Horn Wire Splice

[drewusmaximus]

Hi all, 1995 525i 5SPD 283k

Grandpa is up for inspection. Since I switxched out the steering wheel, I have yet to connect the horn. My old steering wheel had the coiled ribbon. I need to know which wires in the steering column go to the horn, so I can splice a toggle switch for inspection.

I would greatly appreciate your suggestions...

Thanks in advance!

[moroza]

I won't catch the fish for you, but I'll show you where it swims. Enjoy.

[drewusmaximus]

I won't catch the fish for you, but I'll show you where it swims. Enjoy.

Sifu... Thanks for showing me the path.. Much appreciated..

[demetk]

Only 2 connectors got to the ribbon cable. It's not the yellow one.

[drewusmaximus]

Only 2 connectors got to the ribbon cable. It's not the yellow one.

Thanks for the tip!! Much appreciated!

[drewusmaximus]

Ok. This is a pic of the connector that connected to the clock spring connector The air bag connector is tucked away and is orange.
Is this the horn connector? If so, do I simply cut off the connector and splice in the toggle switch connecting the two brown wires on each end of the switch?IMG_0514.JPG

[demetk]

That should work.

[drewusmaximus]

That should work.

Thanks! I am curious that the horn connector has two wires but, the carbon pin has only one.
I'm wondering how I connect the carbon pin. I'll try to find a write up on it.
horn.jpg

[drewusmaximus]

I found a DIY on this site https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...-Wheel-Installon using the carbon pin but, they only use the brown/red wire to connect the carbon pin. They don't touch the solid brown wire. If that's the case, how is the horn button on the steering wheel grounded if the solid brown wire is not used? There are two wires in the steering wheel that connect to the horn button so, that leaves one wire that connects to nothing. Either the person who wrote that DIY forgot a step that has to do with the solid brown wire, or I'm seriously confused...

[demetk]

From what I remember correctly, on the early wheels the carbon pin is connected to the + brown/red wire and the wheel supplies the ground to the steering column which is grounded. You're going to need a slip ring on the wheel and you may not have to worry about the brown ground wire because the steering column should be grounded properly. Check the steering column for continuity to ground with your meter set to ohms.

[drewusmaximus]

From what I remember correctly, on the early wheels the carbon pin is connected to the + brown/red wire and the wheel supplies the ground to the steering column which is grounded. You're going to need a slip ring on the wheel and you may not have to worry about the brown ground wire because the steering column should be grounded properly. Check the steering column for continuity to ground with your meter set to ohms.

Great! Thanks for the advice! I will do that later when I get home.

Thanks again!