Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 27

Thread: Is it possible to put a 2002-2003 sport steering wheel on a 2000?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Los Angeles, CA USA
    Posts
    37
    My Cars
    2002 540i Sport

    Is it possible to put a 2002-2003 sport steering wheel on a 2000?

    Hi all,

    I have access to a 2002 sport wheel and I would like to put it on my 2000 540i sport.

    Anyone know if this is possible and is there a writeup anywhere?

    Thanks.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Murfreesboro, TN
    Posts
    1,049
    My Cars
    01 540i
    Easy swap. Remove one, stick other on.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    1,671
    My Cars
    525i
    air bags will not work. 2000 is a single stage and 2002 2003 is a dual stage air bag.
    "Lieber Nurburgring als Ehering"

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Plano, Texas, USA
    Posts
    1,557
    My Cars
    03 m3
    i think 2000 is double stage...i think

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Germany, Hamburg
    Posts
    271
    My Cars
    E39 530i
    From 3 / 99 was the double stage air bag

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Panama
    Posts
    3,810
    My Cars
    E39 m52tuB30
    How can you determine witch airbag do you have?

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Los Angeles, CA USA
    Posts
    37
    My Cars
    2002 540i Sport
    I read somewhere that the SRS control unit was programmed different, but I am not sure if it directly pertained to these two years of 540i. 2001 M5 was one of the cars mentioned as possibly having different programming.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Brooklyn, NY
    Posts
    2,305
    My Cars
    '96 M3
    www (dot) bmwtips (dot) com/tipsntricks/SteeringWheel/steeringwheel.htm

    This should answer most/all or your questions.



  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Hauppauge, New York
    Posts
    1,082
    My Cars
    2003 BMW 540i
    Quote Originally Posted by emmanouil View Post
    From 3 / 99 was the double stage air bag
    +1 IIRC some time in 99 the change occurred. Should be an easy, 10 minute swap.

    2003 540iA Titanium Silver

    Koni FSD/Eibach Prokit
    PowerFlex Bushings
    CSL Replica wheels 18"
    Intravee II Ipod Interface
    OEM M5 Front Bumper/Umnitza M5 Rear
    Magnaflow 14815 Exhaust

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Plano, Texas, USA
    Posts
    1,557
    My Cars
    03 m3
    Quote Originally Posted by Shardul View Post
    air bags will not work. 2000 is a single stage and 2002 2003 is a dual stage air bag.
    atleast say...you THINK thats the case when your even close to being wrong...which in your case...youre way off

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Los Angeles, CA USA
    Posts
    37
    My Cars
    2002 540i Sport
    Quote Originally Posted by mipktb View Post
    www (dot) bmwtips (dot) com/tipsntricks/SteeringWheel/steeringwheel.htm

    This should answer most/all or your questions.
    LOL! That link is the one that I read which caused me to post here in the first place. I do not find that to be definitive as they are talking about an 01+ m5 steering wheel and srs control as opposed to 02+ sport wheel and srs control. There might be a difference between M5 and sport SRS modules.

    Additionally they only asked the dealer. If we all took the dealers word for things, there would be a lot less modifications going on.

    Even if the SRS control is incompatible, is it an easy swap?

    Also, maybe other solutions have been discovered since that post was in written in 2002.

    Thanks everyone for the input so far.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    SAN ANTONIO, TX
    Posts
    224
    My Cars
    F10 535I 2012
    it works i done it.
    WILLYMAN

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Los Angeles, CA USA
    Posts
    37
    My Cars
    2002 540i Sport
    Ok, based on willyman01 saying that he has done it, I am attempting to do it now.

    I have come across a slight problem. No problem removing the 2000 wheel but to remove the airbag on the 02+ wheel, I need a longer torx bit or driver.

    I need to buy a one piece torx driver, kinda like a screwdriver but with the torx on the end. I can not see the torx bolt because the opening is covered with rubber and the bolt is deeper in the 02 wheel. Does anyone know what size the torx bolt is for the 02+ airbag bolt?

    The 2000 was a 27 but I have seen differences in torx sizes between years. I would prefer to buy just the one torx driver instead of a set if possible.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Dublin, Ireland
    Posts
    518
    My Cars
    E39 530i, E91 318i
    I did this about two weeks ago, straight swap. Took me 15 minutes. SRS module is compatible. The 02' airbag is not held in by bolts at all. It's clipped in. The Torx bolt on your old wheel is actually a T25, not T27, just for reference!

    Get a Phillips screwdriver or torx that fits nicely into the hole. Don't move the screwdriver around too much; you need to be careful of the airbag wiring. Let the hole guide the screwdriver in and move the screwdriver back and forth slightly until you feel a spring tension. Once you get the right spot, and release the tension, that side of the airbag will pop loose. Repeat on the other side.



    Here's a picture of the airbag removed, for an idea of what you need to do, reference the two metal spring clips left and right.



  15. #15
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    SAN ANTONIO, TX
    Posts
    224
    My Cars
    F10 535I 2012
    good luck man let us know how u did.
    WILLYMAN

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Los Angeles, CA USA
    Posts
    37
    My Cars
    2002 540i Sport
    Thanks for the photos and info. I never would have figured that out on my own.

    I thought at first the spring was to be moved by moving the spring sideways with the screwdriver semi perpendicular to the spring. After getting nowhere that way, I pushed my driver in the slot basically parallel to the steering wheel and then found the spring.

    The key to this is to push the tool in basically perpendicular to the steering column (almost parallel to the steering wheel). When you feel some spring-like give, continue to push in until the airbag releases forward. The airbag movement for me was not very pronounced and I had to pull the airbag forward from the front when the spring was depressed. Do the same on the other side and you are done.

    Thanks again everyone.
    Last edited by SloMo; 11-30-2008 at 07:43 PM.

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Long Island
    Posts
    2,051
    My Cars
    1995 M3 & 2000 540i
    Do any of you know if the slip ring is the same between the 2000/2001 and the 2002+ steering wheels? I have a 2000 540i with the sport steering wheel and I just bought the sport steering wheel from a 2003 e39 but it didn't come with a slip ring. Can I reuse the one on my 2000 sport steering wheel or are they different?

    2011 328i X-Drive~Mercedes ML55 AMG~2000 E320~1998 Chevrolet Corvette~2001 BMW 740iL

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Cuse, NY
    Posts
    5,842
    My Cars
    07/85-535i5 01/99-540i6
    Quote Originally Posted by x2nervisx View Post
    Do any of you know if the slip ring is the same between the 2000/2001 and the 2002+ steering wheels? I have a 2000 540i with the sport steering wheel and I just bought the sport steering wheel from a 2003 e39 but it didn't come with a slip ring. Can I reuse the one on my 2000 sport steering wheel or are they different?

    slip ring is a slip ring is a slip ring, if it fits then yes, you can reuse it (: its nothing but a ribbon and diff connectors for diff functions (illumination, multifunction switch, airbag itself, heated element, etc.)
    (oOO\(|||)(|||)/OOo) /00=[][]=00\

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Long Island
    Posts
    2,051
    My Cars
    1995 M3 & 2000 540i
    Quote Originally Posted by Orxan4ik View Post
    slip ring is a slip ring is a slip ring, if it fits then yes, you can reuse it (: its nothing but a ribbon and diff connectors for diff functions (illumination, multifunction switch, airbag itself, heated element, etc.)
    That's what I'm trying to figure out, if it fits.

    2011 328i X-Drive~Mercedes ML55 AMG~2000 E320~1998 Chevrolet Corvette~2001 BMW 740iL

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Cuse, NY
    Posts
    5,842
    My Cars
    07/85-535i5 01/99-540i6
    Quote Originally Posted by x2nervisx View Post
    That's what I'm trying to figure out, if it fits.

    ummm, there are like 3 screws holding the slip ring - physically look @ it and decide whether it fits or not. or maybe im not understanding the question @ hand?
    (oOO\(|||)(|||)/OOo) /00=[][]=00\

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Long Island
    Posts
    2,051
    My Cars
    1995 M3 & 2000 540i
    I still dont have the round airbag for the new steering wheel and it might be a while before I find a nice deal for one so I was hoping not to take my current steering wheel off until I have all the parts to do the swap.

    2011 328i X-Drive~Mercedes ML55 AMG~2000 E320~1998 Chevrolet Corvette~2001 BMW 740iL

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    West London/Heathrow - UK
    Posts
    7,204
    My Cars
    03 530dT - Ex Police Car
    Hi there,

    Just to add, in addition to normal slip rings, there is a special type which is called the 'SMG slip ring' - these are only different in that they have the two extra pins required for an SMG steering wheel and it's controls to be connected. Just those two extra little pins and the cost escalates dramatically !! normal slip rings you can see on ebay for like £5 - 15. SMG slip rings are £90 ! I haven't seen a listing for a 2nd hand one on it's own either!

    As I've mentioned a few times here, I found a E46 M3 CSL steering wheel and did the full conversion a few months back and am absolutley loving it! brings a whole new dimension of enjoyment to the car even though the actual shifts aren't any quicker than just tipping the gearlever!



    As most E39's are automatics, I'd highly recommend this modification to you guys, I can only imagine what it'd be like on a nice powerful 540i !

    My 530d is a 2003, so I was lucky in that I have no Airbag compatibility issues, my understanding was the 03/99 changeover date for single to dual stage airbags - however, I understand this may be different for the USA market cars.

    Cheers! Dennis! West London UK!
    Last edited by DennisCooper; 08-12-2009 at 07:18 AM.

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Panama
    Posts
    3,810
    My Cars
    E39 m52tuB30
    Quote Originally Posted by Shardul View Post
    air bags will not work. 2000 is a single stage and 2002 2003 is a dual stage air bag.
    wrong...... stage II start in 03/1999.
    Last edited by jdjg; 08-12-2009 at 10:26 AM.

    E39, 523i, 1999, M52TUB30, 5 SPEED MANUAL, UUC SHORT SHIFTER, EURO SPECS, KONI YELLOWS, OEM SPORTS SPRINGS, OEM SPORTS SEATS, ALCANTARA HEADLINER AND /A/B/C PILLARS, OEM M-TECHNIC AERODYNAMIC, OEM M5 FRONT GRILLS, OEM M5 REAR FOLDING MIRRORS, OEM M5 REAR SWAYBAR, OEM M-TECHNIC II FRONT SWAYBAR, REMUS DUAL TIP MUFFLER, TITANSILVER, BIXENON, M PARALLEL SPOKE 66 STAGGERED, OEM M-AUDIO SYSTEM, NAV SCREEN 16:9, INTRAVEE II iPOD INTERFACE, OEM TCM WITH BLUETOOTH, Y RESONATOR DELETE, INTAKE HORN DELETE, CDV DELETE, CHARCOAL TITANIUM BRUSHED TRIM, FAN CLUTCH DELETE, ELECTRIC FAN, 3.15LSD DIFFERENTIAL, ESS TS2+ SUPERCHARGER, AQUAMIST METHANOL + WATER INJECTION

    PANAMA, CIUDAD DE PANAMA

  24. #24
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    (northeast) Indiana
    Posts
    19,321
    My Cars
    15 650ix GC & 14 X5 50i
    Quote Originally Posted by x2nervisx View Post
    Do any of you know if the slip ring is the same between the 2000/2001 and the 2002+ steering wheels?
    This is VERY easy to find out. Just go to http://www.realoem.com/bmw/select.do and look up the slip ring for your car.

    Copy and paste the BMW part nbr for the slip ring you have and paste it into the PART NR APPLICATION SEARCH box...and you will see every other BMW model that uses the same slip ring.
    Last edited by Qsilver7; 08-12-2009 at 11:49 AM.
    Become a BMW CCA member! Click HERE to join and feel free to use my BMW CCA member #191509 as a referral.

    2015 650ix GC (Moonstone/Cohiba Brown) <<~>> 2014 X5 50i (Space Gray/Mocha)

  25. #25
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Long Island
    Posts
    2,051
    My Cars
    1995 M3 & 2000 540i
    Quote Originally Posted by Qsilver7 View Post
    This is VERY easy to find out. Just go to http://www.realoem.com/bmw/select.do and look up the slip ring for your car.

    Copy and paste the BMW part nbr for the slip ring you have and paste it into the PART NR APPLICATION SEARCH box...and you will see every other BMW model that uses the same slip ring.
    I did that but they don't list the slip ring in the parts diagrams. At least I can't find it.

    2011 328i X-Drive~Mercedes ML55 AMG~2000 E320~1998 Chevrolet Corvette~2001 BMW 740iL

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •