replacing the steering column now.

I am interested to know what they find. The noise that I have has been there from new (March 03). It is only with the vehicle at rest, with small back/forth movement of the steering wheel. It feels like it is in the top section of the steering column, just below the wheel. It is not heavy enough to feel like a u-joint, and it is definitely not in the suspension or steering gear after the column. I figured your dealer was right with the retaining ring idea.

Is this the same noise you have?

I drove a few other X5s and found exactly the same noise, so back in 2003 I decided to live with it. I don't notice it at all now, but I can go back and make the noise if I try. It has never gotten any worse, and I would rather it didn't make the noise, but I think of it as a design problem, not as a manufacturing problem.

Let us know how it comes out with yours.

Jeff

Whoa! Big job. Hope it all goes well.

That is exactly it. I just picked it up with a 3rd steering rack installed and the noise is no different than last week when I dropped it off. They forgot to install the front plastic under bumper cover also that is pissing me off.

So far the steering column u-joint, srs ring and steering rack have not solved this. It will be going back next week. more to follow.