E53 FACELIFT STEERING WHEEL TRIM REPLACEMENT

[Sanj]

And remove the airbag fuse!

[Raj]

[quote="Sanj"]
And remove the airbag fuse!
[/quote]

Never ever done that......but then I'm Indian....lol

[Sanj]

Ever seen that YouTube video of the mechanics doing that airbag prank on their colleague! Sent him flying!!!

You DO NOT wanna be hit by that thing at such close range, take no chances!

[X5Sport]

+1 for that.  It takes a VERY small surge, or static discharge to make the bag come out and say 

Brushing your teeth from the wrong end is not a recommended activity.....

[jevansio]

Just done my centre today as it was the only grubby thing in the interior, I used Rover Steel Grey Metallic in a can from Halfords and it looks OEM

[storminmike]

Sorry to resurrect this again but Santa has kindly sent me a new trim.....how did he know?

I can see from the pictures that the airbag is detached by poking a screw driver through those side holes to target what seems like a big spring clip on either side

well from this picture its seems that way anyway



Are there any pictures showing the screwdriver (minus the airbag) poking the springs?  Might help my poking technique :-[


additionally....if I do get the screwdriver into the right place does it take some shoving to pop it out......and when putting the bag back does it just push back in?

I plan on removing fuse 44....can I still put the key in and maybe turn the ignition on without a warning light
?

aha

Picture borrowed from Outpost :-[

Different wheel but does this look right?



Full how to swap
http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/int ... style.html

[Horizon]

You are thinking too much, its easy enough to do.just follow the instructions.
Or if you want me to give you a hand, as ive done mine, PM me i'm off until new year and only live in Bury, I cant be more than 30 mins from you.
Im supposed to be test driving a 911 tomorow in Wilmslow at some time, apart from that" ive nowt to do."
as we say up north of Manchester.
Ive got a scanner too if needed.

[storminmike]

[quote="Horizon"]
You are thinking too much, its easy enough to do.just follow the instructions.
Or if you want me to give you a hand, as ive done mine, PM me i'm off until new year and only live in Bury, I cant be more than 30 mins from you.
Im supposed to be test driving a 911 tomorow in Wilmslow at some time, apart from that" ive nowt to do."
as we say up north of Manchester.
Ive got a scanner too if needed.
[/quote]

Oooh...thanks for the offer, most appreciated. I've only just come back online after a PC meltdown so apologies for not responding sooner.

I've actaully managed to swap it out this afternoon. I did discover though a "special tool" that was non-conductive and easily doubled for the potentially damaging screwdriver.

PLASTIC CHOPSTICKS ) You know when you sit there and think hmmm, what could I shove in that hole that would big big enough to push the spring but not so damaging as a sharpa screwdriver. A quick forage in the kitchen drawer, the one with the spare useless keys, used batteries, the old telephone faceplate, instructions for a toaster long since deceased, several rolls of tinfoil and a few old mobile phones!

Well in that drawer were plastic chopsticks (origin/date unknown) but I do remember seeing them. Flat end, right diameter and no chance of a short circuit or wire chopping.....ta da......worked like a dream

Also had various T10 torx bits but they were a bit too short to reach the inner screws. I had though one of those combi things (a bit swiss army knife) that had many  fingers of torx sizes. Screws were a bit hard to find though but job done

Removed screws first using engine power to swivel wheel, power off then bag out. Next out with the trim....then reverse

[Horizon]

Its a bit daunting when the instructions mention removing the airbag. We all have premenitions of it going off in our faces. Glad you got it sorted. My steering wheel trim was well worn and made the interia look tatty, what a transformation a 30 quid trim can make. some have repainted theirs, I couln't be bothered so purchased a new one from BMW via Ebay

[storminmike]

[quote="Horizon"]
Its a bit daunting when the instructions mention removing the airbag. We all have premenitions of it going off in our faces. Glad you got it sorted. My steering wheel trim was well worn and made the interia look tatty, what a transformation a 30 quid trim can make. some have repainted theirs, I couln't be bothered so purchased a new one from BMW via Ebay
[/quote]

I must admit I was nervous but the tinterweb is great for how toos. The fact that I could see (via the pictures) what I was supposed to press helped. The spring is a bit stiffer than I thought but once you "feel" it give a little you know you're pressing the right bit.  The chopstick I felt was inspired as it was easy to hit the tight bit (being round, flat ended and quite rigid) although the chances of doing damage is limited with metal....it's still metal and screwdrivers chop wires


I now have a spare....and the wife's X5 trim is even more shoddy than mine was. 

Hmmmm

[storminmike]

has now become an EXPERT (cough) on replacing the trim
My rough trim now replaced was cleaned/scraped (with a stanley knife)/sanded to the white base

Sprayed with plastic primer then satin black....2 coats then left for a week

Yesterday I swapped the wifes manky one for this painted one in less than 5 mins (including opening the shed for tools)

My now handy custom spring depresser (read plastic chopstick) worked like a dream to eject the airbag

additional points to note

I had the engine running to whip the wheel round and undid the screws first before returning to dead center but UPSIDE DOWN

Keys out chopstick in and airbag out. I had the wheel upside down as it made it easier to balance the airbag between wheel and hub...for me it did anyhow

panel out buttons out, careful with wires. New panel in and screwed up tight (mind no wires get trapped though as the HORN depress can affected)

Chopstick in on one spring, depress then bag goes in far easier.

Keys in spin round, double check screws, double check horn...brew

[MrMaloo]

What great tips! As per everyone else my trim was worn - did a search on ebay today and found an AC Schnitzer silver carbon fibre one. Pretty sure we have some chopsticks at home too - happy days!!!

[MrCam]

Think I used a long series 5 mill Allen key to get my airbag clips loose, just took more pressure than I expected but when you get it off you can see why.
Need a T10 screwdriver thats skinny so it goes into wheel to locate screws torx sockets no good.
Just replaced dash pixels last weekend and had to buy a set of torx precision drivers as I didn't have a T8 and the T10 come in set from Halfords for just under £13.

[centurion]

just to get this right... when taking everything back you also have to use the s'driver or chopsticks to push the a/b in [and not simply push in by pressing the center to drop in] ?