LCI Steering Wheel Retrofit to pre-LCI Car?

jester77 · 05-02-2012, 04:10 PM

I'm looking to do the above - fit a used Sports Steering Wheel (non M-sport) from an LCI-spec car to my 2005 330i (SE wheel with angular airbag). Manual gearbox so no paddles etc.

Buttons are the same so I would assume straight swap but not sure...

Anyone confirm if this is as simple as I am hoping?

jak_ir · 05-02-2012, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jester77

I'm looking to do the above - fit a used Sports Steering Wheel (non M-sport) from an LCI-spec car to my 2005 330i (SE wheel with angular airbag). Manual gearbox so no paddles etc.

Buttons are the same so I would assume straight swap but not sure...

Anyone confirm if this is as simple as I am hoping?

It will not fit. Sports steering wheel uses the round airbag. You would be better off getting the msport steering wheel.

jester77 · 05-02-2012, 05:02 PM

I know that I will need the round airbag, that's not an issue.

For clarity, these are the wheels that I am looking to swap from and to...

Mainly wondering from an electrical point of view whether it will be 'plug and play' or not.

Elliott@DetailAddict · 05-02-2012, 05:04 PM

Non-sport to sport should be fine with the correct airbag.

raf555 · 05-03-2012, 08:40 AM

Straight swap buddy but the buttons are not the same.

jester77 · 09-22-2012, 03:02 PM

Finally got round to trying to do this but got stuck when realised that the airbag connector from the new LCI wheel is a different configuration to the socket on my pre-LCI hub. See pic below (hub socket a bit blurry in the red circle). A bit annoyed as I had managed to source a really nice sport wheel (not M Sport) at a good price in the belief that it was 'plug and play'.

Name: IMG_0287.jpg
Views: 4520
Size: 138.9 KB

Name: IMG_0287.jpg
Views: 4520
Size: 138.9 KB

Any advice on how to get around this?

N52SK · 01-14-2021, 02:51 PM

Im currently doing the exact same swap and came across this issue. Does anyone know what can be done to overcome this and can the grey plug be shaved down to fit the shape of black female end?

RajB · 01-17-2021, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N52SK

Im currently doing the exact same swap and came across this issue. Does anyone know what can be done to overcome this and can the grey plug be shaved down to fit the shape of black female end?

Can you not swap the connector from your original airbag to the facelift one?
Pins will be removable from the housing.

05-02-2012, 04:10 PM	#1
jester77 Private First Class 12 Rep 125 Posts Drives: BMW 335i E90 2011 Join Date: May 2010 Location: London iTrader: (0)	LCI Steering Wheel Retrofit to pre-LCI Car? I'm looking to do the above - fit a used Sports Steering Wheel (non M-sport) from an LCI-spec car to my 2005 330i (SE wheel with angular airbag). Manual gearbox so no paddles etc. Buttons are the same so I would assume straight swap but not sure... Anyone confirm if this is as simple as I am hoping?
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

05-02-2012, 05:02 PM	#3
jester77 Private First Class 12 Rep 125 Posts Drives: BMW 335i E90 2011 Join Date: May 2010 Location: London iTrader: (0)	I know that I will need the round airbag, that's not an issue. For clarity, these are the wheels that I am looking to swap from and to... Mainly wondering from an electrical point of view whether it will be 'plug and play' or not. Attached Images
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-02-2012, 05:04 PM	#4
Elliott@DetailAddict Brigadier General 313 Rep 4,370 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Santa Clara, CA iTrader: (0)	Non-sport to sport should be fine with the correct airbag.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-03-2012, 08:40 AM	#5
raf555 Banned 205 Rep 2,100 Posts Drives: BMW 320D Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: South Yorkshire iTrader: (47)	Straight swap buddy but the buttons are not the same.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-22-2012, 03:02 PM	#6
jester77 Private First Class 12 Rep 125 Posts Drives: BMW 335i E90 2011 Join Date: May 2010 Location: London iTrader: (0)	Finally got round to trying to do this but got stuck when realised that the airbag connector from the new LCI wheel is a different configuration to the socket on my pre-LCI hub. See pic below (hub socket a bit blurry in the red circle). A bit annoyed as I had managed to source a really nice sport wheel (not M Sport) at a good price in the belief that it was 'plug and play'. Any advice on how to get around this?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-14-2021, 02:51 PM	#7
N52SK New Member 0 Rep 9 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Im currently doing the exact same swap and came across this issue. Does anyone know what can be done to overcome this and can the grey plug be shaved down to fit the shape of black female end?
	Appreciate 0 Quote