Steering Wheel Installation / Horn Operation

[snpower]

I removed the steering wheel as part of my cruise control troubleshooting. I marked the wheel as noted in the Bentley manual to aid with re-installation. There is a small carbon pin that protrudes from the steering column; I assume this needs to fit inside the small opening on the rotating slip ring inside the wheel itself. It took some time to get everything to align. During my road test the horn kept going off when I turned the wheel.

Back in the garage, I removed the wheel momentarily, then reinstalled. This time I did not align the carbon pin with the slip ring and now the horn works only when I press down on it.

I don't understand the functionality of this carbon pin and slip ring assembly - is it part of the horn circuit? Pin alignment is not mentioned in the Bentley's manual as part of the wheel reinstall.

[Bear]

Do you mean the lock pin for the steering wheel that requires the ignition key to be turned to the on position to get the steering wheel fully seated onto the splined shaft?

[snpower]

No, it is the carbon pin, part # 32 33 1 350 750 in THIS diagram:

http://bmwfans.info/original/E30/Cab...2/ill-32_0854/