Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15263
Well got mine done ... but in the Dark !!!
No lights & no decent torch .....
... not recommended.
Fell at the Airbag connector hurdle.
[amended the 'fitting your wheel' post]
Also in unbolting the old steering wheel.
This was on mega tight!!
Started thinking maybe it was a left hand thread
But got a long tube over my wrench handle and yanked.
Got there in the end. ...... always on the road less travelled 🚧
27th Jan 2010 7:25 pm
J@mes
Member Since: 10 Nov 2008
Location: Bomber County
Posts: 4547
I was concerned about the bolt too - thought I was going to snap the steering lock!
2ft breaker bar did it in the end!2014 D4 XS
2005 D3 SE - Gone
Glad that everyone seems happy. The Megan effect certainly seems to work. Good to meet John, Alex and Gary.
Was warned that a group buy could be a pain in the proverbial but it was pain free. It's all thanks to Nick
I fitted the new steering wheel today and also added Audio/Cruise control switches – Thanks TLO for your help…
Lots of useful instructions on the forum – Couldn’t have done it without them!
I’ve listed my notes below that my help others considering doing this job.
Ensure front wheels are straight
Open bonnet – Remove keys and close doors
Leave car for 3 minutes to ensure car is fully asleep
Disconnect negative lead and then positive battery lead
Leave for 10 minutes to ensure air-bag capacitor has discharged.
Use hook to release air-bag and lift away from steering wheel
Remove bayonet connector and 2 plugs from underside of air-bag
Disconnect white plug from rotary coupler
Leave the black air-bag leads connected to the rotary coupler
Use 5/8” socket to remove steering column bolt and remove steering wheel.
Remove 3 torx screws from the damper weight and transfer to the new wheel
4 torx unscrew from the back of wheel to remove horn buttons/Audio Cruise controls
(If you don’t have voice or phone buttons on the steering wheel you may want to use the existing rear steering wheel cowling – now is the time to do that!)
Either transfer the horn buttons or add new Audio and/or Cruise control switches
Use the 4 torx screws to hold the switch panels in place.
Refit the Steering wheel feeding the air-bag leads into position
Make sure that the steering wheel is centred (alignment dots are visible)
Tighten the steering column bolt
Reconnect white plug to rotary coupler
Reconnect the leads to the air-bag (they are keyed and only fit one way)
Firmly push the air-bag back into the steering wheel.
Reconnect the positive battery lead and then the negative lead.
The new leather wheel is beautiful
In my case, the audio buttons worked as expected
Both the audio and cruise buttons illuminate when the lights are on.
However, the cruise control buttons do not function and will need to be enabled.
30th Jan 2010 8:09 pm
sarumlight
Member Since: 06 Nov 2008
Location: Off the Plain
Posts: 1592
Picked up the wheel yesterday. Thanks very much to DRMCW and TLO for organising this!
Now I just need to fit it. Looks cold outside and haven't touched the D3 battery, or an airbag before.
Might make another cuppa first...
31st Jan 2010 10:54 am
Discotres
Member Since: 25 Jan 2010
Location: London
Posts: 8491
The smoke and smell from an airbag is VERY distinctive, should stay with you for the rest of your life
31st Jan 2010 11:19 am
The Transformer
Member Since: 22 Jan 2010
Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 1791
Any pictures of the new against old?
31st Jan 2010 11:24 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73079
Anyone going to Keilder and missed this, I may have one available then if all goes to plan. Watch this (well FS) space.
Click image to enlarge
31st Jan 2010 11:30 am
sarumlight
Member Since: 06 Nov 2008
Location: Off the Plain
Posts: 1592
Got it done with no explosions. New wheel is smooooooth!!!
With the squishy cup-holders (Thanks Nick!) and piano black trim on last weekend it's like having a new car!
OK guys, got the car in bits, any ideas on the best place to get a feed from for the heated steering wheel, there was mention of the cig lighter how the hell do I get to that
Would it be ok at this stage to reconnect the battery to find a feed I'm not as good as I once was........but I'm as good once as I ever was.
5th Mar 2010 4:11 pm
Bodsy Site Sponsor
Member Since: 06 Nov 2006
Location: In the Clubhouse
Posts: 21361
Paul,
If you lift off the H-trim and undo some of the radio gubbins, you should be able to get access to the 12v socket and just join a wire on there. Otherwise you could go through to your Aux battery and just wire it direct (with an in line fuse of course). Bodsys Brake Bible
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