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Two weeks ago, my steering wheel started to squeak every now and then when i would turn it. It gradually started to occur more frequently and now it happens on every turn or wheel adjustment of 1 inch or more. Has anyone ever encountered this before, and do you know how to fix it?

check the color and your powersteering fluid

You may need to apply a conductive grease to the horn contact ring on the back of your steering wheel. Search in the E36 and E36 M3 forums on "steering wheel squeak" to learn more and for a lubricant recommendation. This does not apply to newer E36s with the plastic slip ring.

If that doesn't solve your problem, then you might have a bad bearing somewhere along the steering shaft. The bearing itself is inexpensive to replace, but getting to it is the tricky part.

Where exactly do you hear the squeak?
I sometimes hear a squeak, but it seems to be the airbag rubbing. I'm not certain that it is, but it sounds that way to me.