[spdbrake]

Yea the BMW shaft bearings are not that great. They are thrust bearings and work better with a face load (sorta like a wheel bearing). If you can have someone push the steering wheel towards the the front of the car with about 10lbs of force (loads the aft bearing) and you slide the tube retainer against the forward bearing as you tighten the set screws. That should remove any axial & radial play in the shaft.