# 1997 BMW 325 smoking steering column **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** bmw, 325\ **Created:** [September 9, 2018, 3:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-bmw-325-smoking-steering-column/124654 "2018-09-09T15:43:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TracyPalmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f14d63/32.png) [@TracyPalmer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TracyPalmer)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2018, 3:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-bmw-325-smoking-steering-column/124654/1 "2018-09-09T15:43:03Z")
1997 bmw 3 series has smoke coming from steering column ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2018, 4:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-bmw-325-smoking-steering-column/124654/2 "2018-09-09T16:06:08Z")
You have an electrical short that is trying to burn your car to the ground. Stop driving it, now, and have it towed to a shop that can investigate and solve the problem. This is dangerous in many ways so please park it until it can be diagnosed. ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2018, 2:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-bmw-325-smoking-steering-column/124654/3 "2018-09-10T02:42:45Z")
If you have an electrical fire in the car, you will not be able to see or breathe. I had this happen to me with a tractor-trailer. I pointed the rig at an empty field, pulled the Maxi- Brake and bailed out. Luckily I got only bumps and bruises, scrapes and cuts. ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2018, 2:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-bmw-325-smoking-steering-column/124654/4 "2018-09-10T14:23:13Z")
> [@Mustangman](#): > > Stop driving it, now, and have it towed to a shop that can investigate and solve the problem. I agree with this. I’d also disconnect the battery (the negative battery cable) in the meantime. ---
**Author:** ![Yosemite](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/yosemite/32/643_2.png) [@Yosemite](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Yosemite)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 3:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-bmw-325-smoking-steering-column/124654/5 "2018-09-11T03:12:02Z")
Do not park this in the garage or close to your home unless you disconnect the battery. Then have it towed to a shop that can solve your problem. Yosemite