E90 steering lock amber warning

[hiscocks]

Hi all

I am having this amber light warning all the time now - it used to be intermittent, and appear when taking the key out accompanied by a loose ratcheting sound. When unlocking the car the next time it shows the amber light before you key in.

Now it comes on as soon as I unlock the car, and when the engine starts it shows the warning again and puts a mini triangle on the dash once the amber light disappears.

The lock clearly doesn't work any more - it doesn't make the ratcheting noise at all, and normally starts on the first press - although sometimes you press start and there's nothing, so key out and in again it starts fine.

Car is a 2005 E90 325i and it runs well otherwise - it's cost me a bit in consumables and other annoying issues like ABS sensor replacement so I'm of a mind to just leave this one alone... It's not like I need the steering lock.

Seems to be some similar experience here but haven's read anyone with quite the same as mine (permanent mini triangle)

Thoughts?

[mudster]

As with all these things, get the codes read.

I have had the amber steering light when the battery was failing. A new battery sorted it about 4 years ago and it's not been illuminated since. Check your battery voltage.

If the symbol turns red you won't be able to start the car so it's not something to ignore.

[hiscocks]

Thanks, yes I've heard it can be battery related. I'll give that a shot. I assume around 12.5 volts is what I'm looking for?

[mudster]

I would occasionally get a low battery warning so I knew it was on its last legs.

12.5v is ok if the engine is off, does that increase when the engine is running? Battery really needs to be hooked up to a drop tester to check it.

It could of course be some other fault which is why I mentioned getting the codes read.

[hiscocks]

Thanks. It's in for a recall in Jan so have mentioned it to them to check at the same time.