32 00... Information on replacing steering gear after accident damage: Situation
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2012 BMW 328xi, 2011 BMW 328xi, 2010 BMW 328xi, and 2009 BMW 328xi. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
In the event of accidents or driving conditions similar to accidents, shock-like loads can cause different types of damage to steering gears. When a steering gear is externally undamaged, it is sometimes only possible to identify damage with great difficulty and with great effort. However, damage of this nature poses an unacceptable risk to the vehicle because it can result in failure of the steering system.
Because of the disproportionate amount of effort involved, it is generally not sensible to check thoroughly all the individual components of the steering gear and as an alternative it is necessary to take into account other components which can be checked more easily.