diy: (e30 and e28) removing a steering wheel at the junkyard without a key

[mr.vang]

I had pulled so many steering wheels from the junkyard over the years and I finally figure it out how to remove an e30 steering wheel without a key in less than 5 minutes. Although I do suggest using your e30 key first to unlock it. If your key failed to unlock it, this is the best and last option.

Tools needed:
Hammer
Flat head screw
22mm socket

1. Remove the 22mm nut first


2. Use a hammer and break the outer ring. Bang on top of the ring instead of the side. The last thing you want to do it destroy the inner locking pin. Once the outer ring starts to cracks, pry it with the flat head.


3. With the hammer and flat head, fit the flat head on the bottom piece (circled in picture) and hammer your way in. This outer piece is what is preventing the inner cylinder from coming out.


4. With your flat head, pry the cylinder out from the bottom right side.


5. Once the cylinder is 1/4 way out, use your finger to pull it out.


6. You will see something like this inside. Use the flat head and stick it in all the way. Once it is all the way in, turn it to the right and magically the steering wheel lock will unlock.
Enjoy your new mtech ll, 13 buttons stalk, cruise control, ects.

[Ether-D]

Thank you. That's very helpful.

[mr.vang]

^ cheers

Can a mod please move it to the diy section, thanks.

[Todd Black 88]

You realize you just showed everyone on the internetz how to steal an e30 in minutes, right.

You want to do it quicker, show up with a slide hammer/dent puller. Screw into the key cylinder and bang away. Out in three pulls usually.

[mr.vang]

You realize you just showed everyone on the internetz how to steal an e30 in minutes, right.

You want to do it quicker, show up with a slide hammer/dent puller. Screw into the key cylinder and bang away. Out in three pulls usually.

That may be the case, but lets save that for another thread.

That method don't always work. In the past, I usually stick a flat head inside and hammer away. Sometime it unlock and sometime it doesn't. This new method have been working efficiently for half a year now.

[cgk_iii]

I was literally just thinking about how to do this and then bam its on the front page. Looks like i have some dashboards/Steerings wheels to grab ;D

[mr.vang]

I was literally just thinking about how to do this and then bam its on the front page. Looks like i have some dashboards/Steerings wheels to grab ;D

I hope this will help saved more mtech 1 steering wheel from being crushed or destroyed. I have seen nice mtech 1 steering wheel bent from people pulling on it because they couldn't unlock the locking pin.

Good luck scavenging and have fun.

[AntiScope]

Helpful, I just ran into this situation today. Thanks!

[mr.vang]

Helpful, I just ran into this situation today. Thanks!

Not a problem

Cheers!

[AwakenNoMore]

I just hacksaw directly behind the wheel on top. Just enough to cut through the lockpin without ruining anything else.

[fitswell]

any chance you could reup the pics?