Steering wheel replacement

[garyp159]

Hi folks,
The standard steering wheel is too large, touches my left thigh, very inconsiderate of BMW not to provide adjustment.

I have a nice leather 3-spoke wheel and boss that should fit, however when I took the original steering wheel off it has a rather complex looking slip ring, the likes of which I haven't seen before guessing it's something to do with the airbag...????

Decided to put it back on for now and do some reading before attempting the swap again. Are there any hints and tips for changing the steering wheel?

The wheel has a sticker inside dated 10 September 1997, not sure if that has any particular relevance, but the slip ring is different to the last E36 steering wheel I changed so wonder if something changed between earlier and later models?

All advice welcome!

 

[t-tony]

There are such things, I believe, as single and 2 stage air bags. Maybe that could be a difference.

Tony.

 

[garyp159]

I guess so, never seen this type, just wondering what to do, the Hub came with an inline fuse with two flying leads, I've never seen this used for a horn, so I'm thinking it's to bridge the airbag connections. Guess I need to get a wiring diagram.

 

[Ian&Sue]

Have a look in 'Articles' (on the blue band at top of the page) there is one by Mike Fishwick about fitting a smaller steering wheel.

 

[Mike Fishwick]

Remember that if the new wheel does not have an airbag, it will be an MoT failure point.

 

[garyp159]

Remember that if the new wheel does not have an airbag, it will be an MoT failure point.

I'm OK with that.
Otherwise I need to find a smaller steering wheel with an airbag, any ideas?

 

[Mike Fishwick]

Another risk is that a roadside police check could pick up the absence of an airbag, resulting in the car being impounded.
Unfortunately smaller airbag wheels are not cheap, but I found a great price difference for a RAID wheel between UK dealers and those in Germany. I bought mine about 15 years ago from Chrom-Design in Germany for about 350 Euros, when the UK dealers wanted £650! I have been told that it is based on a Ford wheel, so it may be worth checking if a Fiesta RS wheel uses a similar boss to BMW.

 

[garyp159]

Are the laws different in France? I've never heard of Police impounding a vehicle for no airbag. I have driven track & competition cars to and from tracks, so long as they had a valid MOT, tax and insurance it was fine, all of my track cars have had aftermarket steering wheels, none with airbags.

I'll look at the Raid wheels, are they easy to fit? If they are smaller, feel good, look good and easy enough to fit (in that order) I don't mind paying for a quality steering wheel, it is one of the most important parts of your car after all!!! Also, I intend to keep this car a while, I'll get my money worth.

 

[t-tony]

If the cars were fitted with airbags from the factory, and have had it removed, you do not have a “valid” MOT certificate. It should fail the MOT if the airbag has been removed. British Police would not “impound” a vehicle for no airbag, to be fair most Police wouldn’t know an airbag if it bit them on the arse.

Tony.

 

[garyp159]

So where can I source a Raid 340mm steering wheel?
Just did a search and nothing came up...

 

[Mike Fishwick]

I just searched on google for 'RAID steering wheels,' and came up with a page of them, from £890 downwards. Perhaps german EBAY would be a better place to look. It is a pity that BMW do not make decent-sized steering wheels.

Regarding the UK police, it depends on how enthusiastic they are - as stated above, the removal of an airbag is an MoT failure, and therefore can be considered as making the car unroadworthy. Like most legal things in the UK, it is open to interpretation, but in these days the police are looking for offences which are easy to prosecute, and will help them with their quota for the day.

I was once told by a traffic officer that I was breaking the law by being a Brit and driving a French-registed car in the UK! He obviously did not understand the difference between being a British Citizen and a Resident in Britain . . . At least he did not taiser me!

 

[garyp159]

I found many Raid steering wheels, none of which are BMW Z3 compatible... I also contacted Chrom Design but they said they don't do them anymore.

 

[garyp159]

There's one on Ebay... but they need an adapter, is that right?

 

[Mike Fishwick]

Yes - the boss is different for each make

 

[Mike Fishwick]

We went to the factory in Germany, but they did not take credit cars, hence Chrom-Design. It was somewhere in the north of Germany, so iIf the location comes to me I will let you know. They provide wheels to lots of fancy cars, and Porsche, so should still be in business.
I would say that the steering wheel and the shorter gear lever really make the car feel as if it were made for me.

 

[garyp159]

I'd consider a short shift as well, but right now I really want a smaller steering wheel, I'd be happy to use another BMW wheel but can't see anything suitable... 340mm or 350mm should be OK.

If you remember any details that could help track down a source that would be much appreciated!

 

[Mike Fishwick]

My short shift is home-made! Rather than pay £500 for an ACS badge, and finding such things are the same length as the original, I cut my gear lever down, which does the same job - see my bit in the 'Articles' section - see: https://zroadster.org/articles/bmw-z3-short-shift-gear-lever-by-mike-fishwick.40/

If you do not mind the original length, an M Roadster lever will reduce travel too.

I checked on an article I wrote for the BMWCC magazine, and found that RAID steering wheels are made by RDI, of Herdecke, near Dortmund.

 

[garyp159]

I've emailed them, asked where I can buy one of their steering wheels, though the link on their FB page takes you to a site that sells power tools and hand tools...

 

[garyp159]

What about a Z4 steering wheel, are they smaller? Do they have the same dual airbag?

 

[Mike Fishwick]

Your 1997 wheel will have a single-stage airbag - perhaps a two-stage type can just be connected in parallel as a single bag.
The later Z4 wheel may be something to research.