This is only a reasoned guess but it's quite possible that water is getting to the CAS module.
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sh...bmw/enUS/showparts?id=UD92-EUR-09_2006_E87N_BMW_120d&diagId=61_2095#61359395657

It's tucked away behind the dash.

Can you check for any CC-ID codes?
BabyBMW link - check for CCID codes
CAS 186 / CAS 187 would suggest that there's a fault in the CAS (possibly caused by water).

Is the car parked on a slope and have all of the scuttle tray drain points been cleared recently?
Are the carpets damp either down in the footwells or up, underneath the dashboard?
Fresh air is drawn into the cabin through this route so there are also natural drain points on both sides of the car so that you only get fresh air (and not rain). Mine tend to get leaves and stuff like that trapped in there. When the leaves rot then sludge builds up and can trap water. It's worth clearing this out every couple of months at least - more frequently if you park near trees and especially in autumn.

Has the windscreen been replaced and is the seal round the bottom edges neat and in good condition?
Hope this helps as a start.

 

Thanks for the tips! I’m attaching the error codes – it doesn’t look too good. I don't know where too start looking

 

A waterlogged Park Distance Control (PDC) is known to cause all sorts of electrical gremlins though dont recall your particular symptom before.

 

Already checked, there was no water there, the area was dry

 

Did you also manage to check the area in the front footwells (under the dashboard)?
What about the drain points from the scuttle tray? Are they clear?

 

Yes, I also checked the area in the front footwells under the dashboard. Regarding the drain points from the scuttle tray – I found some leaves under the hood near the drain points on both the left and right sides, as well as under the cabin filter. I disassembled everything and cleaned it thoroughly.


I also checked the modules under the steering wheel – it was dry there, and the modules looked fine. However, on the passenger side, where the fuses are located, I noticed signs of corrosion on the metal parts when I removed the side cover. The module located under the fuse box, though, appeared to be in good condition.

I’m wondering – since I disconnected the modules and connected them back, could this have caused a loss of programming or resulted in error codes related to communication issues?

 

Ah, yes quite possibly. When the car is 'awake' (unlocked / door opened within the last 20 minutes), if you disconnect one of the modules then it probably does register as a communication fault. You shouldn't lose any programming though.

I'm not sure what else to check other than the seal around the bottom and side of the windscreen.

 

I can’t really do anything because nothing’s responding, steering column is locked, and the car’s just sitting in the garage.
I also bought an emulator, cleared the ELV error, but nothing works.
I’m honestly wondering if I should just scrap it at this point 😆.

 

I wouldn’t give up just yet.
We’ve only gone with my best guess so far based on what you described. Depending on how “hands on” you want to be then you can either do some more investigating or take it to a BMW specialist to fix it.

 

I’ve been browsing through some posts (not sure if it was on this forum), and I came across someone suggesting to disconnect the comfort module and check if the car starts without it. I have this module: link to realoem.

I’m not entirely sure if disconnecting it completely is a good idea. Does anyone have experience with this? Could it potentially cause more issues?

About a year ago, the car stopped starting without inserting the key into the ignition, and the keyless door opening (by touch) also stopped working. I never really paid much attention to it since the car still worked otherwise.

I’m now wondering if this could somehow be related to the issue I’m currently facing.

Any advice or similar experiences would be greatly appreciated.

 

Hey everyone,

Quick update – I removed the driver’s side door handle and disconnected it. Turns out it had a touch sensor, and after disconnecting it, the steering lock issue disappeared, and the ELV unlocked again!


Unfortunately, now I have to charge the battery because it’s completely dead, and I can’t start the car 😅.


Hope this helps someone dealing with the same problem!

 

That's interesting - I wouldn't have thought of that. I wonder if those items are on the same bus communication system and the failure of the door handle brought down other items?
Thanks for the update by the way.

 

That does seem to be the case – this morning the battery charged up, and the car started. Now I just need to put everything back together since it’s a bit taken apart at the moment. I’ll reinstall the handles but leave the sensor disconnected. Phew, I think I saved some money!

I actually figured it out because the keyless system stopped working a while ago, but at that time there were no other symptoms yet. I was just trying everything through trial and error.