Driver's Air Bag Removal

Kevin Harney · 01-27-2010, 01:53 PM

Anyone have a DIY link to this? I am going to mod my shifters from push/pull to pull/pull. I found the DIY for that and part of it is remove driver's airbag. I found a thread on doing that but it seems a little too simple for me to believe. And the slots that they show for it are not there on my car. So I am assuming that something has changed since it was written. Simply says to disconnect battery and slide a flat screwdriver in the slot and the airbag will pop right off. First I have no FLAT slots where they indicated and second I do have some holes in the back of the steering wheel. They are round and I have also read something about using a torx driver on the newer cars. But they these holes do not SEEM to be in the right place to facilitate removing the air bag. Has anyone done this to replace a steering wheel or something and can you point me to a good DIY or give me instructions. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I can not use the push/pull shifters on my car because the push part can not be reached by my short little fingers So I can only upshift... simple solution is to go very fast I suppose Thanks.

akack79 · 01-27-2010, 02:41 PM

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11825

Kevin Harney · 01-27-2010, 02:48 PM

Thanks so much I have seen that thread and it is GREAT except it does not show where the hole is to get the air bag off. I can not find a hole or slot on my car.

akack79 · 01-27-2010, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Harney

Thanks so much I have seen that thread and it is GREAT except it does not show where the hole is to get the air bag off. I can not find a hole or slot on my car.

Post 420 in that M wheel DIY. Get a flashlight to look behind your wheel, not trying to be mean or anything but trust me the slits are there. Push with firm pressure with the meaty part of your finger tip and "feel" the slits.

Kevin Harney · 01-27-2010, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akack79

Post 420 in that M wheel DIY. Get a flashlight to look behind your wheel, not trying to be mean or anything but trust me the slits are there. Push with firm pressure with the meaty part of your finger tip and "feel" the slits.

Thanks I can not see that picture here at work. I will take a look at it when I get home. Appreciate it !!!

VTECaddict · 01-27-2010, 05:18 PM

Run your finger around the back and you'll feel where the hole is.

crazydrummer · 01-27-2010, 07:53 PM

I just did the same thing to my shifters literally 10 mins ago. what i did was take a high power light and shined it on the underside/side of the steering wheel. You should see a small slit per side (in the middle, blends in with the leather). Push a flat head in there and feel around til you feel the spring to push. Push it and that side should pop out. Once the air bag is out just pull out the connector and switch the wire. If you need more detail google "e90 paddle shift rewire" first result

bavarian19 · 01-27-2010, 09:02 PM

They are there on every wheel (says the guy who wrote the DIY).

If you run a finger over it, you should feel a small depression in the side of the wheel where the slit is.

Kevin Harney · 01-28-2010, 12:06 AM

The Zen master speaks !!! Thanks so much for the great DIY write up on this. I think I finally found the holes today and will try and see if I can do the mod this weekend. I actually figured that this mod would be just as easy as switching two wires ... only which two was my problem.

01-27-2010, 01:53 PM	#1
Kevin Harney Captain 20 Rep 767 Posts Drives: 2009 335i Convertible Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Herndon, VA iTrader: (0)	Driver's Air Bag Removal Anyone have a DIY link to this? I am going to mod my shifters from push/pull to pull/pull. I found the DIY for that and part of it is remove driver's airbag. I found a thread on doing that but it seems a little too simple for me to believe. And the slots that they show for it are not there on my car. So I am assuming that something has changed since it was written. Simply says to disconnect battery and slide a flat screwdriver in the slot and the airbag will pop right off. First I have no FLAT slots where they indicated and second I do have some holes in the back of the steering wheel. They are round and I have also read something about using a torx driver on the newer cars. But they these holes do not SEEM to be in the right place to facilitate removing the air bag. Has anyone done this to replace a steering wheel or something and can you point me to a good DIY or give me instructions. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I can not use the push/pull shifters on my car because the push part can not be reached by my short little fingers So I can only upshift... simple solution is to go very fast I suppose Thanks.
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01-27-2010, 02:41 PM	#2
akack79 Brigadier General 142 Rep 3,161 Posts Drives: '18 F80 M3 ZCP Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: T E X A S iTrader: (18)	http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11825 __________________ 2018 F80 M3 6MT ZCP
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01-27-2010, 02:48 PM	#3
Kevin Harney Captain 20 Rep 767 Posts Drives: 2009 335i Convertible Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Herndon, VA iTrader: (0)	Thanks so much I have seen that thread and it is GREAT except it does not show where the hole is to get the air bag off. I can not find a hole or slot on my car.
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01-27-2010, 05:18 PM	#6
VTECaddict Where'd my VTEC go? 481 Rep 6,067 Posts Drives: 06 330i 6MT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (4)	Run your finger around the back and you'll feel where the hole is. __________________ AW/Terra \| ZSP \| ZPP \| ZCW \| iDrive \| CA Mods: BC BR coilovers \| Blacklines \| M-tech rear \| dual exhaust \| M3 steering wheel \| BMW SSK \| ZHP shift knob \| High-kick CF spoiler \| NBT Retrofit M3 front control arms \| M3 rear guide rods \| Manzo rear toe and camber links \| Monroe rear shock mounts \| Varrstoen ES1 19x9.5+20 Front, 19x11+25 rear
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01-27-2010, 07:53 PM	#7
crazydrummer Captain 83 Rep 760 Posts Drives: 335i 08 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: arkansas iTrader: (14)	I just did the same thing to my shifters literally 10 mins ago. what i did was take a high power light and shined it on the underside/side of the steering wheel. You should see a small slit per side (in the middle, blends in with the leather). Push a flat head in there and feel around til you feel the spring to push. Push it and that side should pop out. Once the air bag is out just pull out the connector and switch the wire. If you need more detail google "e90 paddle shift rewire" first result
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-27-2010, 09:02 PM	#8
bavarian19 General 517 Rep 18,858 Posts Drives: Car Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: VA iTrader: (23)	They are there on every wheel (says the guy who wrote the DIY). If you run a finger over it, you should feel a small depression in the side of the wheel where the slit is.
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01-28-2010, 12:06 AM	#9
Kevin Harney Captain 20 Rep 767 Posts Drives: 2009 335i Convertible Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Herndon, VA iTrader: (0)	The Zen master speaks !!! Thanks so much for the great DIY write up on this. I think I finally found the holes today and will try and see if I can do the mod this weekend. I actually figured that this mod would be just as easy as switching two wires ... only which two was my problem.
	Appreciate 0 Quote