[bimmer_328]

Got steering and airbag from gruppaparts like others here and installed. But does this gap look right?

[ga9213]

Yup that's the same as mine

[freshxdough]

Originally Posted by bimmer_328

Got steering and airbag from gruppaparts like others here and installed. But does this gap look right?

There has to be a gap to allow the two parts not to contact when they are rotating. Every steering wheel from every manufacturer has a gap there.

[bimmer_328]

Originally Posted by ga9213

Yup that's the same as mine

Originally Posted by freshxdough

There has to be a gap to allow the two parts not to contact when they are rotating. Every steering wheel from every manufacturer has a gap there.

Thanks, just thought it was larger than usual.

[calucb05]

Hey guys - I'm looking to do this swap. Had an M340i loaner the other day and the steering wheel is night and day. Realized I needed to get on this asap. I reached out to Gruppaparts and he's charging $1,400 for a US spec'd wheel that includes heat, vibro, da+, acc, etc. Does $1,400 sound like a reasonable price? I'm leaning towards yeah. I tried to negotiate price and he was pretty firm.

Secondly, not much of a mechanic here, and I see that everything is plug and play, which I feel confident I can do on my own. What I'm concerned about is how can I tell the airbag works? Is there a way to know if it will function correctly, or do I basically find out when/if I get into an accident. The airbag question is what's really preventing me from pulling the trigger. Any insight is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[freshxdough]

Originally Posted by calucb05

Hey guys - I'm looking to do this swap. Had an M340i loaner the other day and the steering wheel is night and day. Realized I needed to get on this asap. I reached out to Gruppaparts and he's charging $1,400 for a US spec'd wheel that includes heat, vibro, da+, acc, etc. Does $1,400 sound like a reasonable price? I'm leaning towards yeah. I tried to negotiate price and he was pretty firm.

Secondly, not much of a mechanic here, and I see that everything is plug and play, which I feel confident I can do on my own. What I'm concerned about is how can I tell the airbag works? Is there a way to know if it will function correctly, or do I basically find out when/if I get into an accident. The airbag question is what's really preventing me from pulling the trigger. Any insight is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

You need to figure out what kind of airbag you have, 2 or 3 stage. It refers to the amount of connectors on the actual airbag assembly. As long as you have all of the other options you listed everything work without issue. What year is the steering wheel you're purchasing? Can you post a photo. Thanks.

[calucb05]

Originally Posted by freshxdough

You need to figure out what kind of airbag you have, 2 or 3 stage. It refers to the amount of connectors on the actual airbag assembly. As long as you have all of the other options you listed everything work without issue. What year is the steering wheel you're purchasing? Can you post a photo. Thanks.

Thanks. Do I need to remove my existing airbag to tell if it's a 2 or 3 stage or can I use a vin decoder? I have an 18 M40i and was under the impression they were all dual stage in the US.

[infiniterain]

Originally Posted by sahigupt27

Nice. This looks great. I got the LIM version even though the listing showed SET. he offered to send me the SET button but I think it’s not worth spending the additional money at the service center to swap out the button.

Do you know if the different button effects or is the difference of LIM and SET purely aesthetics?

[freshxdough]

Originally Posted by calucb05

Thanks. Do I need to remove my existing airbag to tell if it's a 2 or 3 stage or can I use a vin decoder? I have an 18 M40i and was under the impression they were all dual stage in the US.

You should yes. I think yours is 2 stage but I think my
2020 is 3 stage if I remember correctly.

[Pray for Mojo]

Pretty sure all North American X3s came with 3 stage airbags. It was only EU/ROW that had 2 stage bags in the first couple of years on other models with this wheel. This swap was done by sor a couple years ago and he had outlined all that stuff.

https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showt...ight=g30+wheel

[sahigupt27]

Originally Posted by infiniterain

Do you know if the different button effects or is the difference of LIM and SET purely aesthetics?

LIM & SET will perform the same function. It's just aesthetics. I ended up getting the LIM version. No issues with it.
But if you have the option then get the one with SET since that's what we have in the US unless you have the newer models that have both.

[m13217]

I wish I never read this post! Ugh, just purchased one from Ebay from the same vendor. Before reading this post I had no plans to do this. I also ended up purchasing the CF/Alcantara piece for that steering wheel as well. I hate that Ebay charges tax now!

To help with calucb05's questions, I also have an '18 M40i and mine is a 3 stage. I pulled it this morning. I would still check yours, but it seems as though all US G01s have 3 stage as was stated above.

[Pray for Mojo]

Originally Posted by m13217

I wish I never read this post! Ugh, just purchased one from Ebay from the same vendor. Before reading this post I had no plans to do this. I also ended up purchasing the CF/Alcantara piece for that steering wheel as well. I hate that Ebay charges tax now!

To help with calucb05's questions, I also have an '18 M40i and mine is a 3 stage. I pulled it this morning. I would still check yours, but it seems as though all US G01s have 3 stage as was stated above.

It's an expensive swap but I don't regret it at all.

[m13217]

Originally Posted by Pray for Mojo

It's an expensive swap but I don't regret it at all.

Makes me feel much better to hear that! I'm looking forward to doing the install when it arrives. Still a little nervous about buying an airbag off Ebay though... Glad several others already have.

[calucb05]

Originally Posted by m13217

Makes me feel much better to hear that! I'm looking forward to doing the install when it arrives. Still a little nervous about buying an airbag off Ebay though... Glad several others already have.

Right there with you. That's my biggest reservation, but sounds like the G01 system would detect if there was something faulty?

[freshxdough]

Let me know if any of you guys are interested in Carbon/Alcantara M Performance trim for the steering wheel. Fits 2018/2019. I've been trying to get rid of it for months now lol

[m13217]

Originally Posted by freshxdough

Let me know if any of you guys are interested in Carbon/Alcantara M Performance trim for the steering wheel. Fits 2018/2019. I've been trying to get rid of it for months now lol

If you have the CF shifters I would be interested. I have heated steering wheel so I had to get the non Alcantara CF. I almost contacted you about yours since we don't need Heated steering wheels in CA

[freshxdough]

Originally Posted by m13217

If you have the CF shifters I would be interested. I have heated steering wheel so I had to get the non Alcantara CF. I almost contacted you about yours since we don't need Heated steering wheels in CA

I'm upgrading to G80 Carbon paddles but I will be sending my current M Performance carbon paddles to my buddy to see if he can put them on his F80 V2 M Performance wheel. If they don't fit I'll list them for sale in the classifieds, keep an eye out in a couple weeks.

Also, it's CA, you don't need steering wheel heating! Lol

[MM2]

Hi guys,
So can I confirm, can I replace the carbon trim on my standard silver trim m wheel?
Thanks

[abirmaher]

Originally Posted by NY908K

you can see the 3 openings to access the post clips in 2ndpic. The wire clips are visible, just pry with a flat head from behind using a mirror to see. Headlamp also helps. 1st pic shows airbag with 3 posts

Very helpful. Am I to assume that we need to remove part of the steering tunnel that leads out to the wheel to pop out the airbag? Any hints or tips on that?

[freshxdough]

Originally Posted by abirmaher

Very helpful. Am I to assume that we need to remove part of the steering tunnel that leads out to the wheel to pop out the airbag? Any hints or tips on that?

There are two holes that you need to enter from a 45 degree angle upwards on each side from the underside of the wheel. I suggest you disconnect the 12v battery to 1. Prevent from constantly honking the horn and 2. To prevent getting airbag lights on that can not be cleared by generic scan tools.

[zibbit]

Originally Posted by abirmaher

Very helpful. Am I to assume that we need to remove part of the steering tunnel that leads out to the wheel to pop out the airbag? Any hints or tips on that?

If you're just popping the column covers off to gain access to the 3 airbag clips, (instead of poking holes in your existing wheel) then..

All you need to do is carefully push straight up or down at each of the notches where the control stalks exit the column. It doesn't take much to pop them off as they're only held on with plastic clips. I can usually do it using a thumb leveraged on the hinge of the control stalk. Don't bother pulling out pry-tools as you'll just make a mess of the plastics.