[Hoog_23]

No, I just reused the one from my original sport wheel.

[Car5on3]

Can you give any info about what to do if your installing a wheel with SMG paddles?

[roger911]

I had a hard time getting the airbag out, but once I knew where to look and exactly how to do it, it was very easy.

I misinterpreted where the "slots" were to depress the springs that hold the airbag in. I was digging around immediately behind the chrome trim piece, due to the 2D effect of photos. I'm attaching a good photo from behind the steering wheel showing the location of the holes for depressing the spring. If you feel around for them carefully, you'll find them. There are small slits in the rubber backing of the steering wheel, to allow entry of a small screw driver, but you'd never know they were there if you weren't looking for them. Also, it seems to work best if you have the screwdriver blade in a horizontal fashion (as in pic) then push in spring until the airbag releases on that side. Once you've found the spring with the screwdriver, it's unmistakable.

Also, the plugs on the back of the airbag have a retaining clips holding them on. Don't try to pry the plugs off without releasing the retention clips. They simply lift up (don't seperate them from the plug). Just stick the flat blade of the same small screwdriver under the center of the retaining clip on the back of the plug. The clip will raise, and allow the plug to come off of the back of the airbag.

Hope this additional detail helps.

Roger
2008 E92
Sport, Premium, 19" factory wheels.
Sparkling Graphite. Black leather.

PS: Be careful if you're aggressively honking at someone. Don't cram your palm onto the horn over the roundel. It will smush and suddenly look crumpled and concave. It'll cost you a new airbag!

[Castel]

This are exactly the pictures needed. I didn't know either where to look to push the screwdriver in and took a while to figure it out. With this pics it's unmistakable! Thanks for posting them for future DIYers.

[Hoog_23]

Originally Posted by Hoog_23

No, I just reused the one from my original sport wheel.

I think I figured out why the airbag was loose/rattles. One of the 3 large T27 screws that hold the metal spring plate in was loose. It seemed tight when I originally installed it but I opened it up this am and was able to tighten two of the bolts several more turns. I didn't drive it for very long but so far so good.

[pcstuff]

Just did this DIY with an M3 steering wheel on my 2006 330i with Sport pkg. Thanks for the info!

I ended up reusing the trim from my old wheel, but noticed that the outer corners don't fit with the M3 wheel well. The sport pkg trim is more "rounded" while the M3 wheel has a distinct "corner" and is thus less "rounded". It's not really noticable, but now I know why people like to buy the M trim too.

[tarheel325]

So here's the story: I'm going from non-sport to MTech wheel.
arrgh it took me so long to get my non-sport airbag out... however when I was putting in my steering wheel (got the whole steering wheel, airbag and all from julek), i realized that I had misaligned it. When I pulled it out, I pulled out the brown ground wire. I tried reconnecting it, but I couldn't seat it 100%. I super glued the edge of the yellow connection piece (it had pulled out too, apparently).

When I installed the wheel and drove around a bit, I got a few errors (brake, DSC, etc), and a weird crunching sound (may have been some leaf bits in the wheel - I saw some weird brown stuff in there). When I turned it all the way to the left I got a seat belt and air bag warning. I was a bit uneasy anyway because of the disconnected ground wire, so I went back and reinstalled my regular wheel. However, I still have the airbag light on.
Is this normal and should I reinstall the M Sport wheel? (I can't seem to remove the brown ground wire, so that seems like it should be okay) What should I do now?

[Castel]

Most likely your airbag wasn't connected correctly and the computer detected it. Any error codes related to the airbag cannot be cleared out without a scanner, the faults remain stored even after fixing the problem for safety. You need an SRS tool/Airbag scanner to clear the faults or take it to the dealer. I don't think this is related to the type of wheel, it just needs to be correctly installed and then clear the code.

[tarheel325]

Okay. I am likely going to take it to the dealer. I reinstalled the sport wheel and now the multifunction buttons aren't working - would this be a wire issue or something caused by the airbag fault?

[Castel]

I'm not sure but I would guess it's a wire issue unrelated to the airbag. If you are going to take it in then it'll be ok. Good luck!

[tarheel325]

What sucks is I've put the original wheel back in and I'm still having the MF button and airbag light problems. I think I'll just put the new wheel in, end up going tomorrow and having to eat the cost

[tarheel325]

The cost I'm going to have to eat is pretty high: steering control module (or something with a similar name) is out of commission. $975 cost of replacement! Total cost for this mod: $1550, two weeks of waiting, and nearly 24 hours of regret and discomfort. Probably my last mod ever

[chip2058]

One screw.. One screw, got the whole process down to a science but I think that the screw holding the grounding wire to the steering wheel is stripped. (My dealer replaced steering wheel trip back earlier this year so it's more than possible that they did it). I tried using a Torx T10 bit in the screw but it just spins. I don't know if it is a result of a weak bit or of a stripped screw. Any suggestions?

[subieworx]

Originally Posted by tomob63

my M Sport retro was done last week. Had my local dealer install.

One prob though, the gap on the right side, is BIGGER than the left side.

I can't figure it out. All of my parts were new OEM stock (buttons, cover, harness, airbag).

Doesn't bother me much, but 2 passengers have pointed it out.

Any idea's on what is wrong?

Really easy fix. Pop the air bag off and swap the metal plates behind it. They look similar from the sport to m sport wheel, but are slightly different. I had the same problem with mine until I swapped the plates.

[sunpole]

Hi, great guide.

Is it possible to install this wheel on my 2011 X5? Would the tutorial be the same?

Thanks.

[CarForHire]

Originally Posted by sunpole

Hi, great guide.

Is it possible to install this wheel on my 2011 X5? Would the tutorial be the same?

Thanks.

I doubt it. Only E9X and E8x have been done so far.

[riKs]

Thanks for the guide! will try it soon

[bavarian19]

Originally Posted by sunpole

Hi, great guide.

Is it possible to install this wheel on my 2011 X5? Would the tutorial be the same?

Thanks.

Not this specific wheel, but they do make an E70 msport wheel. Just get the right wheel, and it should be the exact same steps.


When I wrote the DIY, I basically followed the one from the E46.

[script]

I changed my E46 M3 and Golf steering wheels in 30 mins flat but I cant for the life of me find the airbag clips to remove it!

Read and re-read this over and over

[woodpecka]

Do you try to remove a ZSP or non ZSP? The angle is different.

[script]

I cross referenced using the new wheel and got it done-was still a pita

[Zombie23]

wait. what if the vehicle is a non sport. how do you change it or what? i dont get it for the non sport