STEERING WHEEL

[henrym3]

As above, lost all facilities, no volume control cruise phone. Airbag light on and to add to my misery the diagnostics has packed up. Anyone have any idea, a bit of reading suggests the ignition switch but surely not??

[X5Sport]

Sounds like an electrical fault in the wheel itself.

Probably worth removing the air bag module to look within the wheel switchgear housing (from memory I think it’s done by putting a long posidrive or similar screwdriver through a hole on the stem behind the wheel at about 10:00 and 2:00 and pushing to release the spring catches that hold the airbag on). Disconnect the vehicle battery first!

I had an issue in the E46 caused by a loose screw shorting things out….including the horn switch (which got a bit embarrassing until I could get home and dis the battery!).

With so many things all happening together my mind is going to the wheel first.

[Leslie]

Sounds like the slip ring or wiring to it has broken

[henrym3]

Going to take the airbag of tomorrow and have a look. Does seem electrical as the buttons operate different modules so they haven’t all gone pop.

[X5Sport]

This might help……

49862A78-AB36-4720-BB7F-0F37C8B372F5.jpeg (121.71 KiB) Viewed 1391 times

[henrym3]

[Themoog2]

It does sound like a broken wire behind the air bag. Can't quite remember what it was like when I swapped mine over but I think there may have been two connectors. However, you state that all functions are gone and airbag light is on. Is there a fuse for the steering wheel?

[henrym3]

I looked for a fuse on the chart but none listed. I’ve been thinking about it as the diagnostics said no commas with ECU. Has to be the main ECU as that will control the cruise but that doesn’t explain the radio controls, horn or airbag.

[X5Sport]

Wiring diagram shows the wires go to the back of the instrument cluster itself and the integrated central electronics module which is also on the back of the cluster ‘block’. The IKE does a lot of other stuff as well. Cruise control buttons go to the engine DME/DDE module itself. Fuse 9 (5A) is also involved and seems to provide power. All the connections go via a 6-pin connector at the coil spring. Most functions are on the K-bus or I-bus depending upon version (and there’s no clue as to what is fitted to what!).

[henrym3]

Well at least checking fuse 9 is within my competence level. I’ll also whip out the instrument cluster and check connections. Thanks for taking the time to look at the diagrams.

[henrym3]

Done the checks and no issues, on reading some more the on this fault the favourite culprit seems to be the slip ring? Can anyone point me to the slip ring and especially a part number.

[Leslie]

indicators plug into it , not sure if this is the correct one but has some pics to view

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/8375398-9o-B ... 7675.l2557

[X5Sport]

This any help?

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpa ... Id=61_1337

Item 3, fits all models and is the only one that I can find for the E53 steering column. I suspect it’s an all-in-one switch block.

[henrym3]

Doesn’t seem a bad price Leslie for a used one. Got to decide if I buy before stripping the other one out. Chances are that even when I get mine out there will be no visible indicator that it knackered. Just have the diagnostics fault that there is no commas to the ECU.

[Leslie]

I doubt there is any fixing in them I think there are copper tracks in them, must be a break somewhere inside. All it is is a way of allowing electric to still flow to the wheel as it rotates.