Noise when changing gear on BMW X3, 2006, petrol engine: possible solutions and tips

Hey, I can understand how that must be frustrating. I have some experience with cars (I would say low to mid level experience). At one point I had a similar problem with my 2004 BMW X5. The fault was the steering column shift center (coil spring), just like yours. At my garage, we replaced the defective shift center for 250 euros. Since then, everything has worked like new. Basically, I would recommend giving your car a thorough diagnosis in a trustworthy workshop. There could be several other issues that could be contributing to this problem. Could you perhaps provide more information about your vehicle? How many kilometers has it run and when was the last inspection? Your answers could help pinpoint the problem.

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Hi, thanks for the helpful answer! My BMW X3 already has 213478 km on the clock. The last inspection was almost exactly one year ago. The steering column shift center sounds plausible, I'll have the garage take a closer look. Thanks again!

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No problem, I'm happy to help! With this mileage, problems like this can actually occur. I'm glad you want to check it out. You should definitely have the transmission control unit and steering column shift center inspected. By the way, also try to look for changes in driving behavior that might indicate that there are other problems. For example, on my X5 there was a strange hesitation when starting off. Loose gears etc. Good luck and let's hope it's not that expensive. Don't be discouraged, BMW are fantastic cars despite everything!

(Translated from German)

Thanks for the valuable tips! I'll keep an eye on it and take a closer look at the changes in driving behavior. I'll make an appointment at the garage tomorrow. Yes, you're right, despite all the problems, I simply love my BMW. It is and remains my dream car. Thanks again for your help and your words of encouragement!

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