Z3 facelift with E85 Z4 steering wheel fitted

[Obijuan83]

I needed a change as regards steering wheel so decided to fit a Z4 E85 steering wheel to my Z3 facelift.

Bought a Z4 steering wheel with MFSW buttons + paddles(!)

Νeeded some machining to fit the E39 slip ring (7 cables to use extra cable for light of buttons)

Soldered facelift slipring plugs for car and airbag side and a 4 pin female plug to connect to 4 pin MFSW buttons

All went as planned and voila! Illumination of buttons works, horn also works and indicators canceling works as should.

 

[Ianmc]

Do the paddles sound the horn/flash the lights/work the ejector seat or something?

 

[Obijuan83]

Νo, paddles are for shift up or down gears

 

[Ianmc]

Νo, paddles are for shift up or down gears

Do they work on your Z3?

 

[Stevo7682]

Looking good cant wait to see it fully completed with the bag back on .
Have you managed to source one yet ?.
Stephen.

 

[B21]

Very resourceful!

Good write up..

I guess the good news on Z3s is that BMWs insistence on coding hardware was less prevalent!

 

[Obijuan83]

Do they work on your Z3?

Of course, not

Looking good cant wait to see it fully completed with the bag back on .
Have you managed to source one yet ?.
Stephen.

There are too many here in Greece, but no way paying 250+€ for a 20 year old airbag.

I bought one from UK for 30€ and waiting for delivery

 

[TeDe911]

I needed a change as regards steering wheel so decided to fit a Z4 E85 steering wheel to my Z3 facelift.

Bought a Z4 steering wheel with MFSW buttons + paddles(!) View attachment 291763

Νeeded some machining to fit the E39 slip ring (7 cables to use extra cable for light of buttons)

Soldered facelift slipring plugs for car and airbag side and a 4 pin female plug to connect to 4 pin MFSW buttons

All went as planned and voila! Illumination of buttons works, horn also works and indicators canceling works as should.

View attachment 291765
hello Obijuan, can you give me a hint? what to do with it now...?
1. Have you removed the old Z3 tape and connected the new Z4 tape to the car installation? If so, I need to trim it a bit, right?
2. I found such an adapter on the forum... but what is it supposed to be used for? Have you encountered this? Have you used it?

 

[Obijuan83]

Please explain me ,what have you done? You use the Z4 "slip ring" with the shown adapter?

 

[Obijuan83]

Hopefully finished the steering wheel by adding the airbag!