Steering columns Interchangeable from an 318i.

[Franks Ti]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone knows or has put in a steering column from other e36s. My steering column went kaputt and Im having trouble finding one from a 95 Ti. I know It has to be obd1 but will columns from other e36s fit like a 318i sedan or 325i.

Or if you have one for sale with key and wiring, 95ti only, I am probally interested.

[spidertri]

When you say steering column do you mean the physical shaft that runs from the back of the steering wheel to the steering rack? How did it fail?

[Bluebimma]

Your ti will still have EWS2 so get a column from an EWS2 car, swap the chip from your key to the new key, and youre set to go.

[Franks Ti]

Originally Posted by Bluebimma

Your ti will still have EWS2 so get a column from an EWS2 car, swap the chip from your key to the new key, and youre set to go.

What year are EWS2 cars, Where is the chip located on the key?
Thanks for the help.

[cooljess76]

You're gonna want to swap the chip out of your old key into the key that matches the new steering column. You'll also need to swap your old EWS antenna ring(goes around the ignition cylinder) onto the new steering column. There's two ews modules, don't mess with those. One is located under the driver's side of the dash somewhere, this one is coded to the antenna ring. The other is located under the passenger's side dash behind the glove compartment, this one is coded to the key chip and the ecu. Again, don't mess with those two modules. Once you get a steering column, just swap the antenna ring with your old one(it's slides off of the ignition lock mechanism) and take the transponder chip out of your old key and swap it into the key that comes with the new steering column. Essentially, you're keeping all of your old ews components.

This is still kinda ghetto IMO, you'll end up with different keys to unlock and start your car. I recommend swapping ignition lock cylinders as well, this way you still retain your old key. You won't need to swap transponder chips, just the antenna ring and ignition lock cylinder.

I have a steering column out of a '98 M3. It has the lock cylinder and key. I sold the turn signal stalk with the OBC, so you'd have to swap yours over. Also, I think I remember something about the SRS and steering wheel slip rings being different, so you might have to swap that as well. Again, I'm not 100% sure this will be plug and play, you might have to swap stuff over or use it for parts to fix whatever's wrong with your column. Do some research and if you think it'll work, shoot me an offer. If you want close up pics of anything such as wires, connectors or just how the thing is put together, LMK and I'll be happy to help out.

[Franks Ti]

I dont think I had a transponder chip, My original key broke in the cylinder and there was nothing in the black key case thing. I tried a steering column from a 98 ti and all the lights would turn on but it wouldnt crank. Isnt EWS2 only in 96+cars with the the key chip?

[cooljess76]

Originally Posted by Franks Ti

I dont think I had a transponder chip, My original key broke in the cylinder and there was nothing in the black key case thing. I tried a steering column from a 98 ti and all the lights would turn on but it wouldnt crank. Isnt EWS2 only in 96+cars with the the key chip?

I'm pretty sure you do. If you pry open the plastic part of the key, there should be a black chip in there. It's held in place with some sticky rubbery stuff and it has tiny white writing printed on it. This is what the chip looks like(the 3 little black things sitting on the EWS module to the right of the photo):



http://www.meeknet.co.uk/E38/E38_Immobiliser_System.pdf

The development of vehicle immobilization systems made further progress resulting in all BMW vehicles
worldwide being fitted as standard with an electronically coded vehicle immobilization system (EWS 2) as
from January 1995. The EWS 2 prevents the vehicle from being driven under its own engine power as the
result of tampering with the ignition lock or doors.
The electronic vehicle immobilization system, stage 2 (EWS 2) fulfilled the more stringent requirements of the
European fully comprehensive insurance providers that came into force in January 1995.

The reason the '98 ti's column didn't work in your car is probably because you didn't swap the chip and antenna ring. Again, the transponder chip in the key MUST match the EWS module behind the glove compartment which must also match the ECU. The antenna ring around the ignition lock MUST match the EWS module behind the driver's side of the dash. If you swap a steering column off of another car and it still has the antenna ring from the other car, your car won't start. If you swap a steering column from another car and it still has the ignition lock cylinder, and key transponder chip from the other car, it won't start your car. You need to use ALL of your old EWS components TOGETHER or ALL of the other vehicle's EWS components TOGETHER. Mixing and matching EWS components between cars simply will not work since they're coded to work as a set.