SRS Delete

[xwill112x]

any more detailed info on the spacing needed? wanting to convert my 91 318i with a airbag wheel to a non airbag mtech1 wheel.

[nando]

you can remove that pin without breaking it. at least I did.

[SFGadgetGuy]

You will also have this pin that sticks up towards the steering wheel you have to either tape down or remove or else it will break off when you put a aftermarket steering wheel on and turn it. The white pin is used for the airbag cable reel to wind the srs cable back when you turn the steering wheel. Once that's broken off the cable reel will not retract correctly. If you were to say sell it and put the airbag back.

Orange box under the dash on driver side is the brain disconnect that before reconnecting the battery or it will trigger the srs light and the box will no longer function if you were ever to put it back in.

[jhowell]

great - sometime soon I'd like to get an old mtech1 or momo wheel in there. I hate the look of the airbag wheel.

[nando]

it's easier to remove the computer and leave the bulb alone.

[AndrewBird]

If you are removing the bag, just remove the light bulb as well. Problem solved. It's not like you will need to know if your non-functioning (removed) airbag is working or not.

[Hallen]

If you just remove the airbags, you will be getting an SRS light. Sounds like Nando has the right idea. I wouldn't leave the bags in if I was intent on permanently disabling the system. It's just extra weight that you don't need. If they are anything like the ones on my E46, then they are simple to remove. You do want to be careful to not allow any static electric discharges around those things though. It can potentially set them off.

If you work on the bags and then put them back in, it is good to have the battery disconnected. That way, you won't get the SRS light when you hook everything back up. But if you turn the key to the on position, the system will sense the bag is not there and throw the SRS light which probably takes a trip to the dealer to turn off. (Again, assuming these are similar to what is in my E46)

[nando]

are you keeping the airbag wheel?

I removed the airbag wheel and the computer, left the sensors. All you really have to do is unplug the airbag at the steering wheel, which is really easy. No reason to freak out about disconnecting the battery, it's not like these things spontaneously go off. I don't get any "check" lights since the airbag computer is gone too.

There really isn't much else to it, and I wouldn't worry about ethical debates. lots of people remove E30 airbags for basically the same reasons. Hell, I rear-ended somebody at about 30mph and the damn thing didn't even go off. I replaced it with a much nicer Mtech2 wheel. And no, you don't need a new column, just a couple washers to fit the non-airbag wheel on.

[jhowell]

I really hope this doesn't turn into an ethics debate. For various reasons, I want to remove the 20 year old (potentially dangerous) airbag / SRS system. I DO NOT want to screw with the electronics, so I'm guessing I don't just pull everything.

I know about disconnecting the battery and the orange boxes (explosion!). What I don't know is, can I leave everything disconnected or do I need to add resistors? Also, will I need a new steering column or can I just use a spacer and a new wheel?