1. Start by removing the battery. Under the black cover in the trunk’s passenger side is where you’ll find the battery. Loosen the nuts on the negative and positive terminals using the 10mm nut driver. Move the cables away from the battery terminal and disconnect them to prevent contact.
2. Take a peek under the steering wheel’s spokes. On either side, there is a small slit in an indentation. You should insert your flat-head screwdriver here.
The air bag retaining springs can be compressed with a tiny flathead screwdriver. When you come into contact with the spring, gently feel around with the screwdriver tip. The spring retracts when you press in. The screwdriver should be inserted slightly higher than the 3:00 and 9:00 spokes to get the best results when determining the ideal angle to compress the spring. To prevent damaging the airbag holes, please take your time. Examine images. During this procedure, it is simple to become frustrated. Make an effort to document the procedure well.
3. Make careful to make strong contact with the spring while pulling forcefully on one side of the airbag’s edges. Repeat on the opposite side. You may need to flip sides often since one side will occasionally clamp back down.
4. By pulling up on the yellow and green connectors, detach the airbag.
5. Disconnect the two wires that are attached to the clock spring within the wheel. When removing one, a locking tab needs to be depressed and the smaller wire carefully taken out.
6. To remove the middle bolt, use the 16mm ratchet and extension. If the wheel has never been taken off previously, it could be quite difficult. It might be best to get a friend’s assistance to hold the wheel firmly while you use leverage to remove the bolt.
7. When you install the replacement wheel, remember to line up the two markers at the 6:00 position (steering column and wheel).
8. When removing existing trim, make a note of the locations of the screws. Replace the old wheel’s wires, spring plate, and trim.
9. Reattach the wires to the airbag and clock spring. Make sure the cables are connected properly by taking note. Additionally, check that wires are not in the path of the two sizable springs that clamp the airbag. Push the airbag back into position.
10. Reattach the battery.
Note: The information above is available as an Adobe PDF file that you may view, download, or print: PDF for BMW steering wheel removal
In This Article...
Procedure
- Apply the parking brakes as you park the BMW. BMW steering wheel in the middle. Verify the direction of the front wheels.
- Cut the battery off. Remove the negative cable from the BMW battery by gaining access to it. Before disconnecting any airbag component, give it five minutes.
- Take away the airbag. By placing a flathead screwdriver or Torx 27 in the access holes on the side of the airbag, you may remove the BMW driver’s airbag.
- To remove the airbag from the BMW airbag, depress the spring.
- Cut the airbag’s wiring connections. To unlock the airbag harness, you’ll need a tiny flathead screwdriver.
- You can take the wires out of the airbag after unlocking the airbag connectors. You won’t be able to remove the airbag wires if you neglect to unlock the connector.
- After the airbag has been released, handle it gently. Place the airbag facing up in a secure area. See a video showing how to take an airbag out of a BMW 5-Series E60.
- You can see in the video below how to take out a BMW airbag from a BMW 3-Series E46.
- Steering wheel removed. Airbag and steering button cables should be disconnected.
- The 15mm bolt in the middle of the BMW steering wheel should be removed. You can then take the steering wheel off.
- To prevent harming the steering column locking mechanism, always hold the steering wheel counterclockwise.
- Watch this video to learn how to take the steering wheel off a BMW.
- Reverse the installation process of the new steering wheel. To 40Nm, tighten the steering wheel’s center bolt. Call your local BMW dealer to confirm the torque requirements.
- Put the driver’s airbag in place. First, connect the electrical harness. The airbag should then be fastened to the steering wheel.
- Adjust the steering wheel’s middle bolt’s tightness to OEM standards. Normal: 40Nm.
- If the airbag is secured by bolts on your BMW, the bolts should be torqued to 9 Nm.
- Put the negative terminal in place. To make sure the airbag light is off, start the BMW.
- Use a BMW scanner to read and clear the codes if the light is still on.
There are countless reasons why someone might wish to take off a BMW steering wheel and airbag. For instance:
- BMW Driver Airbag Blown
- BMW steering wheel that is worn
- Fix the BMW steering wheel’s rubbing and scraping noise.
- To fix the airbag light on a BMW, replace the clock spring.
- BMW steering column bearing replacement
- Replace the BMW steering wheel with a M Sport model.
Make sure you have the appropriate airbag for your BMW before removing the airbag. The single-stage and dual-stage airbags produced by BMW cannot be used interchangeably.
Resources needed:
- a tiny pry tool or flat-head screwdriver
- socket size 22
- Spanner wrench
- Adapter extension
- Starter key
The ignition key must be turned off and the steering column locked as a first step. When subsequently removing the nut, it is imperative to have the steering wheel locked; otherwise, your wheel will just spin. Check to see that the wheel is centered and not fully locked.
*** The roundel does not have to be taken off if you have a M-tech 2 wheel that is not airbag equipped. The central piece, which is only secured with a few plastic clips, must be taken out. Take hold of the middle piece’s edges and tug it gently in your direction. This component will have the horn’s wires attached to it, which must be slid off in order to complete the removal. For clarity, please refer to the pictures below.
Please click HERE to get our instructions on how to create a custom color steering wheel roundel similar to the one shown in the photographs.
Use a flathead screwdriver or tiny pry tool to wedge between the steering wheel roundel and the rubber wheel after the wheel has been locked. Any non-metallic pry tool should work, but if you’re worried about scratching your wheel while using a flat head screw driver, just tape the end for protection. Pry the roundel out by getting underneath it with the pry tool.
Take a 22mm socket and your extension and remove the central mounting nut now that it is visible. You probably neglected to take the key out of the ignition and lock the wheel if your wheel is spinning but not coming loose. Put the key back in the ignition after removing the nut to disengage the steering column lock pin by turning it to the first click.
We advise using a sharpie to mark a center line on the steering column post and wheel. You can then reinstall the wheel with ease thanks to this. (See illustration below)
Now that the wheel is free to travel away from the column and toward you, it should do so.
How is the steering wheel removed from a BMW Z3?
To remove it, you must insert the Torx driver at a 45-degree angle toward the center of the steering wheel. Just press more toward the middle of the steering wheel after you feel the spring, and the airbag should deflate.
I need to take my steering wheel off.
Examine the threads carefully to see if you damaged anything while removing the steering wheel after removing the bolt.
Now, with both hands exerting an equal amount of power outward, hold the steering wheel firmly. If pulling on the steering wheel feels difficult, adjust the location of your hands and try again after a little bit of turning and twisting. From the shaft, the steering wheel will emerge. This is how a steering wheel is removed.
How can you raise a steering wheel from a BMW?
- Set your seat in motion first. Once your seat is at a comfortable height, firmly press down on it.
- Take the ignition key out of the car.
- Lever folded downward.
- Set the Steering Wheel to the Height and Angle You Want.
- Back the Lever Up
Why is my BMW difficult to steer?
The main power steering system issues that could hinder your ability to turn the steering wheel are as follows:
Low power steering fluid: Your power steering relies on the force that the power steering fluid exerts against the piston inside the rack and pinion to work properly. The force that can be given to the piston decreases as the amount of fluid in the power steering system decreases. When this occurs, the power steering system is less helpful in steering, and the driver must now exert more force to turn the wheel.
Damaged power steering belt: The power steering belt drives the power steering system’s movement. Like any other belt in your car, a system’s operation begins and ends with its belt. One of your car’s most vulnerable parts are the belts. More than most other automotive parts, they are more prone to cracking, snapping, and loosing. You won’t be able to turn the steering wheel easily if your power steering belt breaks since your power steering system won’t be able to function.
The fundamental component of your steering assembly, the steering rack, which is a part of the rack and pinion, functions in combination with the power steering system. Over time and with wear and tear, steering racks can become worn out and destroyed, which makes it much more difficult to steer your car. If your car is only difficult to steer when you first start it, its steering rack is probably damaged. When the car warms up and the rack gets hot and well-lubricated, this issue frequently disappears.
Low tire pressure: Although a defective or dysfunctional power steering system is nearly always the source of a heavy steering wheel, low tire pressure in one or more of your tires can also be the culprit.
The BMW insignia on the steering wheel can it be changed?
On a 135i, the chrome parts are corroding from the inside, which is why you want to remove the roundel from the center of the steering wheel. Can you remove it without much effort?
According to BMW, no. Making a warranty claim would enable me to ask for a replacement airbag. Information on Bimmerfest can be found here and here.
I forgot to note that the roundel isn’t sold separately. Use one of the overlay roundels if you are unable to obtain a warranty replacement.
My initial hunch would be eBay. They might be the carbon fiber overlays, though perhaps someone in the commercial section has them. It’s just stickers, really.
I purchased mine on eBay, but it is not an overlay sticker like the ones I have on my hood and trunk; rather, it is a carbon fiber roundel with 3M tape attached to the back. In essence, you simply remove the 3M backing and adhere the new roundel on top of the stock one. In my opinion, it looks extremely fantastic.
I apologize for the delay.
This is the actual CF Roundel that covers the OEM roundel on the steering wheel; I apologize for the enormous size. It’s a little dusty from fingerprints and other things, though. Since true roundels aren’t really currently available for the E88/82 trunk, my overlays in CF black are only on my hood and trunk.
went in for an oil change and annual maintenance inspection. I informed my SA about the airbag roundel, and they quickly switched out the old part for a new one.
I mentioned the cracked roundel on the driver-side airbag and the depression on the passenger airbag when I drove my car in for service today. My car’s oil was changed by the dealer, but he declined to remedy the roundel and indentation problems since they weren’t serious enough to warrant the expense.
YES!!! My experience was exactly the same. I peeled off the old rondel after purchasing one off eBay for $5 with 3M on the back. The new one is the ideal fit!
You think it can be done on a 2000 Z3 2.3, I’m going to toss it out there.
Because everything I’ve read says DON’T do it! that these automobiles’ airbags will detonate. I already have the roundel in my possession, but I really want to try to remove the old one and replace it with the new one I just bought. I’d be grateful for any assistance.