Telescoping Steering Wheel...
 

So I did a search and found a couple suggestions which didn't seem to work. I lowered the wheel to it's lowest setting while driving recently and now and won't go up, even when I turn off the engine. The wheel still has it's in/out function but just won't go up...any one else experience this?

Mine kind of gets stuck sometimes. After a while, it stops going up when I turn off the car. I am not sure why, but I just keep pressing up on the lever, and it seems to reset / loosen it up. I don't know if the gaskets or whatever get tired, but it seems to get tight.
When I do press up, the wheel barely moves the first time, barely moves the second, moves a little the third, and the fourth it regains full movement. Something like that.
I hope this helps. It is hard to explain myself first thing in the morning. Oh, I don't think it ever had a problem with going down, just going up.

Thanks...
 

For the feedback Kevn...I'll take a second look at the fuse, if no resolve then I guess I'll take her into the shop sooner. Was scheduled to drop her off for cv boot replacement anyway.

Well...
 

Problem solved! With engine off and key in position II, I tapped the lever up a few times and it moved. It's as if there wasn't a problem to begin with. :confused:

I have recently within the last week developed this same problem. It will still scope but won't tilt more than what I would guess, 5 to 10%. I'm pretty sure the factory warranty will cover this so back to the dealership i go. Is this another known issue?!

Mine's just started doing this. When I turn off the wheel doesn't move up very much, nowhere near as much as it used to. It still returns to the correct position when I start, but it gets stuck when trying to go up. Can't be the fuse because it does move a bit.

My guess is it's the sensor that detects the position that is playing up.

And guess what, the warranty expired 2 months ago:-(

Mine doesn't move in and out...only up and down.

It also makes an obnoxious noise when it moves up and down. It's pretty embarrassing. I feel like it needs a squirt or two of WD-40 or something. :rofl: :tsk:

I just talked to my service advisor about bringing my car in for this issue. He asked if I tried to move it that eventually it would break free and move again. When I told him that it would only move a bit and not ever break free, he called back and said that after talking with one of his techs he went ahead and ordered two different motors and a cable for me. I have a warranty appointment for this somewhat known issue next week.

My dealer has advised me after investigation that the motor needs replacing. Since it does still move a bit, I can only assume that the position sensors are built-into the actual motor which makes it more expensive to fix when they fail:-(

As my car is just out of warrantly, I am waiting to see if BMW will offer any goodwill on this job. I have to say that they should as the car's only 2 months out of warranty and it's so obviously a faulty part rather than anything I could have done.

We'll see.

replaced my in-out motors for the steering wheel 6 months ago on my 2001 - they tried to have me also replace the up-down motors also, but I never move the steering wheel off of full up

Well BMW UK did stump up for most of the cost of replacing the motor, for which I am grateful, but then it shouldn't really have failed after only 35K miles.

After some further research it is apparent that the motor does indeed include the position sensors so it makes for an expensive repair when just the sensor is faulty. I wish I had the old motor to look at this further and see if it is possible to fix it, but as they paid for the new one, BMW wanted the old one back. Let's hope I don't need to find out in the future.

I will have to try this. Did the problem ever come back? My wheel lowered all the way down by itself when I turned my 530i off yesterday and won't go back up now. It still telescopes in/out no problem.

good luck at the stealer

Nope..problem never returned and it's been well over a year :dunno:

Thanks. Didn't work for me. :(

i've had my motors replaced while under warranty. now out of warranty i need another out motor. it goes all the way in but not all the way back out anymore. whats up with these motors going every couple years. anyone ever replace one? im looking for a DIY

Extremely old post but this is where I found the fix for my issue.

Telescoping steering wheel stopped going UP and DOWN. It still went in and out but only moved about a half and inch up and down. Worse yet, it decided to stop all the way up. Felt like I was driving a city bus.:D

I found the fix from the OP. So it is really easy. With the car in position 2 and not running (this condition may be totally irrelevant) I just bumped the stalk a bunch of times to get the wheel to the lowest position (remember, mine was all the way up) and then it just worked! :dunno: That's a first! :beerchug:

Who knows how long this will last, but I am super stoked that I can drive the car in my normal position for now.:thumbup:

Props to chilliwilli for posting the fix.