Does the padded knee bolster fit non-airbag cars?

[Jand3rson]

I just got one today, and it doesn't look like it's going to fit. The plastic cover over the steering column gets in the way. I suppose I can trim it to fit, but I don't really want to. Do I need the plastic steering column cover for an airbag car?

[bimmerphile]

I'm confused...you're trying to fit a non-AB bolster on an AB car, or an AB bolster on a non-AB car?

The latter will work, but you need a bracket. The former won't.

[Jand3rson]

I am trying to fit an airbag knee bolster onto a non-airbag car. It fits fine at the back, but where it mounts to the front of the dash is where I'm having the problem. It fits fine on the left side if the steering column, where there are 2 screws holding it in. But on the right side, where there is just the one screw, it's about 1/2 an inch away from meeting flush with the dash panel. The reason is that it's hitting against the black plastic steering column cover.

[bimmerphile]

Well then you need the Airbag steering column cover.

I don't have my ETK handy, otherwise I'd pull the 2 different part numbers ;)

[Jand3rson]

Well then you need the Airbag steering column cover.

I don't have my ETK handy, otherwise I'd pull the 2 different part numbers ;)

Yup. With the bottom part of the steering wheel column cover off, it fits like a glove.

[Low Level E30]

-Bumping an old thread-

What parts are required to fit a late knee bolster from an airbag car to an early non-airbag car?

Here's the list I have so far:

- Upper + lower airbag steering column covers
- Padded airbag knee bolster w/ pedal covers

Anything else?

[MR 325]

I've been wanting one of the airbag bolsters for my 85 too, since it has none at all.

[Schniddy]

I've seen pictures of metal plates bolted in behind the bolster on some late models.. are the plates needed for the conversion?

[Low Level E30]

-Bump-

[Jand3rson]

Sorry I never got back to you about this. We just ended up working the part of the bolster that goes under the column shrouds until it fit, I didn't use the airbag column shrouds.

[Schniddy]

pics of how it looks?

[Jand3rson]

pics of how it looks?

Don't have it anymore, I decided I didn't like it. It was way too bulky. I repainted my standard bolster with vinyl paint and it looks a million times better.

[Low Level E30]

Do you think it would be a direct swap if you also had the airbag column covers?

[Jand3rson]

Do you think it would be a direct swap if you also had the airbag column covers?

I seem to remember someone saying the airbag column covers weren't a direct fit over the non-airbag column, due to something being shaped differently, preventing the covers from fitting.