Can't Remove Steering Wheel

[bht2109]

Hey guys, need some help.  Recently purchased a 1991 318is, and the previous owner swapped out the airbag for an Mtech 1 wheel.  Pretty sweet.

Now, the alignment is slightly off, so I wanted to correct it, but can't for the life of me get the damned thing off.  I'm pretty sure I'm following the procedure correctly:  key out of the ignition, pop the roundel, 22mm socket, key in at 1st position, and pull.  Only...it wont release.  It moves perhaps a 16th of an inch along the column and then feels as though it's getting hung up on something.  I've tried it with the key in 1st position (no idiot lights lit) and 2nd (all idiot lights lit), and still nothing.

The really messed up part is, is that I've seen it off!  I sat there and watched the PO go through the exact same frustration, except it finally came after like 20 minutes of banging and swearing and hitting with a rubber mallet (which I also tried).

I'm frustrated and worried that I'm damaging something.  Is it possible that it's "cross threaded" on there, in that the teeth are mis-aligned?  Anyone else experience this?  Any ideas?

Thanks for the help!

Ben


By the way, this is the video that I followed; is it really supposed to be this easy?:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLWckwNDGSw

[1998ccc]

If the nut and washer are off, the only other thing holding the wheel is the steering wheel lock.  Turn the key to release this.  Turn the wheel to verify the lock is releasing. If all that fails, you most likely have a steering wheel lock or spline issue.

Good luck.