X5 steering column stopped working
 

A few months ago I was on the Cross Sound Ferry in bad weather and the motion kept triggering my car alarm. Coincidentally (??) I had low battery. After the trip was over I replaced the battery but noticed my steering column adjustment has stopped working in both directions. When I triggering the adjustment button I can hear clicking like power is going to the motors but get no movement.
Any thoughts on how to fix this that don't involve a trip to the dealer? Every thing else works awesome on the car. The auto move function for the steering column when you turn the car off or on doesn't work now either.
Love some help here. It just doesn't seem normal that both motors would stop working at the same time.
Wondering if there is some sort of reset for it.
Rich

If you are hearing clicking that rules out a lot and you might just have a blown fuse.

I checked the fuses in the back near the tail gate and looks good. Are there any other fuse locations in the car or a relay maybe? I meant to post earlier that it stopped working following the ferry ride and I was hoping switching out the battery would solve it but it didn't. Thankfully it's stuck in a great position for me but not for others when they drive it.

There is a fuse/relay panel behind/under the glove box.
I'm more familiar with the E53 but if the relay is clicking and the motor not moving then either there isn't power getting to the relay or the relay is faulty. The chance that both motors are burnt out is pretty slim. I would get a wiring diagram and check which fuse the power for the steering motors comes from and go from there.

Do you have access to TIS? There are schematics as well as a functional descrtping as to how the system works.


Oddly, IHKA (the heat and AC controller) is how this is controlled. There is a reset/recal proceure in ISTA


SOme comments:
Oh as 80stech commented, there is another fuse box. F1 in the box behind the glove box is for the steering column...

Thanks,
I checked the correct fuses in both locations (under the glove box and in the rear hatch area). Both fuses are good. I can hear noise when I try to adjust the steering column in both directions so I know power is getting to the motors. Almost sounds like it's stuck in the current position. I don't have access to a code reader.

Is it time to bring it to the dealer??

Looks like the unit has a single motor for up/down and in/out movement. There is a solenoid that likely engages one of two adjustment mechanisms.
Might try pushing/pulling on steering wheel while engaging switch.

For sure, if it's one motor there could be a problem with the gear/transmission/selector thingy.

How big of a project is it to replace the entire steering column and motor? Ebay has the right model for <$100.