[ScottishBeemer]

Im trying to fit and M-sport Steering wheel to my non sport E90. I just cant get the airbag to pop out!!!!!
I've put the screw driver in the slits but cant find the the realise catch!!!!
I take it its different for non sport models?

Can somebody please help me and stop me losing my sanity!!!!

[eldudo]

Originally Posted by ScottishBeemer

Im trying to fit and M-sport Steering wheel to my non sport E90. I just cant get the airbag to pop out!!!!!
I've put the screw driver in the slits but cant find the the realise catch!!!!
I take it its different for non sport models?

Can somebody please help me and stop me losing my sanity!!!!

Sorry to hear about your frustration, but all I can say is "Patience grasshopper, patience...".

Try to "feel" around in there and hold the airbag with one hand pulling on it just a bit to see if you are on the right spot.
Also, look at the pictures of the steering wheel with the airbag out and you should see where you want to hit. Look at your own new wheel and see where the screwdriver goes in. It should be against the back of the steering wheel to hit the clip, if not, you'll just go over it.

Hope this helps.

[japac1]

Originally Posted by ScottishBeemer

Im trying to fit and M-sport Steering wheel to my non sport E90. I just cant get the airbag to pop out!!!!!
I've put the screw driver in the slits but cant find the the realise catch!!!!
I take it its different for non sport models?

Can somebody please help me and stop me losing my sanity!!!!

Do you mind telling me how much this has cost you? I, too have non-sport but really love the M-sport wheel (no thanks to FrankoQ), but it's gotta be expensive to replace the airbag and whatever else you need to do.

[dmichael]

Just installed my M-sport steering wheel last night, Getting the airbag to unclip was difficult. I got the first clip undone within about 5 minutes or so, so you'd figure the second one would go even faster, but it took about 15 mins.

I wanted to share a tip on getting the connectors on the back of the airbag to come loose. This was the second hardest part of the process for me until I figured out the trick on how to disconnect that plug. It is designed with a locking mechanism. If you look at post #2 on this thread, 3rd pic shows that connector which is green and black. If you lift up the black part (gently) with a small flat head screwdriver on both sides, the whole connecter will practically fall out of the socket on it own. I did not lift it off the main body of the connector completely, i only had to get it to slide about half way up, and it stays in place cuz of a groove and a couple of pins that keep it all together even when you loosen it up. Alternatively, there are a couple of grooves on the top of either side of the black piece that you can stick you fingernail under and lift it that way.

Total install time for me was about an hour,
Good luck!

[doobie]

does anydody know what the part number for the sport black steering wheel cover with multifuction buttons? the one without the m logo...i cant find it in the thread.

i know its not 32 30 7 906 848 or 32 30 7 906 847.




edit: i think i found it, 32 30 6 767 211, can anybody confirm?

[mrbelk]

Thought I would post a couple pics of my M-sport (tri-stitched) wheel installed into my Lemon/Al sedan.

There is a fair bit of noise in the pics, and I intend to tweak them a little to try to get the noise out, but you get the "picture."

I am loving this wheel.







-MrB

[JWadle]

I installed my M-Sport wheel last weekend and bavarian19's DIY was nearly flawless. Thanks.

My biggest problem was popping the airbag out. That took about a half hour of fishing around with different tools until I found the spring latches.

Every else went without a hitch ... until I closed my trunk before reconnecting the battery.

Fortunately I have a battery charger. Hooked that up to the jump terminals up front and opened the trunk with the remote.

I got the perf leather version from qabeli on eBay. For the cost, this wheel is the best mod I've done to my car. The feel of the thing is miles ahead of the ZSP sports wheel.

[aquaanox]

Which one is thicker ? perforated or the M tri-stitch smooth leather.. Also, is there a difference in wheels manufactured in 2006 vs 2007 ?

~thx

[JWadle]

Tri stitch and perf leather wheels are the same thickness. No difference btw 2006 and 2007 manufacture as far as I know.

[aquaanox]

Originally Posted by bavarian19

Yes

i cant find the slits.. battery is currently disconnected... someone help! : )

[aquaanox]

nevermind i found the slits... but now i cant the the spring to pop out.. : (

[FrankoQ]

Originally Posted by aquaanox

nevermind i found the slits... but now i cant the the spring to pop out.. : (

use screwdriver in an angle to be able to pop the airbag out.

[aquaanox]

Originally Posted by FrankoQ

use screwdriver in an angle to be able to pop the airbag out.

yup, that did the trick.. its all done now... Actually, now that it's done and i understand this DIY better : ), i must say that the instructions are great! thanks bavarian.. !! and FrankoQ for the tip..

[aquaanox]

Originally Posted by stressdoc

Finally got the M- front cover. It fits nicely on the M Wheel. Installed them just now. Easy job, it was fun. Took a little while to find the hidden slots for the airbag clip. It really does help to feel for the soft spot. You can find it on your new M-wheel first, and see the tiny slits for a screwdriver. Otherwise you would never find them. They are about 1 inch from the inner circle (where the wheel attaches to the column) or 2 inches back from the front cover, and about at 4 o'clock and 8 o'clock. Everything else is a snap. Or at least I think so -- i have not connected the battery and gone for a test drive yet...

Im going to post pictures of the slits tomorrow, so all the guesswork is taken out of this.. (for first time DIY'ers like myself)

[Jbrock22]

As easy as it looks to switch wheels, my dealer only wants $ 99.00 to do the job. Doing it when I get my oil gets changed. Easy decision.

[stressdoc]

This mod is so much fun, and the DIY instructions so good, that I almost feel like I would pay $100 to do it myself.

My apologies for screwing up the part # of the M cover.

I love this M wheel, it is so much cooler in the summer, and I bet warmer in winter. The grip is much better, it's like having a scalpel as compared to a kitchen knife.

[stressdoc]

Originally Posted by aquaanox

Im going to post pictures of the slits tomorrow, so all the guesswork is taken out of this.. (for first time DIY'ers like myself)

That would be most useful. One with tape or something to show exactly where the nearly invisible slits are. I really found it much easier to locate them by feel -- the soft rubber round spots. Another good photo would be showing how the screw driver actually pushes the spring back.

[bavarian19]

Im glad to see this DIY has been real helpful!!! Looks like a ton of Msport wheels on E9x's now!!!

[japac1]

Originally Posted by bavarian19

Im glad to see this DIY has been real helpful!!! Looks like a ton of Msport wheels on E9x's now!!!

Except my girly non-zsp

I think I am just gonna drop the $1000 and switch it out anyway.

[FrankoQ]

Originally Posted by japac1

Except my girly non-zsp

I think I am just gonna drop the $1000 and switch it out anyway.

you won't regret it

[japac1]

Originally Posted by FrankoQ

you won't regret it

Man, it's very hard trying to find all the parts I need to do this mod. Tischer BMW can get me everything for around $1200. Seems awfully steep... Still waiting for one to come up for sale on here.

[stressdoc]

Originally Posted by japac1

Man, it's very hard trying to find all the parts I need to do this mod. Tischer BMW can get me everything for around $1200. Seems awfully steep... Still waiting for one to come up for sale on here.

Drop Qabeli an enote and see if he can't set you up for a better price. He sometimes lists the complete set , w/airbag etc. for less than that. It's a great mod, but no way I would spend $1200 on it.