Install aftermarket Steering wheel

[clygroup44]

I'm toying with the idea of finally replacing my stock steering wheel with a MOMO after market unit.

I read somewhere that there is a Diode to place in the system to trick the air bag from going off. Yes I know I can just pull the bulb but I want to know if there is a cleaner solution.

Also does anyone have pics of their install and are there potential PIA proceedures one must go through (besides disconnecting the battery) that one needs to look out for. I've replaced several SW on other cars but they are older models and other makes.

Any advice would be appreciated.

-C

[DeanP]

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=371178

It was a mostly straight forward install.

[martialartsblac]

dude air bag saved my life

[328iJunkie]

Thats why i plan to get the E46 wheel... The 3 spoke.. so i can still have an airbag... i love my car and an aftermarket wheel would be badass(and alot cheaper) but its my daily driver and i like my car to still be safe...

[Aradaiel]

dude air bag saved my life

That's the car telling you to take off the chrome ebay headlights.

[DeanP]

dude air bag saved my life

I'm happy for you.

[martialartsblac]

That's the car telling you to take off the chrome ebay headlights.
lol

[wishin4///M]

That's the car telling you to take off the chrome ebay headlights.

:rofl

My brother's 325i got totaled and the airbag saved his life too...so I know what your saying.

[clygroup44]

:lol :lol
That's the car telling you to take off the chrome ebay headlights.

[clygroup44]

dude air bag saved my life

I thought about that as aspect of removal. But I also own older cars which never came with an air bag. Since the car is a 1994 the bags at that time were not as "smart" as they are today. (variable deployment discharge force, larger etc.) also I have heard and seen some of these things go off in a low impact condition where if it were not for the airbags the cost to repair the car would be minimal. When these things go off they will make a mess out of your interior, often never to be the same again. At 107,000 miles I'm pretty sure the car would be a write off due to the cost of airbag, interior repair. Besides I ALWAYS were my seatbelt and actually I have a set of Schroth harnesses in the car. Remember the airbags were tested for unbelted drivers with a weight of 200 lbs (at the time...may be different now since the smaller size and force airbags are on the market.....these are more closely related to the european systems...where they expected you to wear a seatbelt)

Thanks for the info though....I have a MOMO hub already that I sourced a few years ago on Ebay. However I did not know there is a hub with a diode built in. Could save me some trouble. Although wiring in the proper item from RS doesn't sound too hard either.

We'll see.

-C