Steering Wheel

[hubrisin]

Question, how difficult is it to swap a steering wheel with another BMW steering wheel?

I want to replace the standard four spoke wheel with a three spoke M wheel. From my research the slip rings are the same. I can get a whole unit with airbag for $250 here in town. Avoiding the shop is my ultimate goal if I decide to do this.

[AutoM3otives]

http://home.earthlink.net/~frankie66...ringwheel.html

[adamud]

I sort of have a question about changing steering wheels to. In that link above it has 3 steering wheels. I currently have the one on the right, but I would like to buy the one on the left. My ti also has an airbag in the steering wheel. If I were to buy the one on the left, would I also have to buy the airbag?

[Panzer_M]

15-20mins

16mm socket.
sharpie/chisel for alignment mark


to Adamud question:

If buying from the dealer yes. Airbag and wheel are seperate.

If buy used from Ebay, no well, maybe..75% of wheels sold are complete, but you can also find just airbags and just wheels there too.

[adamud]

but if I just replaced my wheel, would the airbag still work? Or would I have to purchase the airbag that goes with it.

[mohaughn]

I'm pretty sure the airbag is also including the outer shell. So they are completely different. The canister that the bag is in is also smaller, and a different shape on the three spoke wheel.

[hubrisin]

The airbag is separate.
I called Bavarian last week, $600 for an OEM, but a boneyard airbag will run you $250. Again the sliprings should be compatible between both wheels.

[Panzer_M]

Slips are the same, but should be included with a second hand wheel.

For M3 wheel

Check Ebay
Check Ebay.de(German Ebay, better prices sometimes, but you deal with internat. shipping. and don't worry if you don't speak german, alot of sellers do..but be polite when dealing..don't assume they speak english inquire first, then if not, ask around, several here on Ti.org can help you work out something in writing, don't trust online translators..those can be iffy.

Bimmerforums.com always has some up for sale, but 400-500 for a M3 3 spoke, the Euro Sport is less, but harder to come by.

[L84THSKY]

I think I paid around $325.00 for my M3 three spoke with airbag. Very easy to swap, but hard to find for a good price. I do have an airbag for a European three spoke, middle in picture, if you are interested.

Originally Posted by hubrisin

The airbag is separate.
I called Bavarian last week, $600 for an OEM, but a boneyard airbag will run you $250. Again the sliprings should be compatible between both wheels.

[adamud]

Would our slip ring work with the M3 wheel if it didn't come with one?

[L84THSKY]

I'm pretty sure I used my original slip ring. Since the three spoke was made for the 1999 318ti, it should work with our stock slip ring.

Originally Posted by adamud

Would our slip ring work with the M3 wheel if it didn't come with one?