[friederbluemle]

Is there anyone who could please explain how to remove the air bar unit from a F30 steering wheel?
There is an excellent video on YouTube showing exactly that:

It literally takes him 10 seconds to do it and now I feel kinda stupid after spending an hour in my car. For the life of me I can't get hold of these metal U-shaped clamps that attach the air bag unit to the counterpart hooks inside of the steering wheel. From the video it looks like you have to bend these U-clamps slightly inward to detach them, however I inserted a screwdriver in the small slit and really tried everything without success. Can anyone here advise what do to, for example exactly how deep to insert the screwdriver before pushing left/right, what angle, etc?

Thanks!

[stonjohn4]

I would go with stack.....they look alot better and more oem.....IND sells a plug and play stack kit with the gauge pod!

[MacBlack335i]

Originally Posted by friederbluemle

Is there anyone who could please explain how to remove the air bar unit from a F30 steering wheel?
There is an excellent video on YouTube showing exactly that:

It literally takes him 10 seconds to do it and now I feel kinda stupid after spending an hour in my car. For the life of me I can't get hold of these metal U-shaped clamps that attach the air bag unit to the counterpart hooks inside of the steering wheel. From the video it looks like you have to bend these U-clamps slightly inward to detach them, however I inserted a screwdriver in the small slit and really tried everything without success. Can anyone here advise what do to, for example exactly how deep to insert the screwdriver before pushing left/right, what angle, etc?

Thanks!

Did you ever get the airbag off? I'm going to swap out my wheel and I know these can be a pain the ass sometimes to get off.

Looking for some feedback before hacking up my wheel.

[friederbluemle]

Originally Posted by MacRed335i

Did you ever get the airbag off? I'm going to swap out my wheel and I know these can be a pain the ass sometimes to get off.

Looking for some feedback before hacking up my wheel.

No sorry I didn't get it off yet. I tried again a few more times but gave up eventually. Please let me know if you have more luck.

[bbj]

is this what you are looking for?

http://www.bimmian.com/elements/page.../STW/STW30.pdf

[bbj]

Another video

[MacBlack335i]

Originally Posted by bbj

is this what you are looking for?

http://www.bimmian.com/elements/page.../STW/STW30.pdf

That is perfect! Thank you......

Airbag came right off....no damage. Whew.....

[bbj]

Originally Posted by MacRed335i

That is perfect! Thank you......

Airbag came right off....no damage. Whew.....

Does ur car have paddle shifts? Was it much more complicated than no paddles?

[MacBlack335i]

Originally Posted by bbj

Does ur car have paddle shifts? Was it much more complicated than no paddles?

yes on the paddles, but it doesn't make a difference... You have to be very careful with the 4 spring loaded clips on the airbag that activate the horn. If you don't pull it straight out from the wheel you can easily break one of the clips and you're buying a brand new airbag.. Don't tilt the airbag. Pull a little from the top and then the bottom.

You will hear and feel the spring clips going back and forth as you pry against them. Do the right side first...

Unlike the E9X Sport wheel airbag you have to give it a good tug to get it off. It's doesn't just pop off.

That's what was messing me up... I'm thinking release the 2 clips and it pops off. NOPE... You have to feel the clip release and carefully pull it off.

[pcbrew]

Originally Posted by MacRed335i

Unlike the E9X Sport wheel airbag you have to give it a good tug to get it off. It's doesn't just pop off.

That's what was messing me up... I'm thinking release the 2 clips and it pops off. NOPE... You have to feel the clip release and carefully pull it off.

+1 on this. There is some rubbery material around the aribag that makes it hard to pull out. Much harder that when I did this on my E46.

Thanks for this thread and the video links, very helpful.

[newoldbeemer]

@friederbluemle, were you able to do it successfully?

I noticed you are from around where I am. Do you know if there are any shops who would do this work?

[ipp]

I did this on my last car (F20), same wheel as the F30.

It was really hard first. Next time when I knew how to do it was easy.

Locate the spring with the screwdriver and push it in. Pull the airbag on the same side. Keep holding that side out while you do the same thing on the other side. This time when you have pushed in the spring and pulled out the airbag it should come out a bit more. Then switch side again, hopefully you should have got it out by now.

[friederbluemle]

Originally Posted by newoldbeemer

@friederbluemle, were you able to do it successfully?

I noticed you are from around where I am. Do you know if there are any shops who would do this work?

Yes I was able to do it. The video at the top of this thread is kinda misleading, since it looks totally effortless the way he slides the screwdriver in and pops the airbag out. Not sure, but I assume that's how it would look like after you go through the whole procedure 30 times and the hooks and soft material inside of the steering wheel start wearing out.

Here is a more detailed description on how I did it:

1. Use the right screwdriver. A T20 torx will work best, but the philipps used in the video should be fine too.
2. Insert the screwdriver in the opening, at an angle that is parallel to the back plate of the steering wheel.
3. After about 45 mm (1.77 in) you will feel a resistance
4. This is the step that initially tripped me up: In order to get the screwdriver head behind the U shaped clamp of the airbag unit, you have to push the screwdriver handle inward (towards the center of the steering wheel).
5. If you push it far enough you will be able to advance the screwdriver another 5 mm for a total insertion depth of 50 mm (1.97 in). Now the screwdriver is in the right position
6. Only now push the handle of the screwdriver outwards in order to release the U clamps from the hooks. Note that the airbag unit does not "pop" out, it need to be pulled out.
7. At the same time as you're doing the previous step, with your other hand wiggle and pull the whole airbag unit until you feel it coming loose. You won't be able to move it much, since it's still locked on the other side.
8. Repeat on the other side, while making sure that airbag unit will not snap back.

@newoldbeemer, I don't know any shops, but let me know if the instructions are useful. I work in SJ and could help you if you want.

[flipside99]

What an epic pain the in balls.

friederbluemle: Your steps help tremendously.

[teapain]

man, f*ck that first video. spent an hour with smashed fingers and gave up. found this little gem on youtube that took me less than 5 minutes.

[aktif8]

Originally Posted by teapain

man, f*ck that first video. spent an hour with smashed fingers and gave up. found this little gem on youtube that took me less than 5 minutes.

reviving this thread for a quick question - for anyone that's done the second method, i'm assuming it has to be done with ignition on in order to be able to turn the wheel... isn't that a bit disconcerting? Not at all sure i'm comfortable sticking something metallic in the vicinity of the airbag with it receiving power.

Am i missing something?

[teapain]

While car is ON. Turn wheel. Shut car OFF. THen remove wheel.

[HFW003]

What he said, that's what I did.

[aktif8]

Originally Posted by teapain

While car is ON. Turn wheel. Shut car OFF. THen remove wheel.

thanks!

I know it was a dumb question, but unless i missed it, it didn't get mentioned in the video.

have this coming:

[jondaman]

Originally Posted by teapain

man, f*ck that first video. spent an hour with smashed fingers and gave up. found this little gem on youtube that took me less than 5 minutes.

I was trying to find this video for you guy. I did it this way, much much easier than the first video.

[teapain]

Originally Posted by aktif8

thanks!

I know it was a dumb question, but unless i missed it, it didn't get mentioned in the video.

have this coming:

Ooo. All chunky and velvety. Nice

[mdai245]

Originally Posted by teapain

While car is ON. Turn wheel. Shut car OFF. THen remove wheel.

Can anyone confirm whether or not it is safe to turn the wheel with the car OFF?

That is what the guy in the video seems to be doing unless he did some video edits.

Did some research on this and did not find anything solid out there saying it was unsafe to do so or that it would damage the steering column or drivetrain.