E39 steering wheel swap troubles

[Thejazzybear]

Hey guys and girls. I’m looking to do the e39 3spoke steering wheel swap on my 740il. I’ve done countless searches and understand the certain years affect lots of things. My car is a June 96 so i need a wheel from June or older because I’m led to believe that from July the module is in the buttons rather than under the dash.
The problem is that I can’t find a wheel. All I can find is later ones. As long as I get a stage 1 airbag and compatible slip ring Is there a way of wiring a more modern wheel into my car?

Cheers

[peacoben]

I tried to swap a beautiful wheel into my 01 750iL and found that the torx screws on the back of the airbag are stripped

Pretty sure you can use a dual stage wheel/bag but it's not a simple process. Better off holding off and finding one with the correct airbag.

Best of luck with yours!

[Thejazzybear]

Yeah I know I need a single stage airbag and the correct slip ring. I just want to know how to wire up a wheel that has the module within the buttons to a car that has the module under the dash.

[peacoben]

Yeah I know I need a single stage airbag and the correct slip ring. I just want to know how to wire up a wheel that has the module within the buttons to a car that has the module under the dash.

Ah, roger that. Haven't done the job myself so I'll let someone else chime in.

[Sobek]

I can't recall if I've ever seen an E38 owner do the dual stage to single stage retrofit, but it IS doable with some grinding / removal of material and a bit of finesse. Here is a link to it being done on an E39 with photos, from what I recall the process to do it on an E38 is identical (this is me trying to remember discussions from almost a decade ago so hey I could be wrong, fair warning!);

https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...ad.php?2351536

If you're handy with the tools and technically minded, then I suppose it's not too big of a deal.

[CPHES]

The cutoff for airbags is March 99 - I have a Dec 98 e39 Touring with the early sport wheel and steering wheel controls. I do not know about the controls back to 96.

[Thejazzybear]

I can't recall if I've ever seen an E38 owner do the dual stage to single stage retrofit, but it IS doable with some grinding / removal of material and a bit of finesse. Here is a link to it being done on an E39 with photos, from what I recall the process to do it on an E38 is identical (this is me trying to remember discussions from almost a decade ago so hey I could be wrong, fair warning!);

https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...ad.php?2351536

If you're handy with the tools and technically minded, then I suppose it's not too big of a deal.

Im not looking to do a dual stage retrofit. I will be using a single stage wheel but it will be one with the control module behind the buttons. I want to know how to wire it to the onus as my car has the module behind the dash.

[cdh]

https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...daptation-Mods

One can run a newer 2 stage wheel in a car with a single stage column. Of course some modifications are required to the wheel.
I have modified a few 2 stage steering wheels for my own use. Latest ones used machined standoffs attached to the back of the wheel to accept the clock spring.
The 'black' box that the MFL connects to on the '95 and '96 MY's can be removed and the MFL can be wired up directly to the iBus and cruise (IIRC).
Do a search for 04SSHD. He documented his removal of the MFL interface box and wiring up the new MFL wheel sans interface box.
Happy modding.

And just for a fun factoid - BMW did make a sport steering wheel that went on a 2 stage column (no clock spring) with a single stage airbag.

Craig

[peacoben]

Gonna bump this one incase someone has some ideas: I still haven't been able to get the stripped torx screw out from the airbag. I want to put a beautiful M Sport wheel in that's been sitting in my garage

[Thresher]

Would a screw extractor set from Harbor Freight/Lowes/Amazon work? google that and see if you think one of those sets might work... I understand access would be limited; wondering if a 90-degree adapter like this would work?

[CPHES]

That’s on the old wheel? Do you have one torx out? You could try using a drill bit to drill out the torx head that is stripped.

[peacoben]

The bad torx screw is on the original wheel. I’ll check out an extractor and if that might fit. Haven’t used a 90 degree adapter like that before, I wonder if that might be what’s needed. Space is tight back there for sure :/


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[peacoben]

Giving this a bump since I recently picked up a beautiful 3 spoke wheel I want to get in the car.

Any fresh ideas for getting the stripped Torx screw out?


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[a777fan]

Ugh, that sucks peaco…

Do you want to save the original wheel? If not, I’d carve out a bigger hole in the back of the existing wheel and use a 12 point socket slightly larger than the head of the offending bolt. Pound it onto the head, and it should come out pretty easily.

Options are much more limited if you are looking to keep the original wheel intact. Perhaps there is some sort of fancy Dremel option that will allow you to get into that limited space and drill out the head of the bolt?

[peacoben]

Ugh, that sucks pico…

Do you want to save the original wheel? If not, I’d carve out a bigger hole in the back of the existing wheel and use a 12 point socket slightly larger than the head of the offending bolt. Pound it onto the head, and it should come out pretty easily.

Options are much more limited if you are looking to keep the original wheel intact. Perhaps there is some sort of fancy Dremel option that will allow you to get into that limited space and drill out the head of the bolt?

I’d rather not tear up the original wheel if at all possible honestly


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[jimoreno]

Drill the head of the torx bolt off?