Switching to non airbag steering wheel?

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  • 801coppertop
    Wrencher
    • Oct 2010
    • 293

    #1

    Switching to non airbag steering wheel?

    I would like to put on a new steering wheel on my car, mtech 2 maybe? However its a 91 has an airbag, the wheel i want does not. Will this cause problems? Is there anything i need besides a new wheel?
  • mr.vang
    R3V Elite
    • May 2010
    • 4371

    #2
    no..the srs light will be on though. also check with your state to see if its legal.
    Bought parts from me before? leave your feedback here

    Comment

    • LagunengrunE36
      Member
      • Jun 2009
      • 77

      #3
      Yeah, you'll need a spacer (#4 -- http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...47&hg=32&fg=30).

      Comment

      • jlevie
        R3V OG
        • Nov 2006
        • 13530

        #4
        In addition to state laws that may prohibit disabling the SRS, your insurance could refuse to pay if you delete the air bag.
        The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
        Jim Levie, Huntsville, AL

        Comment

        • 801coppertop
          Wrencher
          • Oct 2010
          • 293

          #5
          Called insurance, they said all is well they wont refuse my benefits if a non-airbag wheel is put on. Also state law did say that you cannot remove an airbag unless you have a "special" license to do so. However i do not see how local authorities would be able to tell, unless an enthusiast...

          Comment

          • nando
            Moderator
            • Nov 2003
            • 34827

            #6
            just do it, nobody is going to know or care. who knows if a 20 year old airbag even works, mine didn't do shit.
            Build thread

            Bimmerlabs

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            • EN318isPDX
              R3V Elite
              • Oct 2007
              • 4373

              #7
              Originally posted by nando
              just do it, nobody is going to know or care. who knows if a 20 year old airbag even works, mine didn't do shit.
              My car got T boned and the air bag didnt deploy, i often wondered if it was a ticking time bomb so i unplugged the computer, than removed the airbag, no SRS light and no BOOM! Until i hooked up a battery to the airbag and watched it blow up, wonder if i still have the video

              Comment

              • 801coppertop
                Wrencher
                • Oct 2010
                • 293

                #8
                You mean like this,



                I used to help tech's blow up airbags at the land rover dealership in centerville when i worked there, it was a riot. They can send tires 20 feet in the air.

                Comment

                • gearheadE30
                  No R3VLimiter
                  • Jun 2007
                  • 3734

                  #9
                  Originally posted by EN318isPDX
                  My car got T boned and the air bag didnt deploy
                  That wouldn't be caused by airbag failure. In an e30, the only situation that will cause airbag deployment is a frontal crash, i.e. hitting something head on, or in some cases, getting rear ended.

                  Project M42 Turbo

                  Comment

                  • EN318isPDX
                    R3V Elite
                    • Oct 2007
                    • 4373

                    #10
                    Originally posted by gearheadE30
                    That wouldn't be caused by airbag failure. In an e30, the only situation that will cause airbag deployment is a frontal crash, i.e. hitting something head on, or in some cases, getting rear ended.
                    It was hit in the front, drivers side fender at ~40mph, it mashed the fender but didnt hurt anything else. it was pretty close to the crash sensor but im guessing you really have to smash it in order for it to deploy!

                    Comment

                    • bwawuz02
                      Banned
                      • Apr 2004
                      • 653

                      #11
                      Originally posted by 801coppertop
                      I would like to put on a new steering wheel on my car, mtech 2 maybe? However its a 91 has an airbag, the wheel i want does not. Will this cause problems? Is there anything i need besides a new wheel?
                      you need to get accessory stalks from a non-airbag car as well. I put an Mtech 2 wheel in my 318is, so speaking from experience here. Just go to a pick n' pull or post a WTB ad here. Just know that you need the key in the ignition to get the steering wheel off a junk yard car and the steering wheel has to come off to get the accessory stalks off. Also, if you do go the junk yard route, just snag the spacer ring from the car there.

                      Comment

                      • acolella76
                        R3VLimited
                        • Apr 2010
                        • 2950

                        #12
                        Originally posted by bwawuz02
                        you need to get accessory stalks from a non-airbag car as well. I put an Mtech 2 wheel in my 318is, so speaking from experience here. Just go to a pick n' pull or post a WTB ad here. Just know that you need the key in the ignition to get the steering wheel off a junk yard car and the steering wheel has to come off to get the accessory stalks off. Also, if you do go the junk yard route, just snag the spacer ring from the car there.
                        you can pull out the key cylinder by sticking a wood screw in the slot where the key goes and yanking that sucker out of there... no real need for the key but it does make things easier.

                        Here's a DIY
                        -Alex

                        Comment

                        • 801coppertop
                          Wrencher
                          • Oct 2010
                          • 293

                          #13
                          Couldn't getting a new accessory stalk be avoided by putting the spacer on after the wheel before the locknut, hence sitting the wheel back further? Or would that not be a good idea i was thinking []wheel[] /nut? And Alex thanks for the link, lots of good info there.

                          Comment

                          • nando
                            Moderator
                            • Nov 2003
                            • 34827

                            #14
                            Originally posted by bwawuz02
                            you need to get accessory stalks from a non-airbag car as well. I put an Mtech 2 wheel in my 318is, so speaking from experience here. Just go to a pick n' pull or post a WTB ad here. Just know that you need the key in the ignition to get the steering wheel off a junk yard car and the steering wheel has to come off to get the accessory stalks off. Also, if you do go the junk yard route, just snag the spacer ring from the car there.
                            You don't *need* the stalks. It can be nice to have, but they won't fit perfectly either. - they will be bent too far backwards.

                            Originally posted by 801coppertop
                            Couldn't getting a new accessory stalk be avoided by putting the spacer on after the wheel before the locknut, hence sitting the wheel back further? Or would that not be a good idea i was thinking []wheel[] /nut? And Alex thanks for the link, lots of good info there.
                            if you don't space behind it your stalks will be very close to the steering wheel - uncomfortably close. so ideally you'd swap stalks as well. I have a spacer in the back and in the front, sort of a compromise, but it works well enough.

                            and if you space it too far, your steering lock won't work.
                            Build thread

                            Bimmerlabs

                            Comment

                            • nando
                              Moderator
                              • Nov 2003
                              • 34827

                              #15
                              Originally posted by gearheadE30
                              That wouldn't be caused by airbag failure. In an e30, the only situation that will cause airbag deployment is a frontal crash, i.e. hitting something head on, or in some cases, getting rear ended.
                              I did, and nothing happened.

                              I'm actually glad it didn't - seat belts work fine, the whole idea originally behind SRS is for stupid people that don't wear seatbelts. Now it's different but they put fucking airbags everywhere..
                              Build thread

                              Bimmerlabs

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