Help!! With Steering Wheel Swap
- Thread starter Hwk-I-St8
- Start date
- Joined
- May 9, 2022
- Points
- 44
- Model of Z
- Z3 Roadster
Bummer...was hoping for some help here. Tried to pull it off but it started to come apart and a tiny torx screw (like really tiny) fell out. I could see another in there as well, but there is no way you could get to them with it in place.
I don't want to ruin them, but I'm stalled out until I figure it out. I'm supposed to go to an event Saturday....was hoping to have the new wheel on, but may have to pull it and reinstall the original.
I don't want to ruin them, but I'm stalled out until I figure it out. I'm supposed to go to an event Saturday....was hoping to have the new wheel on, but may have to pull it and reinstall the original.
Have a look on YouTube there are loads of informative videos. This is just one of them.
Tony.
- Joined
- May 9, 2022
- Points
- 44
- Model of Z
- Z3 Roadster
Yep....I've watched a bunch of them, but none address those trim pieces. Interestingly, none address the plastic piece on the back with the ribbon cable either. They say how to remove the airbag module and the bolt and gloss over everything else.
I'm sure Spurs fan in Coupe or Lee will be along shortly to help you out. 
Great vid Tony, pretty much confirms what I said in post #2.
- Joined
- May 9, 2022
- Points
- 44
- Model of Z
- Z3 Roadster
Tony - thanks. I did not see that one. Clearly your google fu is better than mine. I looked at a lot of vids and most were just pulling the wheel off and installing an aftermarket wheel or a different BMW wheel. I appreciate the help. They did indeed pull off, but not without damage. There's a top piece and one underneath held together with super small (like jewlers size) screws and one side flexed enough coming off that they stripped out 4 of the 5 screws and came most of the way apart. I was able to re-install the screws with a little glue and get the new wheel reassembled. I can't see much reason for them to be two separate pieces except that maybe they re-use the bottom part of it for wheels with controls on them, so they can screw on the top with buttons or the plain one that's on my Z.
Anyway, it's together, seems to work OK with one oddity. When I turn the wheel side to side, I get a clicking sound. It comes from a small white plastic piece in the center. It may have done that before...not sure I'd notice it while driving and who sits and turns the wheel lock to lock while sitting with the engine not running. I'm thinking it may be the device that turns off the turn signal when you turn?
It does sound as though that could well be the indicator canceller you can hear. Reading what you say maybe it might help to apply a some warmth with a heat gun (carefully) or a hair dryer to make to rubber more supple? Glad you got them off anyway.
Tony.
Tony.
- Joined
- May 9, 2022
- Points
- 44
- Model of Z
- Z3 Roadster
I've confirmed that it's a small plastic spring-loaded piece making the sound (pics below). I'm pretty sure that's the device that cancels the turn signal. It clicks before I install the main bolt that holds the wheel on. Then doesn't click when the bolt is in place. Then, after installing the airbag, it clicks again. The click comes pretty much right when I leave center on the wheel. It seems to be clicking on the black plastic backing piece that houses the airbag ribbon cable. I thought I had that installed the same as before, but maybe not.
Turn signal cancel works properly. I'm going to take it all apart when I get a chance and see if I can tell what's clicking on what. I may try swapping the part from my original wheel to the replacement to see if that helps.
Turn signal cancel works properly. I'm going to take it all apart when I get a chance and see if I can tell what's clicking on what. I may try swapping the part from my original wheel to the replacement to see if that helps.
