Steering wheel locking? 1997 540i

[Bmr97]

I own a 97 540i, and recently we've been having trouble with both the ignition and steering wheel. The ignition will lock up, making it difficult to start the car. You can turn the key about 1/4 of the way, but unless the steering wheel is in the exact right position (most of the time requiring that we pull on the steering wheel) then it won't turn the rest of the way to start the car.

Also, the steering wheel locks up. Not while driving (thank goodness!) Once the car is started, we have to jiggle the steering wheel for a minute to get it to unlock before we can begin driving. What's up with that, and how do we fix it??


Another question: Last night the car overheated (no thanks to hubby saying he had filled the antifreeze, but didn't) and now the heater won't blow out hot air. I had smelled antifreeze prior to the overheating. the heater cycles though. Obviously we've filled the antifreeze to max levels. It doesn't appear to be leaking (not onto the ground anyways) and I no longer smell the antifreeze. The heater will blow hot air for a couple of minutes, then go cold again, almost as if the a/c is on (it's not) I have the thermostat cranked up to 90 for both driver and passenger, but after an hour of the car running, it's still as cold on the inside as the temperature is on the outside..... Any ideas???


Thanks!!

[nuts4bmw]

as for the wheel lock up, it sounds to me like the retractable cam that engages with the notches within the steering wheel hub is dirty and or is just not disengaging when you turn the key. You'll have to pull the steering wheel to clean and lubricate the cam of the lock mechanism, or replace it.

As for the heater, it sounds like you got air in the system and or not enough coolant in the rad.

Art