Electric Steering Column - Retrofit Procedure

GROUP 32
Steering

Bulletin Number
32 50 00

Woodcliff Lake, NJ
June 2000
Service Engineering

SUBJECT:
Retrofitting Electric Steering Column

MODEL:
X5 3.0

Situation:
Some X5 3.0 liter vehicles may have been inadvertently assembled with a manually adjustable steering column in place of the electrically adjustable steering column that is standard in all US model X5s. BMW is conducting a Service Action to check all potentially affected vehicles and retrofit the correct level components in those vehicles that require them.

Affected Vehicles:
This Service Action involves X5 vehicles with M54 engines which were produced in April and May, 2000

In order to determine if a specific vehicle is affected by this Service Action, it will be necessary to utilize the "Service Menu" of the DCS (Dealer Communication System). Based on the response of the system, either proceed with the corrective action or take no further action.





The Chassis Number Ranges listed are only for informational purposes and are not to be considered as the only deciding factor.

Parts Information:
In order to simplify the repair procedure, two parts kits have been created, one for manual transmission vehicles and one for automatic transmission vehicles.

Since the quantity of kits is limited to the actual number of vehicles requiring repair, parts will only be released to a center for vehicles that are currently in stock or in demonstrator service, and for customer vehicles once an appointment has been made to bring the vehicle in for this repair.





The parts kit consists of an upper steering column assembly, lower steering column trim, adjustment switch, shear bolt, lock nut, and wire ties.

Procedure:

* Remove the manually adjustable column assembly per Repair Manual, Section 32 31 090. Make note of the routing and attachment of the wiring harness for re-attaching harness to the new column. Release the connectors X18096 and X18097 for the adjustment motors and X18093 for the adjustment switch where they are taped back against the harness.

* Transfer the lock tumblers and ring antenna to the new column per Repair Manual, Section 32 32 050.

* Install the new column using the new shear bolt and lock nut for steering shaft clamp from the kit.

* Connect the electrical connectors for the electric adjustment motors.

- The X18097 connector with brown, black with blue tracer, and red with brown tracer wires (short lead) goes to the telescoping, or left motor.

- The X18096 connector with brown, black, and red with brown tracer wires (long lead) goes to the height adjusting, or right motor. Fasten the lead for the right motor to the column at the point where the steering angle sensor lead attaches.

-Note:
As determining wire colors on these connectors can be difficult, just hook the short lead to the left motor, as this is the only place it will reach. The remaining connector can then be attached to the right motor.

* Attach six pin flat connector X18093 to the adjustment switch, install the adjustment switch and column trim from the kit.

* Ensure that the wheels are in the straight ahead position and that the alignment indicator on the steering rack is centered, and install the steering wheel per Repair Manual, Section 32 33 000 Punch an alignment mark in the steering shaft to align with the mark on the steering wheel.

* The LWS must be coded prior to performing Steering Angle Offset realignment for the DSC system.

Code the LWS:

From the START screen

- Select "Coding/Program"
- Select (3) ZCS
- Select (4) E53
- Select (4) recoding
- Select (58) LWS
- "correct?" press YES
- "start automatic coding?" press YES

* When the coding is completed, switch to DIAGNOSIS

- Select E53
- press OK
- at function selection screen:
- complete vehicle
- chassis
- stability control
- highlight "dynamic stability control" in center column
- clear fault codes
- select "test plan"
- select "NO"
- press right arrow
- press right arrow
- select (3) Service functions
- select (4) adjust steering angle sensor
- follow instructions with down arrow
- start adjustment

Once the adjustment is completed, the display will change as the steering wheel is moved.





Warranty Information:
Reimbursement for this repair will be via Campaign Entry.