How easy is it .....
Printed From: Bavarian-Board.co.uk - BMW Owners Discussion Forum
Category: Technical & Model Specific Forums
Forum Name: General Motors
Forum Discription: This forum will deal with technical issues for the cars not dealt with in the other forums. These don't need to be BMWs!
URL: http://www.bavarian-board.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=43954
Printed Date: 17-May-2024 at 10:20
Topic: How easy is it .....
Posted By: GarCE30M3CONV
Subject: How easy is it .....
Date Posted: 08-February-2009 at 10:01
|
........ to change a steering wheel ? One aspect of the BMW 8 series that many owners of late models almost universally don't like is the bland looking four spoke steering wheel. This isn'y my car but the same idea .......
I came across this ........ http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220352251889&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:MOTORS:1123 - http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem& ;item=220352251889&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:MOTORS:1123 It's a 3 spoke which is new and re-covered with Alcantara. I can get it for £270 delivered from Germany - expensive but would make a marked difference .. Comments ???? Anyway - my question - How hard is it to change a steering wheel ? Do I need special tools ? There's mention of Slip ring + the complication of airbags etc. Anyone on here changed one before ? Gary |
Replies:
Posted By: Tricky1
Date Posted: 08-February-2009 at 12:40
|
i havent changed one with airbag on bm before but have on a merc they both have the same colour of wires in behind the large plastic part in the middle they are yellow and its very easy to triger the airbag to go off definatley a battery disconnect job i would also be certain before buying another wheel that the splines that connect to the coloumn are of the same teeth layout or you may need to look at buying a steering boss to atacth it have a look on the momo website they may have an advice line i have a three spoke brushed alloy gen bm wheel with leather surround and all the horn wires etc for around 60 pounds off ebay and just poped to my localcheckpoint/halfords and they ordered a boss correct for age and year of car it only cost around 20 pounds and was a very easy fix and is only 300mm compared with 400mm which maeks your hands do less work if you know what imean |
Posted By: Rhys
Date Posted: 08-February-2009 at 14:12
|
Piece of cake. The one in the fleabay add is the same as mine. Disconnect the battery, wait about half an hour (maybe give it a bit longer) so that the airbag discharges. Couple of screws on the rear of the wheel release the airbag. Disconnect airbag connectors, undo centre bolt, remove wheel. Pretty straight forward really. I think I did a 'how to' when doing mine. Will have a look... ------------- V reg Rustbucket Merc C220 Cdi estate J Reg Saab 900i 16v '63 Ford Anglia 105e deluxe R reg Honda PC50 moped.. No BMW as yet... |
Posted By: Rhys
Date Posted: 08-February-2009 at 14:14
|
http://www.bavarian-board.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=39049&PN=1 - Here it is , saving you the job of doing a search. It's in the 'How To Do' section of the forum. 
------------- V reg Rustbucket Merc C220 Cdi estate J Reg Saab 900i 16v '63 Ford Anglia 105e deluxe R reg Honda PC50 moped.. No BMW as yet... |
Posted By: Rhys
Date Posted: 08-February-2009 at 14:23
|
If you want an old wheel (the worn one on my link) to recover yourself then I'm sure I can flog you mine. It's sat here doing nothing but doesn't come with the airbag/horn as I swapped it over to my replacement one. Just make me an offer if interested though no idea on how much it will cost to recover though and airbags can be bought off fleabay - might save you a few bob. (won't bother putting it in the sales section as I was going to keep it as a spare) ------------- V reg Rustbucket Merc C220 Cdi estate J Reg Saab 900i 16v '63 Ford Anglia 105e deluxe R reg Honda PC50 moped.. No BMW as yet... |
Posted By: GarCE30M3CONV
Date Posted: 08-February-2009 at 16:05
|
Rhys - thanks for this - perfect - Still mulling over as £270 is still a fair bit as I'm spending a fortune on the car at the mo. I'll have a look yours and pm you if interested Gary |
Posted By: Rhys
Date Posted: 08-February-2009 at 16:33
|
Seen a few wheels on fleabay.. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-ALPINA-E36-SWITCH-TRONIC-STEERING-WHEEL_W0QQitemZ200306732060QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item200306732060&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1689%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318 - Alpina has triptronic controls which won't work on yours but will look good lol http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-3-SERIES-COUPE-LEATHER-STEERING-WHEEL-E36_W0QQitemZ300291826473QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item300291826473&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1689%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318 - BMW lot better condition than mine and has airbag etc. ------------- V reg Rustbucket Merc C220 Cdi estate J Reg Saab 900i 16v '63 Ford Anglia 105e deluxe R reg Honda PC50 moped.. No BMW as yet... |
Posted By: sailorbaz
Date Posted: 09-February-2009 at 09:03
Looks JUST like mine, 
Stitching looks 1st class btw, good luck with the purchase and fitting. -------------  http://www.bmwccscotland.co.uk/cars/e46/m3csl.html" rel="nofollow - My Car 2004 M3 CSL and 2009 E90 M3 |
Posted By: davy tombstone
Date Posted: 11-February-2009 at 23:24
|
i changed the wheel on my e46 330 for an alcantara csl, it was pretty straight forward.. no special tools req. i did it without disconecting the battery (not reccomended) but made sure the keys were out of the ignition. ------------- http://s324.photobucket.com/user/davytombstone/media/newsig_zpsd6056b1d.jpg.html" rel="nofollow"> 
|
Posted By: Chas C
Date Posted: 13-February-2009 at 14:20
|
It's not just an issue on the 8 series. The E38 7 and pre-facelift E39 5s come with this wheel too. Heck, even the E34 BiTurbo has it - but not for much longer. It's one of the most important parts of the car to get right. After all, it's the only part of the car that is in direct contact with the driver. ------------- 
|
GarCE30M3CONV wrote:Posted By: Rossi
Date Posted: 13-February-2009 at 15:23
 how do you drive yours 
------------- |
Posted By: Chas C
Date Posted: 14-February-2009 at 10:29
|
Call me old fashioned but I tend not to drive naked. The only skin I have in contact with the car is my hands on the steering wheel. That's why I used the words "direct contact". -------------
|
