Can I swap slip rings?

[AndrewH]

Am I able to swap the slip ring from my stock steering wheel (94 school bus airbag wheel) to a different steering wheel? Am I able to splice airbag connectors?

Here's the deal, the slip ring and electrical connectors for my new wheel are interfering with the objects behind the wheel because the connection is bigger. Is it possible for me to swap the stock slip ring onto the new wheel and if not, can I splice the connections?

This is the stock airbag sling ring and connector.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/grossfingernailpic.jpg

This is the new wheels airbag connectors.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/awwwwsoschmexy.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/doooomeeeeeeeeeeeeee.jpg

Thanks for any help or input, Andy

[Hoolie]

A airbag with more than 2 wires are most likely a newer two stage airbag..

Those will not fit/work in a e34 ..

The steering wheel fits the car but you loose the airbag function..
You need to hook up a resistor to not have the SRS light come on..

If you find a bling wheel made before 1998/8 i belive they will have a one stage airbag.. And fit the e34..

From what i gathered reading up on the subject..

[Creaver]

I've done it.

No airbag light and all appears to work fine. Couldn't swap the slip rings due to their shape, but spliced the wires.

Mine was an e36 m3 wheel

[darrenforeal]

I've done it.

No airbag light and all appears to work fine. Couldn't swap the slip rings due to their shape, but spliced the wires.

Mine was an e36 m3 wheel

+1

I did the same. Expect I swapped the whole thing right over because the slip ring I got with my m3 wheel was damaged.

[AndrewH]

+1

I did the same. Expect I swapped the whole thing right over because the slip ring I got with my m3 wheel was damaged.

How do you remove the slip rings?


I've done it.

No airbag light and all appears to work fine. Couldn't swap the slip rings due to their shape, but spliced the wires.

Mine was an e36 m3 wheel

Wait so the wires from the e36 m3 wheel were similar mto my pictures?


+1

I did the same. Expect I swapped the whole thing right over because the slip ring I got with my m3 wheel was damaged.

So you slipped rings or just spliced, kinda confused?

[wastedincome]

How do you remove the slip rings?



Wait so the wires from the e36 m3 wheel were similar mto my pictures?



So you slipped rings or just spliced, kinda confused?

I also want to know how the slip-ring removes from wheel as I just went and grabbed a wheel for Andrew because he said he needed the slip-ring from my 92' parts car:confused

[T444E]

Updates? Did you get the new wheel yet?

[Layne]

On the 2-wire style, the ring is held on with 3 tiny nuts (5mm) from the front of the wheel. I put on an E36 M3 wheel and it was easy to switch the rings. It did not have 4 wires.

The 4 wire one shown above appears to use the extra wires to operate the horn, not a dual stage airbag. I say this because there is no brass contact ring for the horn like there is on the 2-wire style. You should be able to figure out how to switch the rings or splice the wires, but unless someone has done it, it's up to you to figure it out.

[BeLiQ]

I remembered this thread from before so now is my turn to give my observations. My E36 M3 wheel is like the one OP had stock in his car - with a horn ring and one single cable for airbags. My E34 stock wheel is like the one you are trying to put in. So i am pretty much working in reverse of yours. The airbag was plug and play but the horn was not. I spliced it in where it suppose to go but the cable has to be very very long and still will not work. It tangles around the steering column and rips off where I spliced it in.

So I am guessing the best way to get this done is to have the slip rings swapped? Any update since March?

[AndrewH]

I remembered this thread from before so now is my turn to give my observations. My E36 M3 wheel is like the one OP had stock in his car - with a horn ring and one single cable for airbags. My E34 stock wheel is like the one you are trying to put in. So i am pretty much working in reverse of yours. The airbag was plug and play but the horn was not. I spliced it in where it suppose to go but the cable has to be very very long and still will not work. It tangles around the steering column and rips off where I spliced it in.

So I am guessing the best way to get this done is to have the slip rings swapped? Any update since March?

Yeah I had to sell that wheel and just go with an e36 M3 steering wheel with the stock slipring from my 94. You have a 95, therfore you can run the newer style slip ring that goes along with the cooler steering wheels.

[BeLiQ]

Yeah I know I just like this one and it was a gift. Also trying to stay with the M-Sport clone theme. Will figure it out one way or the other I guess.

[SleazyV]

Everything you want to know is here:

http://www.frankies-bmw.com/3series/diy/steering_wheel/bmw_3series_steering_wheel.php

I put an E36 M3 wheel in my '94 touring and had to swap rings. You'll need to swap the column switch bracket as well.

[BeLiQ]

Yeah that is what I followed as well. You did it in a 94 touring. I have 95. The stock wheels are different from what I am reading so far.

Or in pictures:

Thats the wheel before I got it mounted E36 M3:

http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/3989/01062011873.jpg

The back of the stock wheel looks like this:

http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/9463/img4065m.jpg

Airbag connector on both is the same so that was plug'n'play. The horn as marked I spliced at with the brown wire and did work.

This is how the back of the M3 wheel looks like (not mine since mine is already in the car)

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/9159/img0313k.jpg

Airbag connector is the same and the brass ring is for the horn.

P.S. I am not really sure what the switch bracket is for? The wheel works fine in the car with the exception of the horn. Will be taking it out tmrw again.

[SleazyV]

P.S. I am not really sure what the switch bracket is for? The wheel works fine in the car with the exception of the horn. Will be taking it out tmrw again.

The location of the slip ring pin (located on the switch bracket) differs between older and newer models. If your car is a '95 and came with a coloured roundel on the stock airbag, then that's why you didn't have to swap brackets. AFAIK people with older E34s that came with non-coloured airbags will have to swap the bracket.

[BeLiQ]

The location of the slip ring pin (located on the switch bracket) differs between older and newer models. If your car is a '95 and came with a coloured roundel on the stock airbag, then that's why you didn't have to swap brackets. AFAIK people with older E34s that came with non-coloured airbags will have to swap the bracket.

Yes the stock wheel has a colored roundel and its back in the car for now. I will try to figure out how to get the horn working with that M3 wheel.

From my experience I found out where the difference between the mounting points of the slip rings is so for future refence people can use this picture below:

http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/5369/img4069lu.jpg

And this is how my steering column looks without a wheel.

http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/8356/img4066h.jpg

http://img810.imageshack.us/img810/9872/img4068y.jpg

I am wondering if the circular opening in the lower right hand side where the blue wires run is not a spot for the horn pin that is utilized in an E36. :shifty

As expect and after some research it is indeed possible to fit the horn switch connector (p/n 32311158475) in the circular opening mentioned above. For reference a very detailed E31 steering wheel swap DIY:

http://www.meeknet.co.uk/E31/wheel/E31_Steering_Wheel_Swap.htm

[S0nic]

please can you help me what i must to do with my cabels , i have e46 from 1998 i wish to change steering wheel

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/DalmatinacST/img4621pz8.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/DalmatinacST/bmwe46shinysteeringwheel6.jpg