Ignition Locked

[supertack]

This one is rich.
After I pull into a parking spot, I go to turn the ignition off, & find that the key will not turn in either direction. Confused, I try again. The key will not turn, but I can remove it from the ignition. Now mind you, the car is still running! I put the key back in the ignition, try turning again, but it is completely locked. I removed the key, put the running car in gear, & drive home, ...........without the aid of the key being in the ignition.
When I get home I remove the steering column cover & lower dash. Nothing looks obviously wrong, but by the sound of a running engine & the key sitting on the seat, something is. After about an hour of tinkering, I finally just put the car in gear & let out the clutch to kill the engine. Unfortunately the battery continued to draw from the interior, so I disconnected that as well.
This happened on New Years Day (happy frickin New Year), so I couldn't even find someone to look at it until Monday. Anybody have a clue as to what would cause such a problem. I'm guessin' the ignition switch went bad, & that seems like an extensive repair. Any ideas on cost for part replacement?

[supertack]

Well it's been 6 days, & I'm finally getting word what the problem is. My steering column lock broke, which in turn locked the tumbler. What a bizzare turn of events.

[blkongry]

What an odd failure. What could possibly break in the steering column lock that would bind the ignition switch (and leave the steering wheel free)? Was it a fragment of something that lodged down in there?

[supertack]

No clue, all I know is I was without my bimmer for a week. #@$*&!!!

[matthew-m]

I had something similar happen, but I couldn't start the car. I was told that the design of the steering wheel lock puts too much pressure on the tumbler, which eventually causes it to spin when it breaks.

[supertack]

Yep, that's exactly what my situation was. I drove it for the first time since New Years day last night. Ya know, I think we forget how integral a part of our lives that frickin bimmer is, when we don't have access for an extended period of time. Makes ya appreciate it so much more.

[supertack]

Wound up needing a new tumbler too. What a hassle that is, ordered special from BMW to match vin #, and they don't exactly work with blinding speed. At least I got another key outta the debacle.

[RichardMcM]

My 328I ignition is spinning some times and not others. It will continue to start and stop if the key is not removed. Remove the key and start over with repeated attempts before it will catch. What was the cost to replace for parts and labor?

[supertack]

Yep, my key would spin in the ignition from time to time also. I thought that was an anti-theft feature, but was severely mistaken. More than likely your tumbler is going bad too. The parts & labor on the steering column lock was $460, & the new tumbler (with an additional key) was $130, plus & ordered another key while I was at it, which was another $30. All said & done over 5 'honeybees' to resolve the situation. I wouldn't wait, cause when it finally decides to bite it, you can't do didley.

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

When this happened to me, I ended up having to drill the old tumbler out and install a new one. It's not exactly the easiest thing to do. Lots of cutting fluid, diamond tipped bits and the high speed Makita....