Steering wheel swap - E46 MFL with Flappy Paddles into E31
Discussion
Right chaps, I'll be needing some help with this little modification. I have a 1997 M73 E31 which has a three spoke M-Tech plain old ordinary non-MFL single airbag steering wheel. After having splashed out a bit on the bay I now have a 1999 year E46 MFL Flappy Paddle steering wheel, this comes complete with airbag which will be a dual-stage airbag.
Now I expect you're wondering what I'm doing with the paddle wheel - the answer is that I have the steptronic gearbox but with a rather modified shift control computer that allows me to far better "manual" control hence I'd like to have the paddle wheel.
To change the wheels over means two problems need to be solved which is where you lot come in as I need the collective wisdom of PHer's to help me with this one. The problems are as follows:
1) Twin airbag wheel but the car was designed for only single stage airbag. All standard E31 steering wheels are single stage airbag units. There are some differences in slip ring design dependent upon vehicle build year but they're all single stage airbag. The trick that I've been told is to connect only the larger of the twin airbag deploy charges as this will mimic the single stage. Logically this makes sense but has anyone out there done a similar modification? I don't want to find out the wrong way that this doesn't work.
2) Slip ring modification will be needed. Is anyone out there knowledgeable on the endless variety of slip rings available? I'll be needing one that can handle the MFL buttons and that's compatible with the E31 steering column (later design, remember my car is a 1997 build) - I'm not 100% certain and I have not removed the wheel in my car yet but I believe that my car should have the slip ring attached to the column and not built into the steering wheel itself which is the same as the E46. Can anyone help on recommending a suitable slip ring?
Many thanks in advance for all your help!
Cheers
Now I expect you're wondering what I'm doing with the paddle wheel - the answer is that I have the steptronic gearbox but with a rather modified shift control computer that allows me to far better "manual" control hence I'd like to have the paddle wheel.
To change the wheels over means two problems need to be solved which is where you lot come in as I need the collective wisdom of PHer's to help me with this one. The problems are as follows:
1) Twin airbag wheel but the car was designed for only single stage airbag. All standard E31 steering wheels are single stage airbag units. There are some differences in slip ring design dependent upon vehicle build year but they're all single stage airbag. The trick that I've been told is to connect only the larger of the twin airbag deploy charges as this will mimic the single stage. Logically this makes sense but has anyone out there done a similar modification? I don't want to find out the wrong way that this doesn't work.
2) Slip ring modification will be needed. Is anyone out there knowledgeable on the endless variety of slip rings available? I'll be needing one that can handle the MFL buttons and that's compatible with the E31 steering column (later design, remember my car is a 1997 build) - I'm not 100% certain and I have not removed the wheel in my car yet but I believe that my car should have the slip ring attached to the column and not built into the steering wheel itself which is the same as the E46. Can anyone help on recommending a suitable slip ring?
Many thanks in advance for all your help!
Cheers
Bumpety-bump - no takers on this one?
I've done some research and it seems the answer I seek can be found at CA Automotive - they even show a picture of an 840 with the exact same wheel fitted - anyone have any experience with this company? I've emailed them but no response after 3 days so far.
I've done some research and it seems the answer I seek can be found at CA Automotive - they even show a picture of an 840 with the exact same wheel fitted - anyone have any experience with this company? I've emailed them but no response after 3 days so far.
Well quite, if I'd had a chance at work this week I would've done just that. Being busy I emailed them in the hope of getting the info at a time to suit me. I'll give a call soon but I'm more interested in hearing whether I can get any independant feedback from people that may already have this conversion.
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