Few questions...

[Frank_Jaeger]

Hey guys! I just purchased an E30. It's a cabrio, and the soft top leaks horribly. Because of this, I'm stripping the interior and cleaning everything / taking care of some rust.

Right now I'm trying to pull the steering wheel (so I can remove the dash, so I can remove the carpet), but I can't get it to lock. What should I be trying to get it to lock? I've tried turning the wheel lock to lock in each direction with and without the key in the ignition / the ignition switched to the first stop.

Also, under the rear seat, there are two caps. I know the passenger side cap is the gas tank, but what's the driver's side cap for?

[dnguyen1963]

Not sure if I understand your question correctly about lock the steering wheel, but you need to have it unlocked to remove the steering wheel. The answer to your second question is the fuel sender unit.

[Frank_Jaeger]

Thanks for answering my questions.

I want the steering column to lock so that the wheel doesn't turn while I'm trying to remove the 22mm nut. I'm sure torquing it back on would be even more difficult if the column is free to move. All the writeups involving the removal of the steering wheel say to lock the wheel so it doesn't turn. Unfortunately, I can't figure out how to get mine to lock.

EDIT: It looks like the previous owner cut the harness going to the airbag, I wonder if they didn't also disable the steering lock as well.

EDIT2: I locked some visegrips around the steering shaft in the engine bay so that when the wheel turned they'd butt up against the sheet metal. Got the wheel off easy after that :).