Tilt Steering - BMW Forum

rwall23 · 09-15-2005, 08:40 PM

I just recently wen to replace some burned out bulbs in my dash cluster, and i noticed that it wouldnt come out, and i went to tilt my steering wheel down, and there was no lever, i looked in the maual and it shows a lever, i was wondering if all of them are made with tilt steering or if it was an option, because the space for the lever is there, there just isnt one??

thekid · 09-15-2005, 10:11 PM

Almost no E36's have tilt steering. It was an option, but rarely implemented.

Cruzin 323is · 09-15-2005, 11:10 PM

indeed... thats the most dissapointing feature about my car... I AM PISSED>.. how doesn't a bimmer have tilt... i know, its ridiculous!

Storamin · 09-16-2005, 11:17 AM

mine has it. i think my 1992 318is did too

coversion · 09-16-2005, 11:23 AM

Mine does too. I have a 95 318ic, You should have a black handle on the bottom of the steering column that will lower the wheel enough to get the cluster out. Not sure how far along you are, but i had to slide a blade along the crack to separate the cluster from my dash once the screws were out.

Storamin · 09-16-2005, 01:48 PM

Later e36 did not have a tilt wheel.

someguy · 09-16-2005, 03:34 PM

yeah way to go BMW and not even put one on my ///M3....what a bunch of crap, I want to lower my wheel....I wonder if they have tilt though, sort of half ass pre installed.....just no lever....I'm taking the lower dash of tonight to find out. there might be a place for a lever. you just have to move it somehow, if so I'll be welding one somewhere for sure. I never thought about it, I just figured mine was broke off...hmmmm

93 325i · 09-16-2005, 03:56 PM

if you turn the wheel all the way to the max the cluster should be able to wiggle out. Havent done it but heard that people have..

Delmarco · 09-17-2005, 09:45 AM

I think you have to unplug your steerwheel...if it does not tilt
what i've heard is that it is simple...in theory
1. unplug the battery to prevent the airbag and SRS system from deploying in your face.
2. find screws under the wheel trunk and above (these screws are torx head and the face outwards away from you and towards the front of the car)
3. unscrew them....and wiggle the wheel off...it may be hard, but sstill tug gently.

4. once done find screws at the top of the dash gauage and unscrew them, then carefully work the guage out

BImmerN2B · 09-17-2005, 10:00 AM

Go figure, from the Ultimate driving Machine to the Ultimate where is it, how the F***, what part, how come they didn't do this and that machine

Delmarco · 09-17-2005, 10:35 AM

relax...it's not like the tilt wheel not being there make the car drive any worse...

SOLO5977 · 07-03-2006, 11:42 AM

BMW's are the finest engineered cars in the world move your self around the perfectly set up cockpit not the perfectly setuip cockpit around you

hyper_cool · 08-13-2007, 10:30 PM

Did you manage to take out your cluster? I noticed my E36 94 318i doesn't have tilt steering. I took my cluster but I had to fight my way out for it. I'm just wondering if you happen to have any easier idea in taking out the cluster?

rwall23 · 08-19-2007, 09:36 PM

Umm.. No I didn't ever take it out, I just kind of wedged it enough to get behind it and get the bulbs in... Didn't really want to go through all the trouble and risk blowing my airbags.

WarNox · 08-19-2007, 10:34 PM

haha thats stupid, earlier models have it but later ones don't. mine has it, made in 11/1992.

and not having it does make it a worse driving experience, as everyone is different height and likes to sit in their seat differently so likes to adjust the steering wheel to their own preference. thats like saying non-adjustable seats wouldn't have an impact on the driving experience.