Steering Wheel Options

[Ryan]

Hello all.
I came across an eBay auction and saw the owner had a steering wheel from an E46 in it.
Does anyone know if the buttons on the wheel would work?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bmw-Z3-Convertible-with-Hard-Top-/183291379333?oid=113143676311

Or has anyone had success installing a multi function steering wheel from the E36 range?

 

[5harp3y]

you could easily swap one in but i'm not sure how easy the wiring would be

 

[windym]

I am in the process of changing mine for a z4 wheel, @Southernboy makes the slip ring adaptors. The z4 wheel needs some alteration but this does not look like an issue, there is a thread on here somewhere.

The z4 is a dual stage air bag so if your car is made after 4/99 then it will have the dual stage, making the airbag side of things plug and play. If not then the whole thing becomes more of a pain, with the z4 conversion, although there are other options including having the wheel recovered.

Andy

 

[NZ00Z3]

The E39 multi function wheel is the one people generally try and fit to the Z3. They come in 8 and 10 button versions.

Using standard BMW slip rings results in being one wire short to make it all work, so people use the metalwork/bearings etc as the earth connection to overcome the problem. A bit dodgy in my books. Maybe @Southernboy can tell us about his slip ring adpators, maybe they solve the problem?

Everything appears to work once you connect the steering wheel buttons and have the right equipment to support the functions (cruise control and OE head unit etc).

 

[Mario]

It's possible to retrofit the steering wheel from an e39 and change the slip ring to one with an extra pole from another bmw not a z3 to make the buttons work any ibus radio or accessories. I can't remember the entire details as I did this years ago but it's definitely possible