E39 528i steering wheel functions don't work all the time

[sparks_E39]

I noticed today that the steering wheel functions were not working all the time, first of all the cruise control wouldn't work but the volume control/skip track buttons did. After switching off and leaving the car for 30 minutes cruise control was working again as well as the other buttons, but went back again tonight and none of it was working. Again I left the car to do what I had to do, went back and it was all working normally. Very odd, anyone else had this? Other functions in the car seem to work fine, except the windscreen washer hose disconnecting itself this morning!

[miniman]

Almost certainly the coil connector inside the wheel (i.e. the bit that allows it to turn whilst maintaining the connections). They wear out. It's inside the big round bit (item 2) here:



See here: http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/556076

ETA - warning!! if you are going to remove an airbag steering wheel then BATTERY DISCONNECTED FIRST THEN LEAVE THE CAR FOR AN HOUR BEFORE YOU TOUCH THE AIRBAG WIRING!!

Edited by miniman on Thursday 8th January 19:13

[sparks_E39]

Thanks mate, I had suspected it was something like that.