Aftermarket steering wheel z3

leon69white

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Thinking of a Momo steering wheel non airbag question is how or what do I do about air bag warning light ? Does it remain on
 

Stevo7682

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If you are doing away with the bag you may as well do away with the bulb.

As yes it will stay on with no airbag not really any way to code out the drivers airbag
Obviously you'll need a half blind mot tester to pass with no airbag.

Stephen.
 

Mike Fishwick

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Last edited:

Duncodin

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I think there's a circuit, a box, or cable plug kind of thing that can be connected that stops the airbag warning light showing.

But I suspect the mot tester might fail the car anyway because z3 has an airbag and would be part of the test. But you could fit the old wheel for the test. But don't have an accident coz insurance won't be best pleased if you've removed vehicle safety equipment
 

Duncodin

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If you are doing away with the bag you may as well do away with the bulb.

As yes it will stay on with no airbag not really any way to code out the drivers airbag
Obviously you'll need a half blind mot tester to pass with no airbag.

Stephen.
Many years ago, before I joined the forum, my airbag light came on and I had the bright idea to remove the bulb. But a faint light still lit up through the hole. No idea what light. Maybe a LED on the circuit board or some other dash light shining through the hole where the bulb was. Couldn't see it outside in daylight. But at night or when the car is under cover there it was. This nagging glow in the airbag warning.
 

Mike Fishwick

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Removal of the warning lamp is not the answer, as the MoT tester will check the operation its operation when the ignition is switched on. As I mentioned above, fitting a suitable resistor across the airbag connections will make the warning lamp think that an airbag is present. However, the tester will also have eyeballs, and will see that the steering wheel does not have an airbag - which on a relatively modern car such as a Z3 is an instant fail.

The main question is - do you want to be a number on a quota-hungry policement's score sheet, and maybe leave your teeth on a lovely Momo steering wheel? One of the aims of motoring law is to protect enthusiasts from their own follies . . .
 

Andyboy

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If the car has a non airbag wheel, the airbag light is redundant. It's not just the removable bulb - BMW clusters of that era have a secondary bulb inside the bulb socket that will continue to glow albeit not as brightly. You need to either 'sleeve' the socket with a 1 inch long rolled up bit of insulating tape, to remove the cluster plastic 'glass' cover and tape over it.

If the car has side airbags then the light does need to work.

The Momo Prototipo wheel is very good.
 

Andyboy

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However, the tester will also have eyeballs, and will see that the steering wheel does not have an airbag - which on a relatively modern car such as a Z3 is an instant fail.
Not so. My E36 has passed seven consecutive MOT's at three different garages with a Momo non airbag wheel.
 

Modedan

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Jul 26, 2024
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I had the same issue when I switched to a Momo steering wheel without an airbag. The airbag warning light stayed on because the system was detecting the missing airbag. I ended up using a resistor to trick the system, but make sure to get advice specific to your car model.
 
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