e36 steering wheel on an e34?

[gale]

I'm tired of driving my big bloated 7 with a bus steering wheel so thinking of swapping a smaller stock BMW wheel, say from a 3-series. Has anyone done this? Comparing my wife's e36 wheel to mine, they look very similar. I'm thinking a 93 e36 wheel should fit a 92 735/535 & will pick a 4-spoke w/airbag. Searching the archives, it looks like I need to swap the wheel, contact ring, and airbag. Has anyone actually done this on their e34?

[angrypancake]

Jon K has an e46 wheel iirc. the buttons to control volume and such don't work, but it's pretty sweet looking.

[Jr ///M5]

The E36 M3 wheel fit perfectly on the '91 M5. Yes, I did have to transfer the slip ring, but the old air bag bolts right up. It's sweet with the Motorsport tri-color stitching and the thumb grips. The wheel is just a wee bit smaller in diameter, but is noticeably larger around the grip. If I remember right, it was $100 shipped to the door from one of the salvage yards. If you can't see the wheel in person, you must have them insure you that it is in the best of condition. Try looking at 95-97 models, looking at the later models assuming there will be less wear. It's one of the best worth while mods.

Hope this helps,

Jr

[gale]

Thanks guys, that's what I was hoping to hear :)

[gale]

This one sure is tempting, hate to give up the airbag tho:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-M-Tech-2-M-technic-E30-E32-E34-M5-M3-steering-wheel_W0QQitemZ200026198565QQihZ010QQcategoryZ3370 4QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://i17.ebayimg.com/05/i/08/4a/f7/40_12.JPG

It's only 365mm od = 14.37". My stock "bus" wheel is 15.5"

[Martin in Bellevue]

Gale, I've given up the airbag for that mTech2 wheel. It requires a few washers to fill the gap to cinch down the wheel. It is also short on top, blockig the view to the tops of speedo & tach. I love the thicker rim & smaller diameter.

http://www.bimmer.info/bmw/martin/steer.jpg

[emw525E34]

Here: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/824698/3

E46 330i wheel is smaller with nicer grip. I fitted the original airbag into it. Its a bit bigger but works all the same. E34 era airbags are single stage while E46 are dual stage bags. completely different tech, so will never work.

Slip ring is different but a slight filing mod will work it. Only slight compromise is that horn works in lower 1/3 of the airbag.Not the whole bag which can be tricky if the wheel is turning and no horn ... somedrilling needed as in pics. Takes all of 2 hrs on a saturday afternoon. Been using that for close to a year.

[ruffbunch]

I'm tired of driving my big bloated 7 with a bus steering wheel so thinking of swapping a smaller stock BMW wheel, say from a 3-series. Has anyone done this? Comparing my wife's e36 wheel to mine, they look very similar. I'm thinking a 93 e36 wheel should fit a 92 735/535 & will pick a 4-spoke w/airbag. Searching the archives, it looks like I need to swap the wheel, contact ring, and airbag. Has anyone actually done this on their e34?

I swapped steering wheels with a '95 525i wity my '95 525i. I tried to use a wheel from a 1990 525i and ran into problems with the wiring harness under the steering column for the air bag. It was not compatible. I took the wheel back and they had one from a 1995 model and the wiring was the same. I love it! You might make sure and check to make sure the air bag connection under the steering column is the same as there are variations on that.

[gale]

Martin: Do you recall if yours is the 365mm or 370mm wheel? Does it matter?

Thanks,
Don

[Jr ///M5]

Gale, the ETK shows Martin's wheel as a 385mm and the stock wheel as a 395mm....

HTH,

Jr