M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS
DISCUSSION => General Topics => Topic started by: Alpine003 on September 29, 2006, 10:02:39 AM
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Leather on my hands finally from doing the Mtech1 steering wheel swap.
I told myself for this car since it is a daily driver, I wouldn't do too much to it unless there was a good reason.
Good reason: I was messing around with my check light panel by the sunroof crank and noticed the previous owner unplugged the check panel. I plugged it back in and noticed the SRS flashing. I'm thinking he unplugged it to hide this.:mad: I didn't really feel like trouble shooting it or trying to reset it. And the fact that I don't want 15 year old air bag giving me burns or not working correctly.
That was reason enough for me to swap to the Mtech1 steering wheel. Feels good to be touching leather again.
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is that legal where you live? Here in Quebec, if you remove airbags from an airbag car and you get into an accident, your insurance is void (for yourself, not others of course)
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What if you have an airbag, but it doesn't work? That makes no sense. Of course, you are in Quebec...
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With the MTech wheel did you have any adaptation issues? How about pics?
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I will take pics over the weekend. I'm pretty sure changing to non-airbag sw from airbag is illegal where I live but so does having no front plate, having tinted windows, going 55+mph, having non dot approved headlight bulbs, etc.
I just don't like the government dictating how I should live my life as long as it doesn't affect others.
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What if you have an airbag, but it doesn't work? That makes no sense. Of course, you are in Quebec...
Actually, I'm pretty sure doing ANY modification to a car is illegal pretty much everywhere. Of course, theres no way for cops and the government to know or control everything. The thing is he deliberatly removed a safety feature on a car, just like removing a seat belt, which is why the insurance is void. Anyway this isn't the point of the post I just thought I'd mention it. I never want to get an airbag car because first, 15 years old airbags scare me (even new ones) I've seen multiple ones go off at school (controlled situation) It's a freaking bomb. Second, the M-Tech II is just too prefect a steering wheel not to have :D
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The thing is he deliberatly removed a safety feature on a car, just like removing a seat belt, which is why the insurance is void.
You do have a point about insurance but I'm sure the policy varies between insurance companies. Having said that, I only have liability and pay $95/year so it's not a big deal for me. :)
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With the MTech wheel did you have any adaptation issues? How about pics?
No adaptation issues. My camera crapped out during the install so no pics but I'll try to explain the best I can.
Tools:
Phillips Screwdriver
23(24?)mm deep socket or 4 way lug wrench
Small Flathead
Torx Bit w/ratchet
Pliers
Materials:
Washers or Scrap Vacuum Tubing or Garden Hose piece
Time: Anywhere from 15min-1hr.
1. Disconnect battery and pump the brakes to drain voltage out of system or wait 1/2 hour or more.
2. Remove bottom steering column cover ( 1 phillips screw).
3. Remove Orange plug going to the airbag.
4. There are 2 torx screws holding the airbag on(1 on each side)
5. Take off airbag
6. Removed center steering wheel nut
7. Center steering wheel as best as possible before removing steering wheel.
8. After removing steering wheel, you'll want to take the pliers and remove the white pin that is sticking out at the 11 o'clock position. Just pull on the pin and it will come off.
9. Put on the new steering wheel
10. Either use a bunch of washers or use a scrap piece of garden or vacuum hose to use as a spacer on the shaft.
11. Install the factory washer and nut.
12. Go for a drive and adjust the steering wheel afterwards if it still isn't centered.
BTW, if you have a worn out ///M center plaque on the Mtech 1 steering wheel, they are only $5 at the dealer. :)
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I was wondering about # 10. Sounds like a weekend project or this:
http://www.fantasyofflight.com/wingsandwheels/
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I've got plenty of the factory spacers. Picked up some at a recent junkyard scrounging.
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I was wondering about # 10. Sounds like a weekend project or this:
http://www.fantasyofflight.com/wingsandwheels/
You can pretty much use any kind of spacer, metal/plastic/rubber tube. The factory nut is a nylock nut so you don't have to worry about it backing out. I just happened to have a rubber tube that was the most convenient.
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having tried a couple of different things for the spacer under the steering wheel nut, I recommend the factory spacer #32311120260... it's $5 from BMA I think.
also on the list of regrettable mistakes I made: don't cut the spring loaded white post/pin on the face of the steering column... push it down and wedge it in place with a toothpick. That way, if you sell the car the next owner can put the airbag wheel back on.
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also on the list of regrettable mistakes I made: don't cut the spring loaded white post/pin on the face of the steering column... push it down and wedge it in place with a toothpick. That way, if you sell the car the next owner can put the airbag wheel back on.
I would have cut it!:(
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having tried a couple of different things for the spacer under the steering wheel nut, I recommend the factory spacer #32311120260... it's $5 from BMA I think.
also on the list of regrettable mistakes I made: don't cut the spring loaded white post/pin on the face of the steering column... push it down and wedge it in place with a toothpick. That way, if you sell the car the next owner can put the airbag wheel back on.
You can also just remove it, which is what I did. Just that plastic pin with a follower spring. It's in a ziploc bag in the glovebox now.
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also on the list of regrettable mistakes I made: don't cut the spring loaded white post/pin on the face of the steering column... push it down and wedge it in place with a toothpick. That way, if you sell the car the next owner can put the airbag wheel back on.
I would just remove it all together. You can easily get it out in one piece if you pull on it with some pliers.
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Doesn't that white post with the spring brass pin (PN 32331350750) feed current to the contact ring which allows the horn to work? It's present on non-airbag cars as well.
Unless you're talkin of the pin which locks the steering wheel when the key is out of the ignition?
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Doesn't that white post with the spring brass pin (PN 32331350750) feed current to the contact ring which allows the horn to work? It's present on non-airbag cars as well.
Unless you're talkin of the pin which locks the steering wheel when the key is out of the ignition?
The pin you are talking about is the horn pin contact at the 7 o'clock position. The white pin is located at the 11'o clock position and doesn't affect the horn operation.
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It's in a ziploc bag in the glovebox now.
dibs on yours.... :)