[jonnyuk06]

i've tried searching for this question but coming up with a blank (more than likley because i'm not searching on keywords )

i have an se steering wheel and changing to an m-sport.
can i use my steering wheel buttons on the m-sport steering wheel, appreciate i need new trim

cheers

[B005T3D-G]

Do you have the SE wheel with the triangular airbag or the Sport (not m-sport) wheel with the silver trim and round airbag?

If you have the sport wheel then it's a direct swap as the switches are built into modules and I believe you can still use the 'Sport' trim whereas the SE wheel looks like the buttons are built into slightly different modules and might not fit.

[jonnyuk06]

i have the se wheel (not the sport).

the trim is different as is the airbag but the buttons look the same (if you remove the trim to reviel just buttons).

i'm hoping i can reuse the buttons, buy a the msport wheel, trim and airbag

cheesr

[B005T3D-G]

Ok, so here is your wheel. Note that there is no protruding button surround



This is the sport with the round airbag, note button surround



This is an M-Sport, note same button surround.

[/QUOTE]

If you pull your trim off and find the buttons in the same module then it should be a straight swap. If not then you'll have to source some buttons too.

*Borrowed pictures from around the site*

EDIT - Last pic is an M3 wheel I think but identical bar 'M' Button and non perforated leather hand grips.

[jonnyuk06]

Ah,see what you mean. Maybe the buttons are not a straight swap!

[A_P]

Listen to Boosted. Not MAYBE, They DEFINATELY will not fit.

[jonnyuk06]

Cheers for the info guys,time for olan b

[A_P]

Whats plan B?

[Tipper]

I'm on the same quest but having stripped down both wheels and noted the incompatability of buttons between SE and my Sport flappy paddle replacement, will the latter's buttons work on the SE wiring without any modification?

I've still got the SE wheel on at the moment as I haven't plucked up enough courage to do the necessary wiring mods for the flappy paddles! I've got an awful feeling it may all go dreadfully wrong...

(It's also finding a day to myself without my wife wanting to go somewhere or use the car!)

[jonnyuk06]

plan B requires lots of money and begging to the wife to let me do it, that is to buy the bloody steering wheel!

not sure plan b will come off to be honest

[A_P]

there are a few M sport wheels around, coming with trim and MF buttons between 50 and 90 pounds delivered ( second hand, nice cond). All you need then is a round airbag. If your patient then you can do it at a relatively low cost.

[B005T3D-G]

Originally Posted by Tipper

I'm on the same quest but having stripped down both wheels and noted the incompatability of buttons between SE and my Sport flappy paddle replacement, will the latter's buttons work on the SE wiring without any modification?

I've still got the SE wheel on at the moment as I haven't plucked up enough courage to do the necessary wiring mods for the flappy paddles! I've got an awful feeling it may all go dreadfully wrong...

(It's also finding a day to myself without my wife wanting to go somewhere or use the car!)

As long as the button lay out is identical I cannot see there being a problem. I doubt that they would change the pin outs on the connectors assuming they both share the same connector type.

It would be nice if someone else who has carried out the mod from SE to M-Sport wheel can chime in to confirm this as unfortunately at this point I am only making an educated guess.

[A_P]

The MF buttons from the sport wheel connect directly in the slipring. So does the Airbag. So regardless of what steering you had first. As long as your Sport wheel has the Sport MF buttons fitted then these will connect directly into the Slipring connection behind the wheel.

It is very simple. One thing though if you are planning on removing your Airbag to check the wiring. PLEASE disconnect the battery first.!

[jonnyuk06]

i've been reading diy guides, seems a simple task. jsut need to source the parts now!

[Tipper]

Yes disconnect the battery and leave 15-20 minutes, so legend has it, before interfering with the airbag and its wiring. Having seen what an airbag does in an accident I wouldn't want one going off in my face whilst fiddling with the wheel.

Whilst discussing steering wheels and airbags it should be noted that the SE airbag unlatching method is subtley different to that for the MSport in that the SE requires a long thin screwdiver to be inserted into the wheel vertically and then levering the spring latches outwards (iirc or may be inwards, sorry bad memory these days) and the MSport simply has the screwdriver inserted horizontally to release the latch. There are a couple of threads that show this.

Additionally if you disconnect the airbag you will need to reset the fault light code every 'king time you do it even if you just refit the same airbag! It's a real PITA! BT kit required or a friendly garage with BMW 'puter.