BMW X5 Multiple Warning Lights & Heavy Steering Issue?

Hey there! I've got some experience with cars, mostly basic repairs and maintenance. Had a pretty similar issue with my 2015 BMW X3 last year. Same warning lights going crazy on the dash, and that heavy steering feel, it was super annoying. Took it to my trusted workshop, and yep, it turned out to be exactly what you suspect, a faulty steering angle sensor coding. Got it fixed for about 195 Euro, took them around 2 hours to sort everything out. After that, all warnings disappeared and the steering went back to normal. Can you share more details about your X5? Like the mileage and whether these symptoms started suddenly or gradually? Also, have you noticed any changes in how the car handles during turns? This info would help figure out if we're dealing with the same issue. For anyone else reading this, I went from a BMW X5 to an X3, both solid cars with similar quirks!

Thanks for the helpful info! My X5 has 9493 KM and just had its service last month. The symptoms started pretty suddenly, was driving normally one day and boom, all these warnings popped up at once. The handling definitely feels off during turns, especially when going slow like in parking lots. The wheel has this weird resistance that wasn't there before. Did you notice any clicking sounds with your steering before getting it fixed? I'm hearing occasional clicks when turning the wheel all the way, and I'm wondering if that's related to the sensor issue or if I should be looking at something else too?

Hey again! Thanks for those extra details about your X5. Yeah, that clicking sound, I actually had that too with my X3! It's funny you mention it because I completely forgot about that detail until you brought it up. Those clicks were definitely part of the same problem in my case. When I had the steering angle sensor issue, I heard similar clicking noises, especially during full turns. The mechanic explained that the clicking was happening because the system wasn't reading the wheel position correctly, causing some resistance in places where it shouldn't be. Since your car just had service last month and the issue came up suddenly, it's even more likely it's the sensor. That's exactly how mine acted up, everything fine one day, then bam, all those warning lights and weird steering behavior the next. And with your low mileage, it's probably not a mechanical wear issue. Just one tip from my experience, make sure they do a full diagnostic scan when you take it in. In my case, they initially thought it might be something else until they ran the complete scan and found the sensor problem. Saves time and money in the long run. Let me know how it goes after you get it checked out. Always curious to hear if these situations turn out similar to mine!

Thanks so much for the detailed follow-up! That's really reassuring to hear that your clicking sounds were part of the same sensor issue. I've already called my mechanic and booked the car in for tomorrow morning. Made sure to mention about getting a full diagnostic scan done first, just like you suggested. It's such a relief to know someone else went through the exact same thing, especially with the sudden onset of problems and those annoying clicks. Really hoping it'll be as straightforward a fix as yours was. I'll definitely keep you posted on what they find. Thanks again for sharing your experience, it's been super helpful in figuring out what I'm dealing with!