Steering Wheel Compatability (M)

spitfun

spitfun

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I can't seem to find the answer to my question,sorry if I am resurrecting an old topic. I have a 1998 M Roadster (single stage wheel) and am looking to install what I believe to be a later 2 stage E36 wheel on it. Can't I just swap the blank trim pieces over along with the airbag from my original wheel? I believe I read somewhere I may have to jump some wires to get the airbag to work and swap the slip ring for the horn to work,correct? The shape of my wheel and the new one look the same so this should be fine? Thanks for the help Rich
 

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Pardon my ignorance, but what's a 2 stage wheel?

Since I don't really understand what you're trying to accomplish, this may not solve your problem but I was not real happy with the wheel on my '01 3.0i. The leather was smooth, slippery and it just didn't feel good in my hands. I had it recovered by Royal Steering Wheels. They have a bunch of options for material, pattern, thickness, etc. The result was astounding.

I didn't want to have my Z out of commission while they did it, so I bought a used wheel on ebay and sent that to them for the work. That way I still have my original wheel and I was only down for an hour or so to swap.
 
Hwk-I-St8 said:
Pardon my ignorance, but what's a 2 stage wheel?

Since I don't really understand what you're trying to accomplish, this may not solve your problem but I was not real happy with the wheel on my '01 3.0i. The leather was smooth, slippery and it just didn't feel good in my hands. I had it recovered by Royal Steering Wheels. They have a bunch of options for material, pattern, thickness, etc. The result was astounding.

I didn't want to have my Z out of commission while they did it, so I bought a used wheel on ebay and sent that to them for the work. That way I still have my original wheel and I was only down for an hour or so to swap.
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A 2 stage wheel is one that has the wiring for a 2 stage airbag. The early cars only had a 1 stage airbag.
 
I think all you need to do is keep your airbag and slip ring and any cables etc. I have a feeling that the wheel itself is the same. As far as the buttons are concerned I’m not sure it’s possible to get those to work, as no Z3 ever had that that.
I changed out my wheel a few years ago. The wheel I bought had a single stage bag, and no slip ring, so I had to buy a used slip ring and 2 stage bag and it all went together nicely, but only after much research of part numbers etc. Even the BMW specialist who fitted the wheel for me while the car was in for service just assumed it wouldn’t work until I full explained the research I had done before hand.
 
I am not looking to use the trim pieces with the buttons,I will be using the blank ones that came with my stock wheel along with the stock airbag...
 
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