Eight problems related to steering have been reported for the 2007 BMW 3 Series. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Power steering pulley comes into contact of axle carrier, it's a clear design flaw and this car hasn't had much research and development done, the company knowingly put an unsafe beta car on the market. My belt broke because of the pulley to frame contact and stalled on the 405 freeway and ended up getting injured when the car was rear ended at 60mph. There is a service bulletin within BMW's system describing this issue and they want consumers to pay out of pocket for repairs. I spoke to corporate and they have given me the cold shoulder so far. My mission is to get this escalated to a recall before someone gets seriously hurt.
The electronic steering wheel is malfunctioning and preventing the car from starting.
Steering wheel lock (red symbol on the notification screen). Vehiclecle will no longer start. Nothing seems to work.
Red electric steering wheel lock icon on screen and car will not start or turn over. Radio works and everything else but car will not start. When battery died, and I charged it full, then went to start the car and this red electric steering wheel lock came on. Had to get car serviced.
Battery died. Jumpstarted, drove for a bit. Turned off, turned back on drove home. Parked the car. Tried to restart and the red electronic steering wheel lock indicator was on. Plenty of juice in the battery, car will not even attempt to turn over. Can not get into neutral to tow out. Car is dead where it sits because of the electronic steering lock. Thank goodness we weren't in the middle of nowhere.
Steering wheel lock mechanism. Its been reported by thousands of owners but BMW doesn't issue a recall but will replace and repair for 1500. 00.
Yellow warning light indicated wheel is locked; car will not start. This has happened multiple times. Whereas it did not affect my driving, it affected driveability. Have been far from home late in the day -work related. Dealership said this is a common problem. What if wheel locks while driving? shame on BMW.
The steering lock sensor is on. Might have to change steering wheel. Googled the problem at it seems that it is a factory defect as tons of people are affected.