Steering Wheel Compatability (M)

spitfun

spitfun

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I can't seem to find the answer to my question,sorry if I am resurrecting an old topic. I have a 1998 M Roadster (single stage wheel) and am looking to install what I believe to be a later 2 stage E36 wheel on it. Can't I just swap the blank trim pieces over along with the airbag from my original wheel? I believe I read somewhere I may have to jump some wires to get the airbag to work and swap the slip ring for the horn to work,correct? The shape of my wheel and the new one look the same so this should be fine? Thanks for the help Rich
 

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Pardon my ignorance, but what's a 2 stage wheel?

Since I don't really understand what you're trying to accomplish, this may not solve your problem but I was not real happy with the wheel on my '01 3.0i. The leather was smooth, slippery and it just didn't feel good in my hands. I had it recovered by Royal Steering Wheels. They have a bunch of options for material, pattern, thickness, etc. The result was astounding.

I didn't want to have my Z out of commission while they did it, so I bought a used wheel on ebay and sent that to them for the work. That way I still have my original wheel and I was only down for an hour or so to swap.
 
Hwk-I-St8 said:
Pardon my ignorance, but what's a 2 stage wheel?

Since I don't really understand what you're trying to accomplish, this may not solve your problem but I was not real happy with the wheel on my '01 3.0i. The leather was smooth, slippery and it just didn't feel good in my hands. I had it recovered by Royal Steering Wheels. They have a bunch of options for material, pattern, thickness, etc. The result was astounding.

I didn't want to have my Z out of commission while they did it, so I bought a used wheel on ebay and sent that to them for the work. That way I still have my original wheel and I was only down for an hour or so to swap.
Click to expand...
A 2 stage wheel is one that has the wiring for a 2 stage airbag. The early cars only had a 1 stage airbag.
 
I think all you need to do is keep your airbag and slip ring and any cables etc. I have a feeling that the wheel itself is the same. As far as the buttons are concerned I’m not sure it’s possible to get those to work, as no Z3 ever had that that.
I changed out my wheel a few years ago. The wheel I bought had a single stage bag, and no slip ring, so I had to buy a used slip ring and 2 stage bag and it all went together nicely, but only after much research of part numbers etc. Even the BMW specialist who fitted the wheel for me while the car was in for service just assumed it wouldn’t work until I full explained the research I had done before hand.
 
I am not looking to use the trim pieces with the buttons,I will be using the blank ones that came with my stock wheel along with the stock airbag...
 
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This is just straight swap. You can use the physical wheel from the newer car and swap straight in.

Same slip ring and airbag as it has now.

Stevie
 
Pre-March/April 1999 Z3s generally use a Stage 1 (single-stage) airbag and matching slip ring (clock spring).
Post-March/April 1999 Z3s use a Stage 2 (dual-stage) airbag and a different slip ring with different connectors.
The airbag and slip ring/connectors are where the problems arise. Stage 1 and Stage 2 systems use different wiring and components

If your car is Stage 1 (pre-March 1999) and you're fitting a Stage 2 wheel
You will need:

Stage 2 steering wheel
Stage 2 airbag
Stage 2 slip ring (clock spring)
Wiring modifications/adaptors to deal with the dual-stage airbag circuits
 
Hi if they are both the same M wheel carcass then yes as Stevie has said you just need to swap your airbag and slip ring into the new carcass and all will be well .
I did this for Stevie he currently has a M wheel out a face-lift fitted with the pre face-lift bag etc .
As for the buttons you either leave them for show not working ( as been said never a z3 option) or take them out for the blanks
Stephen.
 
Change my steering wheel with airbag Stage 1 to steering with a Stage 2 need to rewire you can find this on the web
 
Nodzed said:
Pre-March/April 1999 Z3s generally use a Stage 1 (single-stage) airbag and matching slip ring (clock spring).
Post-March/April 1999 Z3s use a Stage 2 (dual-stage) airbag and a different slip ring with different connectors.
The airbag and slip ring/connectors are where the problems arise. Stage 1 and Stage 2 systems use different wiring and components

If your car is Stage 1 (pre-March 1999) and you're fitting a Stage 2 wheel
You will need:

Stage 2 steering wheel
Stage 2 airbag
Stage 2 slip ring (clock spring)
Wiring modifications/adaptors to deal with the dual-stage airbag circuits
Click to expand...

Hi Niall. I don’t believe this is to be the case on this occasion.

The physical steering wheel is no different in Its ‘m sport’ form irrespective of the production year. The splines are the same.

As mentioned by @Stevo7682 . He popped in a facelift ‘m sport’ wheel, into my Prefacelift car. I sourced a single stage airbag whilst using a single stage slipping.

It does become a bit murkier when trying to fit airbags from different ‘stage’ era themselves.

On my web surfing, people have seemingly fit stage 2 bags into single stage cars, (assumed modification to connections and/or slip ring) that work, only firing on the single stage. No airbag light, allegedly.

However, the same can’t be said for a single stage airbag in a second stage car as the ems and airbag module will chuck up an error as it would only be able to find stage 1 when its looking for 2.

I’ve starred into some murky waters with airbag system modifications before and it’s certainly too murky to dip my toes into any further.

Stevie
 
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