Wanted Z3 steering wheel

[Bigwinn]

Evening

I'm looking for a Z3 wheel if anyone has one in the garage going spare?

non multifuntion
airbag- yes
3 spoke

Drop me a line if you have one

Thanks

 

[Andyboy]

From a 2000 car.

 

[Bigwinn]

Superb thanks Andy

how much?

 

[Andyboy]

£50 posted. Let me check all the part numbers etc and I’ll post up a pic of the slip ring.

 

[Bigwinn]

Cheers bud

 

[Andyboy]

….,

 

[Andyboy]

I can't make head nor tail of the airbag part number.

I've had it 3 years or so - I think it came from a W plate 1.8. It has the E46 type airbag connector.

 

[AntStark]

Thats looks like a pre-facelift wheel to me.. didn't they only have a single stage airbag ?

 

[Stevo7682]

Just for information relating to this thread

Pre face-lift zeds have single stage airbags
Face-lift zeds have multi stage airbags

Connections are different and are not interchangeable.

Stephen.

 

[Mus Musculus]

Thats looks like a pre-facelift wheel to me.. didn't they only have a single stage airbag ?

That's interesting! TIL that even the airbags are different on facelift cars…

On a bit of a tangent, why is the M Sports Steering Wheel listed as multifunction? I would expect a multifunction steering wheel to have some buttons (radio, volume, whatever), which mine certainly doesn't.

 

[Scooblitz]

@Bigwinn I would suggest you will need to look for an e46 3 series car with the triangle steering wheel from a certain era that has the old style steering wheel but a dual stage airbag. I would expect that the majority for sale will be single stage airbags which wont work with post 1999 Z3s. Thats not to say that they don't exist as dual stage bags but a little research and cross referencing of part numbers will be important to find the right combo.

The steering wheel itself is fine, just the airbag is the issues.

What year is your Z3?

 

[Bigwinn]

Thanks all for the advice- who knew that a steering wheel swap could have so many pitfalls....

I will revert back- nothing is simple eh

 

[spurs fan in a coupe]

I’ve a few wheels, which age and style you after?

 

[AntStark]

That's interesting! TIL that even the airbags are different on facelift cars…

On a bit of a tangent, why is the M Sports Steering Wheel listed as multifunction?

Because its turns both left and right! If you take off the black plastic bits either the side of the airbag you will see it has cut outs where buttons would go and where the wiring loom would attach. That steering wheel was used on multiple BMWs which have those functions.

 

[Mus Musculus]

Because its turns both left and right! If you take off the black plastic bits either the side of the airbag you will see it has cut outs where buttons would go and where the wiring loom would attach. That steering wheel was used on multiple BMWs which have those functions.

Hmm, you got a bee under my bonnet...

I was wondering if a real multifunction steering wheel (with working buttons) could be retrofit to the E36 Z3… Quick intertubes search seems to imply that this can be done with an E38/E39 wheel. Apparently the steering wheels earlier than 3/99 used the same slipring as the E36, but with seven wires instead of four.

Since I am bored and have nothing else better to do at the moment, I think further research (and perhaps wasted money) is on the cards.

 

[Scooblitz]

Hmm, you got a bee under my bonnet...

I was wondering if a real multifunction steering wheel (with working buttons) could be retrofit to the E36 Z3… Quick intertubes search seems to imply that this can be done with an E38/E39 wheel. Apparently the steering wheels earlier than 3/99 used the same slipring as the E36, but with seven wires instead of four.

Since I am bored and have nothing else better to do at the moment, I think further research (and perhaps wasted money) is on the cards.

It is doable, as well as steering wheel controlled Cruise Control. There are several e36 cars running this setup but the key to all of it is the CD43 radio which uses the ibus line to communicate between headunit and the multifunction buttons.

This as you mentioned, this will require the slipring from an early e39 which attaches to the steering wheel instead of being fixed to the steering column.

I bought a pair of multifunction buttons a few years back but have never got around to the job. Priorities.

 

[Mus Musculus]

There are several e36 cars running this setup but the key to all of it is the CD43 radio which uses the ibus line to communicate between headunit and the multifunction buttons.

Thanks for confirming, and yes, I did revert to the CD43 on my car.

 

[Bigwinn]

I’ve a few wheels, which age and style you after?

R 98, airbag, no multifunctions and 3 spoke?

 

[as400]

Hmmm am thinking similar and like Mr Big my car is close in terms of year to the facelift (manufactured November 1998) think the only way to tell if its single or dual is to dismantle and look.