Major Roadbump w/ My Project.

[Bargle]

I ask that the mods please leave this here. I know it's not the best place to post, but I need trafic on this and help as soon as possible.

It's been 3 months now of my car being with one of the very best regional bmw mechanics getting it's tranny/m20 swap done. If something’s had the opportunity to 'go wrong' - it's done it.

Well now, I’ve hit probably the biggest PITA so far.
Donor car: 89' non-airbag manual
Project car: '90 airbag auto

Turns out, all these parts with the pedals and some other pieces that have been put in wont apply since the steering column is different for an air-bag car. I’m being told that it looks like im going to have to get the steering columns swapped. I have complete faith and trust in this mechanics abilities and knowledge, but I wonder if we're missing something here. Does anyone have expirience with this issue? PLEASE post up if you know anything about this.

Buying an auto was a horrible decision for my project. However, I felt that, after reading about how "easy" it is to swap, it wouldn’t be too hard or expensive. Wow was I wrong. This has turned out to be an absolute disaster in terms of frustration, time, & cost.

[DEV0 E30]

Sounds like this can help:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=71459

See post #14:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showpost.php?p=542961&postcount=14

[euroshark]

I would check the ETM and see what you can find out from those wiring diagrams and such. I do not have any experience with air bags, but I know that swapping the steering column takes about 30 minutes. That's what I would do.

[UNHCLL]

I ask that the mods please leave this here. I know it's not the best place to post, but I need trafic on this and help as soon as possible.

It's been 3 months now of my car being with one of the very best regional bmw mechanics getting it's tranny/m20 swap done. If something’s had the opportunity to 'go wrong' - it's done it.

Well now, I’ve hit probably the biggest PITA so far.
Donor car: 89' non-airbag manual
Project car: '90 airbag auto

Turns out, all these parts with the pedals and some other pieces that have been put in wont apply since the steering column is different for an air-bag car. I’m being told that it looks like im going to have to get the steering columns swapped. I have complete faith and trust in this mechanics abilities and knowledge, but I wonder if we're missing something here. Does anyone have expirience with this issue? PLEASE post up if you know anything about this.

Buying an auto was a horrible decision for my project. However, I felt that, after reading about how "easy" it is to swap, it wouldn’t be too hard or expensive. Wow was I wrong. This has turned out to be an absolute disaster in terms of frustration, time, & cost.

Who provided the swap parts, you or the mechanic?

[Bargle]

A little bit of both but as far as the pedal assembly goes and the smaller pieces - the mechanic.

[UNHCLL]

Mechanic needs to pick-up the tab, and order the proper replacement parts.
If they messed up and didn't do the proper research, you shouldn't have to pay.

We don't order the wrong parts for our customers, and then tell them "Too bad, pay up for our fuck up."

Best of luck,
Chris

[FredK]

Um, if the mechanic bought the pedal cluster, he should return it to whatever salvage yard he got it from and get an airbag cluster. The Euro Depot has them for $75 IIRC. Don't replace the column.

[Bargle]

Im not worrying about that. It's not a shop who's working on it, rather a master BMW tech & ex-BMW race-team mechanic/driver. The most honest mechanic I've ever delt with.

We're just pissed because this is taking rediculously long. We both underestimated the complexity of this job.



Thanks for the posts though guys. I've emailed him some of your thoughts already.
If there's anything more, please post.

[nando]

don't bother swapping pedal clusters.. get the pedals from an auto and hang them on the pedal cluster that's already there. the pedal box itself is the same.

in order to remove the airbag pedal box, you have to remove the steering column.. maybe your mechanic will have no problem with that, but that's something I'd avoid personally.

[Rennsport]

i ran into the same problem, i ended up removing the steering column and modifing the pedal bracket to work

[Digitalwave]

don't bother swapping pedal clusters.. get the pedals from an auto and hang them on the pedal cluster that's already there. the pedal box itself is the same.

in order to remove the airbag pedal box, you have to remove the steering column.. maybe your mechanic will have no problem with that, but that's something I'd avoid personally.

I removed my automatic pedal box without taking out the steering column. It wasn't easy though. It wasn't til after that I realized the non-airbag pedal box was different. I cut the top off the automatic box and used it as a bracket to support the steering column where the non-airbag box didn't.

[mikeedler]

there is nothing complex about replacing a steering column. its like a 2 hour job. just change it over too.
you all act like the e30 is a complex thing.