E36 steering wheel
E36 steering wheel
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Discussion

S3_Graham

Original Poster:

12,835 posts

229 months

Tuesday 8th June 2010
quotequote all
mine has worn and a slight hole in it at the top, im looking at replacing it. Would an E36 M3 wheel fit?? im not making a rep but i just think it looks nicer!

Gravy

2,076 posts

264 months

Tuesday 8th June 2010
quotequote all
I'm can't see why it wouldn't fit, but if it doesn't and you fancy something a bit different, I have an MTec 2 wheel (non-airbag) for an E36 somewhere in my garage if that would be of interest?

hellrot_e34

348 posts

256 months

Tuesday 8th June 2010
quotequote all
if your wheel is the later "triangle" airbag type then an m3 wheel will go straight on as its got exactly the same slipring / wiring.

S3_Graham

Original Poster:

12,835 posts

229 months

Wednesday 9th June 2010
quotequote all
hellrot_e34 said:
if your wheel is the later "triangle" airbag type then an m3 wheel will go straight on as its got exactly the same slipring / wiring.


Its this one.... and i want to fit this one:





Edited by S3_Graham on Wednesday 9th June 08:48

hellrot_e34

348 posts

256 months

Wednesday 9th June 2010
quotequote all
bingo! theyre directly interchangeable, its quite a straightforward process to boot.

S3_Graham

Original Poster:

12,835 posts

229 months

Wednesday 9th June 2010
quotequote all
hellrot_e34 said:
bingo! theyre directly interchangeable, its quite a straightforward process to boot.
thanks buddy smile been offered one for £140 delivered which i think is a good price

hellrot_e34

348 posts

256 months

Wednesday 9th June 2010
quotequote all
£140 is pretty good, they average around the £150-160 mark, the removal / fitting process is pretty simple, theres 2 recessed splined screws on the rear of the wheel that release the airbag then a plug in the middle of the bag rear and a ribbon connector plug to the slipring, disconnect all those, whack off the central nut and the old wheels off!

S3_Graham

Original Poster:

12,835 posts

229 months

Wednesday 9th June 2010
quotequote all
does the centre cap just pop off, then you get the splined screws on the back of the steering wheel?

Do i need to disconnect the batt if i'm messing with the airbag?

TonyRPH

13,546 posts

198 months

Wednesday 9th June 2010
quotequote all
S3_Graham said:
does the centre cap just pop off, then you get the splined screws on the back of the steering wheel?

Do i need to disconnect the batt if i'm messing with the airbag?
Definitely disconnect the battery if messing about with airbags.

hellrot_e34

348 posts

256 months

Thursday 10th June 2010
quotequote all
it doesnt pop off so much as just come free, and it is indeed a good idea to disconnect the battery! the only downside to the swap is that in some cases it triggers the airbag warning light but not always.

S3_Graham

Original Poster:

12,835 posts

229 months

Thursday 10th June 2010
quotequote all
ok, i was going to disconnect anyway tbh.

When you say comes free... what i meant was, do you have to undo the screws to get the centre cap off? I have another spare standard E36 wheel so will have a close inspection of that when i get home.

Slight other problem is that i just emailed the guy at the breakers to say i want it, he then emails back saying i need to send them a cheque. Great, what century are we living in?? i dont own a cheque book.

b19rak

403 posts

247 months

Thursday 10th June 2010
quotequote all
I did the same on my old e36. Took it to a BMW indy specialist, £20 and 10 min job. sorted.

Did not disconnect the battery but did undo the cowling disconnect a lead and then changed the wheel.

Babu 01

2,352 posts

229 months

Thursday 10th June 2010
quotequote all
A highly anal useful guide to swapping steering wheels:

http://www.dvatp.com/bmw/diy/steering_wheel_conver...

hellrot_e34

348 posts

256 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
indeed its the 2 recessed screws that release the airbag itself.

S3_Graham

Original Poster:

12,835 posts

229 months

Wednesday 16th June 2010
quotequote all
its just arrived, £140 delivered which im happy with! Not amazing condition but we have a leather specialist coming round work tomorrow to reconnolise an aircraft for us.

TheEnd

15,370 posts

218 months

Wednesday 16th June 2010
quotequote all
You'll have 2 torx screws behind the 3 and 9 spoke, the most important bit is not to take the wheel off unless it's dead ahead.

ie, loosen screws, turn to ahead, often give it a wiggle side to side to make sure it'd nicely centred, then swap the wheels.

You'll find the centre bolt will probably be quite a pain, they'll eat through cheap sockets pretty quick.

S3_Graham

Original Poster:

12,835 posts

229 months

Wednesday 16th June 2010
quotequote all
TheEnd said:
You'll have 2 torx screws behind the 3 and 9 spoke, the most important bit is not to take the wheel off unless it's dead ahead.

ie, loosen screws, turn to ahead, often give it a wiggle side to side to make sure it'd nicely centred, then swap the wheels.

You'll find the centre bolt will probably be quite a pain, they'll eat through cheap sockets pretty quick.
biggest PITA is i've just realised i only have AF stuff at work... The write up says 5/8 should fit. Will have a hunt about for metric!

TheEnd

15,370 posts

218 months

Wednesday 16th June 2010
quotequote all
I think it was a 15mm, although it could well be a two man job, one person holding the wheel, the other on a big breaker bar.

don't be tempted to lever against the steering lock!
I've seen impact guns sit there buzzing away doing nothing.

once undone, remember to straighten the wheels!

S3_Graham

Original Poster:

12,835 posts

229 months

Wednesday 16th June 2010
quotequote all
TheEnd said:
I think it was a 15mm, although it could well be a two man job, one person holding the wheel, the other on a big breaker bar.

don't be tempted to lever against the steering lock!
I've seen impact guns sit there buzzing away doing nothing.

once undone, remember to straighten the wheels!
i think the wheel has been off before as its not sitting totally straight and the guy i bought the car off gave me a 2nd standard wheel. fingers crossed it shouldnt be tooooo tight!!

S3_Graham

Original Poster:

12,835 posts

229 months

Wednesday 16th June 2010
quotequote all
Job done, thanks for the help! Looks a million times better.

All went well and very easy, called a mechanic mate up to help hold the wheel while i undid the centre nut. He took great pleasure in scary the st out of me telling me stories of airbags going off in peoples faces etc...

Very funny... NOT