steering wheel - BMW Forum

318itx · 04-10-2006, 11:53 PM

so..the time has come that my steering wheel is geting crappy. the cover is starting to slowly deteriorate. so i found a new one on a site and was wondering how i go about replacing the actual circular piece of the wheel without taking off the airbag..or taking it completely apart. any way? or how do i do it at all? thanks!

Ivan · 04-10-2006, 11:59 PM

i had the same problem and i just got a nice leather wheel cover. alot cheaper and easier and its more comfortable on my hands too imo. it looks good too

325isBaby · 04-11-2006, 12:04 AM

you can't replace the wheel without removing the airbag...it is held on to the steering shaft by a large nut under the airbag....if you don't turn the key on while the airbag is removed you may not get a aribag light. Good luck

e36surge · 04-11-2006, 07:38 AM

And what are the chances of the airbag deploying if you try to remove the airbag?

vwk · 04-11-2006, 07:47 AM

There is a link somewhere over here from (I guess Delmarco) for placing Tacho Rings, some good tips are there for detaching your airbag.

e36surge · 04-11-2006, 08:00 AM

nice rims vince...

I was aking becuase I don't someone trying this without knowing the risks. I personally would rather place a leather wrap over the wheel.

Gator · 04-11-2006, 08:07 AM

For safety, you must disconnect the battery to prevent the airbag from deploying my mistake. With the battery disconnected the airbag is disabled.

e36surge · 04-11-2006, 08:27 AM

If I were to install a BMW steering wheel (different center shape) from another e36 that still had it's airbag would that be possible? Meaning would the airbag deploy in an accident?

I'm not thinking about doing it but my curiousity got the best of me. On the realoem site you see the different steering wheels that were made for the e36.

tomctx · 04-11-2006, 01:44 PM

Yes, they would work. As an aside, when you disconnect the battery to remove the wheel and airbag, the Bentley says to wait about 10 minutes before proceeding. The airbag system apparently has some kind of battery back-up that might deploy if you don't wait.

Cruzin 323is · 04-11-2006, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomctx

Yes, they would work. As an aside, when you disconnect the battery to remove the wheel and airbag, the Bentley says to wait about 10 minutes before proceeding. The airbag system apparently has some kind of battery back-up that might deploy if you don't wait.

which would make sense, if your car stalls, and looses electricity, and then smash into somthing, i sure hope the air bags are still gunna go off