VEry Urgent 540 Steering Wheel Removeal Help!

[Jehu]

Using Billr's E34 Steering wheel removal page I set out to remove mine to change Inst.Cluster Bulbs but the lower Column Cover is NOT THE SAME!LOL.. I removed the one screw but I am afraid I'll break the Plastic Cover if I don't know HOW IT COMES OFF! Can anyone explain How to remove this? I thought I'd need to unplug the SRS Airbag Orange Plug up in here;

before I pull this plug;
Can I just pull that and remove the Airbag Safely without unplugging any other stage? Or what about undoing the Plug back under the seat? is this perhaps the equivalent of the steering column plug on this Help Page?


and of course the Negative battery Cable is Unhooked.. I have just a few hours of daylight left and even less patients in this hellish humidity..

[Scott C]

That looks the same as mine (95 525) - and I just took my steering wheel of yesterday

You have removed the one screw that retains the lower cover. The lower cover and upper cover snap together (many snaps). Carefully pull them apart and you will be set. Now removing the lower cover completely is a pain because of the levers on the right, but you will figure that out.

I can't answer your question about what is safe - I get butt pucker every time I take that explosive device off. I disconnect the orange connector under that cover you are trying to remove (after waiting 15 min with battery disconnected). Store air bag with bag up!

[Jehu]

That looks the same as mine (95 525) - and I just took my steering wheel of yesterday

You have removed the one screw that retains the lower cover. The lower cover and upper cover snap together (many snaps). Carefully pull them apart and you will be set. Now removing the lower cover completely is a pain because of the levers on the right, but you will figure that out.

I can't answer your question about what is safe - I get butt pucker every time I take that explosive device off. I disconnect the orange connector under that cover you are trying to remove (after waiting 15 min with battery disconnected). Store air bag with bag up!

At which point did you disconnect it? Nearest the wheel or back near the orange plug?Looks like the same wires. It also seems at least rasonable to wonder weather that back plug near the sensor would be just as good to disconnect..

[yaofeng]

You do not need to remove the clam shell or the steering wheel to remove the instrument cluster. It is tight. But it can be done. I did on my 525. With the 540 it will be even easier because the telescoping function.

[Scott C]

At which point did you disconnect it? Nearest the wheel or back near the orange plug?Looks like the same wires. It also seems at least rasonable to wonder weather that back plug near the sensor would be just as good to disconnect..

The orange/black one on your second photo that is above your thumb knuckle.
Looks like your fingers are on it on the first photo - it slids out (retainer) and then you can get the connector separated.

I would not remove the cluster without removing the steering wheel - it is likely you will scratch the clear plastic unless you are very careful.

I don't know why you couldn't disconnect it as it goes to the slip ring but like I said, I don't like working with explosives and this method is what has been published and works for me (5 times to date).

[bad_manners_god]

You do not need to remove the clam shell or the steering wheel to remove the instrument cluster. It is tight. But it can be done. I did on my 525. With the 540 it will be even easier because the telescoping function.

I've removed my cluster sooo many times without the steering wheel. And at this point, the left button that changes the messeges is broken. Most of the connector retaining clips in the back are broken. Not to mention the plastic cover is cracked when I was installing the CF Background and the chrome rings.

[Jehu]

I've removed my cluster sooo many times without the steering wheel. And at this point, the left button that changes the messeges is broken. Most of the connector retaining clips in the back are broken. Not to mention the plastic cover is cracked when I was installing the CF Background and the chrome rings.

Unless I am mistaken one may purchase a new cluster as they don't store information such as ODO readings they merely read them ... I haven't dumped nearly $20,000.00 on this Automobile to be half-a$$ed about it. I In fact did act on the insistence of several ,against my better judgment. and maneuvered the thing out with the steering wheel in place. It was emphatically NOT easy. It barely made it thru as I turned the wheel hard as I could to one side holding it with my sweaty leg but still the Microfiber towel i had covering the clear plastic face slipped and I now have an ugly scraggly streak going across. Also I discovered the Dealership sold me the wrong bulb to replace for the tac/engine temp so it was not entirely successful. Also managed to break one of the plug levers which pry up the plugs ... When i get the correct bulb I will do this again and will remove the wheel as I ought to have in the first place ...

[Jehu]

You do not need to remove the clam shell or the steering wheel to remove the instrument cluster. It is tight. But it can be done. I did on my 525. With the 540 it will be even easier because the telescoping function.

You may think you are correct but I should not have taken this advice,i would still have a clean plastic face on my cluster if I had proceeded with my plan and not heeded this . I am not a careless, unintelligent block-head who is too dense to see how to manipulate that thru. I read others also report they were not able to do it. I merely kept forcing it and turning the wheel. Not only was it very difficult to force it thru forcing it back in was possibly even harder. Nevertheless the once perfect plastic is now **** in spite of my best efforst to keep that towel over. Using the amount of force it took to push it thru combined with my tweaked out back and i was unable to keep it from slipping right as it slid past the wheel grip... thanks for the wonderful help..

[Ferret]

You may think you are correct but I should not have taken this advice,i would still have a clean plastic face on my cluster if I had proceeded with my plan and not heeded this . I am not a careless, unintelligent block-head who is too dense to see how to manipulate that thru.

I read others also report they were not able to do it. I merely kept forcing it and turning the wheel. Not only was it very difficult to force it thru forcing it back in was possibly even harder.

Nevertheless the once perfect plastic is now **** in spite of my best efforst to keep that towel over.

Using the amount of force it took to push it thru combined with my tweaked out back and i was unable to keep it from slipping right as it slid past the wheel grip... thanks for the wonderful help..

Hey, I dont think that's entirely fair, you clearly state that you've forced it! If it was so damn difficult to get out and was causing so much trouble, why on earth didnt you then stop and pull the wheel off totally?

'Thanks for the wonderful help' - it obviously works on some peoples cars, but man you should use some common sense here - maybe you have a different steering wheel, maybe there's some other factor, but forcing it, scratching the **** outta it then venting at the board... that's just not on!

[Ross]

Too bad you messed up the plastic. It can be done without removing the wheel and without damage but is a bigger pain to do so.
The steering column cover merely snaps together to answer your original question. There is no need to take it off for cluster repair.
These guys were just trying to help. You know when you are forcing something damage is likely.
I have a spare cluster and will check the condition of the "glass", if nice I will send you a PM.