steering column conversion

[Maximabello]

Has anyone with a pre 1991 car installed a steering column from 1991+?

Purpose would be to run a e36 m3 wheel with a single stage airbag...getting tired of the bus wheel.

Any opinions? Cost effective?

[ArtemLepilov]

Has anyone with a pre 1991 car installed a steering column from 1991+?

Purpose would be to run a e36 m3 wheel with a single stage airbag...getting tired of the bus wheel.

Any opinions? Cost effective?


Umm... those pre-1991 cars, is that the 1991 model or the cars made in 1991? Because I have an M50 525I made in 9/90 and I would like to know what kind of a steering column it has :)

-Artem

[Maximabello]

Umm... those pre-1991 cars, is that the 1991 model or the cars made in 1991? Because I have an M50 525I made in 9/90 and I would like to know what kind of a steering column it has :)

-Artem

Not sure about exact dates. Found this from a previous thread:


if you had a 91 and up it would probably fit the column, they went from a 22mm nut in the early cars to a 18mm (i think) bolt, you could change to a later column if you wanted it bad enough

[Jeff N.]

...and not swap the entire column. Not really sure as I have never looked into this. Know what you mean with wanting to get the newer size so you can accept other steering wheels.

Personally, I'd be a bit leary of swapping over airbags and the like. I don't know how you know if it would really work (well) or not. I find some comfort in knowing that I have an airbag and count on that bastard to blow when I really need it.

You should check out Martin's car. He has a smaller, non-airbag wheel. While it's nice, it also obscures the gauges so you can see them well.

I have always thought the answer would be to find an early model m5 wheel that has the thumb rests and airbag and call it good. Or, I suppose you could see if you could swap the shaft or the whole column over from a later model unit and then try to use a late model m5 wheel and bag.

Be curious if you research this more and what you find....

Jeff

[Maximabello]

I'll see what I can find out. If it looks like a total PITA I may follow Martins lead, I like that wheel a lot. That's the way I was going to go until I started to really think about the air bag.

[Martin in Bellevue]

Let's hope I never miss that airbag.

http://www.bimmer.info/bmw/Martin5er/82k.jpg

As an aside, that map curve has been at least 1 volt shy of 4.7v, around wot, with the last few curves. Maybe it'll be there in a couple more months.

[Maximabello]

Love that wheel!

After lots of searching:
1) I can't find anyone who has done the conversion for a new wheel
2) The build date cutoff seems to be 7/90
3) After comparing the two styles on ETK, even the plastics have different part numbers.
Early nut style
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=HD13&mospid=47408&btnr=32_0431&hg=32&fg=30
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=HD13&mospid=47408&btnr=32_0510&hg=32&fg=30
Later bolt Style
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=HD13&mospid=47408&btnr=32_0522&hg=32&fg=30
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=HD13&mospid=47408&btnr=32_0493&hg=32&fg=30


I'll just keep a look out for nice Mtech II

[Jeff N.]

Hmm...that would explain at least one of my driving observations from Saturday.

[Bill R.]

i'm one volt shy frequently but i don't pay any attention to them :)



Hmm...that would explain at least one of my driving observations from Saturday.

[ArtemLepilov]

Yay! My car was made in 10/90 :) that means I got a new steering column style... Does that also mean that I can just stick a nice steering wheel on it?


-Artem

[Maximabello]

Yay! My car was made in 10/90 :) that means I got a new steering column style... Does that also mean that I can just stick a nice steering wheel on it?


-Artem

You'll probably have to find out exactly which wheels fit with out modifying the airbag. I think e36 m3s had two styles, single and double stage. Let us know how it goes if you try it.
This thread may help if you go for it.
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=45937&highlight=steering+wheel

[ArtemLepilov]

You'll probably have to find out exactly which wheels fit with out modifying the airbag. I think e36 m3s had two styles, single and double stage. Let us know how it goes if you try it.
This thread may help if you go for it.
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=45937&highlight=steering+wheel


Will let you know - checked it all out, seems to be a LOT of info on this...


-Artem

[casurfer911]

...and not swap the entire column. Not really sure as I have never looked into this. Know what you mean with wanting to get the newer size so you can accept other steering wheels.



The old style has a deeper hub, so if you put a new wheel on it, it would sit very far away from the driver.

i have a 90' 535i (its too old) but i went out and bought an e46 m3 wheel, woops! Once i found out that it wouldn't fit as easily as i thought it would i went looking for ways to make it fit. I think you might be able to take an old e34 wheel and drill out the rivets holding the hub onto the wheel and then drill holes into the new wheel and bolt it on. Then drill out the center of the new wheel to be able to get a wrench on the main nut. This would put it at the right distance. I would have done it myself, but the rest of my car is already in pieces and i cant undertake another project right now. And i dont think i could bring myself to destroy such a nice wheel. If anyone wants to buy it, I'll sell it for 160, or im putting it on ebay when i get the time.