Swap Steering Wheel

TBM · 02-10-2015, 04:18 PM

I have a 2007 335i with a regular steering wheel (non-sport), and no shift paddles.
My cousin has 2007 335i with a sport steering wheel + shift paddles.

He's going to be trading in his car and I wanted to swap his steering wheel for mine.

What do I need to do:
- swap steering wheel
- swap airbag

- what do I need to integrate the shifters in mycar?
- do I need to do anything to the steering wheel switches?

Is my cousin's car going to have any issues by having a non-sport steering wheel w/ no paddles?

Thanks in advance!

VTECaddict · 02-13-2015, 02:47 AM

So you're essentially stealing from the next buyer of that car?

smithf80 · 02-13-2015, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TBM

I have a 2007 335i with a regular steering wheel (non-sport), and no shift paddles.
My cousin has 2007 335i with a sport steering wheel + shift paddles.

He's going to be trading in his car and I wanted to swap his steering wheel for mine.

What do I need to do:
- swap steering wheel
- swap airbag

- what do I need to integrate the shifters in mycar?
- do I need to do anything to the steering wheel switches?

Is my cousin's car going to have any issues by having a non-sport steering wheel w/ no paddles?

Thanks in advance!

He won't have issues, you can straight swap them, paddle shifters might be tricky, honestly not sure but BMS sells a kit that might make it easy:

http://www.burgertuning.com/paddleshift.html

VTECaddict its not like he is swapping out his struts that have 50k less on them or something like that, if the next owner knows BMW well enough then they will know its not the right wheel, if not, then I really don't think they will care. Think about who is buying 07 BMW's right now...

roll_the_dice · 02-13-2015, 11:46 AM

I swapped wheels right after I got my car 2 years ago. I bought the harness from burger... Was a pretty easy swap. There is a thread in the DIY on the swap and making your own harness if you are electrically inclined.

TBM · 02-13-2015, 11:42 PM

Thanks for the info guys.
My cousin will be trading his car in, so I don't think it'll make much of a price difference based on what kind of a wheel he has when he trades it in.

So it sounds like I won't have any issues installing paddle shifters.
The biggest thing is that I was hoping my cousin doesn't get any warning lights for missing paddles. However, it doesn't seem like that is something the ECU checks for. The paddle-shifters are wired to the shifter wires UP/DOWN. Signal is only sent when they are activated. And if they're not connected, no harm.

BimmerCel · 02-19-2015, 01:43 PM

On the flip side, I want to replace my sport steering wheel w/ paddle shifters for am M-Sport steering wheel w/o paddles.

Will that cause any issues or do I just not hook up the paddle shifter harness that I probably find in my existing constallation?

(So basically I am in TBM's cousin's position. I can probably still use my shift knob in sports mode w/o any issues, correct?)

Thanks

PDX-335i · 02-20-2015, 12:24 PM

I think a trade in without the proper equipment will be a problem, unless the dealer is a real BMW novice. If the car came equipped with the sport package but doesn't have the shifters, I would be concerned.

roadkillrob · 02-20-2015, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PDX-335i

I think a trade in without the proper equipment will be a problem, unless the dealer is a real BMW novice. If the car came equipped with the sport package but doesn't have the shifters, I would be concerned.

In 2007 shifters were a standalone option and dealer will be unlikely to notice or even care on a trade in, they just buy and sell cars and only care about the difference - if they notice or think it will be worth less, they will just pay less for it. And most buys are not like forum members and are clueless to what they are buying and what it should or should not have.

TBM · 03-23-2015, 07:49 AM

There are two buttons on the steering wheel that are different between the two steering wheels. On a regular wheel, the buttons are a disc (next entertainment source) and recirculated air mode.

On the other wheel, there are two buttons: one is shaped like a diamond, and the other one is star-shaped. From what I've read, on models which have these buttons, they are configurable via iDrive.

Question: If I install a regular wheel into a car that has these programmable buttons, are there going to be any wiring differences? Or are the buttons completely interchangeable?

TBM · 03-27-2015, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TBM

There are two buttons on the steering wheel that are different between the two steering wheels. On a regular wheel, the buttons are a disc (next entertainment source) and recirculated air mode.

On the other wheel, there are two buttons: one is shaped like a diamond, and the other one is star-shaped. From what I've read, on models which have these buttons, they are configurable via iDrive.

Question: If I install a regular wheel into a car that has these programmable buttons, are there going to be any wiring differences? Or are the buttons completely interchangeable?

BUMP - anyone?

JC335xi · 03-27-2015, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TBM

BUMP - anyone?

I expect they are interchangeable but I'm just going to swap the buttons from my current wheel to the new one when I do mine so the labels are right for the car.

roadkillrob · 03-28-2015, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JC335xi

I expect they are interchangeable but I'm just going to swap the buttons from my current wheel to the new one when I do mine so the labels are right for the car.

Just swap the buttons - otherwise they will do the same thing they used to, but will be labelled wrong.

02-10-2015, 04:18 PM	#1
TBM First Lieutenant 21 Rep 340 Posts Drives: 2007 335i E90 Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Windsor, ON iTrader: (1)	Swap Steering Wheel - Regular to Sport I have a 2007 335i with a regular steering wheel (non-sport), and no shift paddles. My cousin has 2007 335i with a sport steering wheel + shift paddles. He's going to be trading in his car and I wanted to swap his steering wheel for mine. What do I need to do: - swap steering wheel - swap airbag - what do I need to integrate the shifters in mycar? - do I need to do anything to the steering wheel switches? Is my cousin's car going to have any issues by having a non-sport steering wheel w/ no paddles? Thanks in advance!
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02-13-2015, 02:47 AM	#2
VTECaddict Where'd my VTEC go? 481 Rep 6,067 Posts Drives: 06 330i 6MT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (4)	So you're essentially stealing from the next buyer of that car? __________________ AW/Terra \| ZSP \| ZPP \| ZCW \| iDrive \| CA Mods: BC BR coilovers \| Blacklines \| M-tech rear \| dual exhaust \| M3 steering wheel \| BMW SSK \| ZHP shift knob \| High-kick CF spoiler \| NBT Retrofit M3 front control arms \| M3 rear guide rods \| Manzo rear toe and camber links \| Monroe rear shock mounts \| Varrstoen ES1 19x9.5+20 Front, 19x11+25 rear
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02-13-2015, 11:46 AM	#4
roll_the_dice Colonel 508 Rep 2,981 Posts Drives: 2013 BMW F30 EBII Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Upstate, NY iTrader: (23) Garage List 1988 Porsche 944 Ce ... [0.00] 2010 BMW E90 328xi [10.00]	I swapped wheels right after I got my car 2 years ago. I bought the harness from burger... Was a pretty easy swap. There is a thread in the DIY on the swap and making your own harness if you are electrically inclined. __________________ Drives: 2011 Porsche 958, 1965 Chevy C10, 1988 Porsche 944 Sold:2010 e90 Montego Blue, 2013 F30 EBII, 2013 Tangerine Scream Ford Focus ST, 2006 Mini R50,2004 VW Touareg, 2012 Camaro Convertible, 2008 Porsche 911 Convertible, 2007 Corvette, 2004 BMW e64 convertible, 2000 Dodge Dakota, 1999 Ford F150, 1999 Porsche Boxster, 1999 Ferrari Modena, 1992 BMW e36, 1990 Nissan 240sx, 1979 Celica, 1974 Mustang II My Build Thread
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02-13-2015, 11:42 PM	#5
TBM First Lieutenant 21 Rep 340 Posts Drives: 2007 335i E90 Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Windsor, ON iTrader: (1)	Thanks for the info guys. My cousin will be trading his car in, so I don't think it'll make much of a price difference based on what kind of a wheel he has when he trades it in. So it sounds like I won't have any issues installing paddle shifters. The biggest thing is that I was hoping my cousin doesn't get any warning lights for missing paddles. However, it doesn't seem like that is something the ECU checks for. The paddle-shifters are wired to the shifter wires UP/DOWN. Signal is only sent when they are activated. And if they're not connected, no harm.
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02-19-2015, 01:43 PM	#6
BimmerCel Registered 2 Rep 3 Posts Drives: BMW 328xi Coupe Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	On the flip side, I want to replace my sport steering wheel w/ paddle shifters for am M-Sport steering wheel w/o paddles. Will that cause any issues or do I just not hook up the paddle shifter harness that I probably find in my existing constallation? (So basically I am in TBM's cousin's position. I can probably still use my shift knob in sports mode w/o any issues, correct?) Thanks
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02-20-2015, 12:24 PM	#7
PDX-335i Private First Class 22 Rep 118 Posts Drives: 2009 E90 335i Sport Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Portland, OR iTrader: (0)	I think a trade in without the proper equipment will be a problem, unless the dealer is a real BMW novice. If the car came equipped with the sport package but doesn't have the shifters, I would be concerned.
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03-23-2015, 07:49 AM	#9
TBM First Lieutenant 21 Rep 340 Posts Drives: 2007 335i E90 Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Windsor, ON iTrader: (1)	There are two buttons on the steering wheel that are different between the two steering wheels. On a regular wheel, the buttons are a disc (next entertainment source) and recirculated air mode. On the other wheel, there are two buttons: one is shaped like a diamond, and the other one is star-shaped. From what I've read, on models which have these buttons, they are configurable via iDrive. Question: If I install a regular wheel into a car that has these programmable buttons, are there going to be any wiring differences? Or are the buttons completely interchangeable?
	Appreciate 0 Quote