I had seen numerous videos in which a spinning ignition tumbler is spinning 360° when the key is inserted, and been fixed by drilling a small hole in the housing and fitting a small grub screw to locate the tumbler and prevent it spinning when the ignition key is inserted and turned. Dose anyone have any experience of carrying out this fix? Obviously the main point being not to drill too far in, and damage the tumbler. E39 528i
This might be similar to what was posted in the "E39 1998 rotating key cylinder" in the 5 series Forum section on here by @Mogman44 ? I believe he is waiting a replacement. Not sure if he has tried drilling a small hole etc. Kev
I doubt fitting a grub screw would make any difference, seeing a mortice type lock is fitted to the outside of the ignition barrel to mate with a mating slot in the steering housing, which can only be released by inserting a small hair grip into the tiny hole on the surface of the ignition tumbler.
I'm unfamiliar with the E39 but checking out RealOEM there appears to be a grubscrew in there anyway : 32301159449 - Grub screw Steering lock/ignition switch — BMW 5 Series E39 530d (199 Part number: 32301159449 (also written as 32 30 1 159 449) Is it a possibility it just needs replacing rather than drilling holes ??
I had similar on my E36 - it was occasional but for the price of the lock i replaced it as would hate to be stranded on the day it didn't turn!
Did replacing the lock cure the occasional problem, did you replace the whole lock and key, or just the ignition barrel?
I think it was just the barrel as i dont recall getting new keys so must have been ordered off the VIN but was 18 years ago! But issue never repeated. Seem to recall extracting the barrel was a faff
