Airbag removal

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Alexvi

Member
Joined
Oct 29, 2021
Messages
5
Hello everyone, greetings from Italy, I am just signed up today ...
I bought 2 months ago a used bmw i3 2018 bev (from germany) and am very happy so far.
The only thing that does not satisfy me is the steering wheel, for me it is too thin, (I have quite large hands) so I bought a used one and had it covered in leather., like this https://www.ebay.com/itm/224167997861
Now I have to mount it, I searched and found some instructions in the forum here
https://www.mybmwi3.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5648&start=10

but unfortunately in my car there is something wrong: the screwdriver inside the steering wheel holes enters only 3.5 cm, not 5 cm as indicated in the tutorial, and obviously despite having pressed the airbag in all directions it does not move from its seat.
can someone kindly explain to me where I am wrong and how to free the airbag?

Alex
 
Not familiar with the process, but although the instructions you have are pretty good, you probably need the manufacturer repair instructions, part of ISTA+ Rheingold Gold software. This has the technician stripdown process.
 
ok thanks for your interest,
I tried again but it doesn't move..
I'll try to hear if the dealership installs it for me

Alex
 
Hello Alex –

Just wanted to say hello and welcome you to the forum!

I'm not familiar with changing steering wheels in the i3 but once you have solved the mechanical problem of removing the airbag, it is very likely that you will have to make some programming (coding) changes to your i3 so that all of the steering wheel buttons and (most importantly!) the airbag are correctly recognized.
 
A few people on the Facebook BMW i3 Modified group have swapped out their i3 steering wheel for a beefier one, either from an i8 or another BMW model. A search there will show them.
 
ok i tried again and finally i managed to disassemble the airbag.
I am very satisfied with the new steering wheel, now I drive much better for the size of the crown and the leather is much softer. The appearance in my opinion is also better. I still kept the original steering wheel so I will resell the car. I attach photos

0nthzFT


https://ibb.co/0nthzFT
 
now I can share the process:

first read this tutorial
https://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=575818&d=1473573872

I found this video that made me realize the amount of force required to separate the airbag (I would never have pulled with this force without knowing it, but in the end yes, it worked)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_--Mw1OtwE&ab_channel=%D0%9C%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BA%D0%90%D0%BB%D0%B5%D1%85%D0%B8%D0%BD

However, it is necessary to know that it was a long and difficult job for those who, like me, are afraid of breaking something. The coupling system is strange, on other bmw there is only 2 spring to press gently, here you have to force and count on the flexibility of the plastic but it doesn't seem like a good engineer project.... I think bmw has a special tool to do this because you also have to pull the attachment on the airbag steering wheel outwards and it is very difficult with a straight tool.
1) For safety, disconnect the high voltage connector and then disconnect the 12v battery. I made a mistake and took a risk, only making the car to sleep by closing it with the passenger door open, and moved away the keys, and disconnected the horn fuse, on my car no. 9 from the secondary fuse compartment. the car must sleep until the end of work. When I do it again I will disconnect everything at the cost of recoding any errors.
2) Insert a tool into the hole behind with force, for about 5 cm, (I used a star screwdriver with extension tube as in the video.) Better a tool without a tip otherwise the attachment will be ruined because it is made of soft plastic. The edge on one side comes out easily but when you try the other, it is very hard and when you move the airbag the other falls back. Always work on the left side of the column, steering when switching sides, as in the video. When you detach the left side, you can unscrew and remove the left hand control and see how the hook works. attention needs a fair amount of strength, as in the video.
I recommend that you peel off one side and put a rag inside and then force the other side by moving the airbag up and down, as if to honk the horn.
https://ibb.co/GMyXJNz
https://ibb.co/QC73b1M

Now be careful, when you detach both hooks there is a risk that the airbag will fall and tear the short cable (15 cm), so hold it with your hands, better to do it in two: one forces the tool and the other moves and holds the airbag.
3) when it finally comes out, disconnect the yellow cable, and put the airbag aside. The airbag, according to my information, is safe, as the control unit that controls it has a safety device that blocks it against activation, but for safety, I repeat, disconnect the battery.
4) Remove the airbag attachment fixed on the steering wheel and the push-button panels and fix it on the new one. The cables remain with the plastic attachment.
5) remove the nut 16 of the steering wheel, you do not need much force, and slide the steering wheel out of the groove, there is the mark of the steering wheel straight.
6) Insert the new steering wheel in the correct groove and replace the nut 16.
7) now reinstall the airbag, connecting the yellow connector carefully without forcing. if it does not enter check the pins of the slats, on mine they were low and I had to raise them with a pin, luckily they did not bend and then it went in. place the guide pegs at the corners and then push until they click. check the horn movement if it returns.
Replace the fuse and start the test.
8) No button coding is needed, as I have not changed any electronic components, only the metal crown, so buttons and airbags are only detached and reattached as they were in the car in standby mode. On mine it has not marked any errors.

the cost was 90 euros a steering wheel used by ebay and 240 the craftsman to re-cover it with 2 types of leather and blue thread
 
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