I need to take the steering wheel off. The leather is in poor shape, so I am having these guys recover it via Auto Carbon: http://www.bimmian.com/92/STW/ Bimmian doe BMW, but Autocarbon can do any wheel. Anyway, how do I get the wheel off. I see two bolts at the back of the wheel. If I remove them, does this remove the airbag and the airbag cover??? Thanks for helping a newbie! Rorie
After eighty odd posts you're not a newbie and you should by now know the answer is almost certainly here if you look ! For example http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?p=135856891#post135856891
Yes. I did that ass backwards. I just did a search and found some posts. But I appreciate the repost. Thanks Rorie
I installed a 360 wheel/airbag in my 355 about a month ago. Just make sure that you turn your battery off before you disconnect the airbag to avoid an airbag warning light. Although the other link used a T-25, mine was a T-30 Security Torx to remove the airbag. Make sure you have a T-25, T-27 and T-30 Security Torx just in case. The T-27 fit in mine but was loose, The T-30 was snug and the right size for mine. Image Unavailable, Please Login
I am just about to do the same to my 355 fit a 360 wheel complete with air bag, any tips and niggles to avoid would be much appreciated... Dean
Very simple to do. Follow the link in post #2 and also what I had noted in my post #5, and don't overtighten the allen bolts or security torx screws. Good luck and let's see some photos when you're done! Not to hijack this, but here's mine. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Many thanks! I am going to start in the morning, let you know and will post pics when finished... Dean
OK, so finally trying to do this. BUT.... Problem is trying to remove the two screws at the back of the steering wheel to get the airbag cover off. Per Ferrari chat they say to use a T-25. I also tried a t-30 (too big), and a T-27. But what you cannot see from the photo is where the big white dot is the photo in the middle of the socket, there is this raised piece of metal inside it, almost like a raised pin. So I cannot get any of my bits to fit in it. Have you guys run into this before where there is a raised metal pin? Image Unavailable, Please Login
Ah, looked further. Did not know there was something called "tamper resistant" TORX. I can see the hole in the tool bit. Are these easy to find. Never even heard of them before. Thanks. Rorie
This is what I am doing to the wheel. I have a friend who does BMW wheels. So he sends about 10 a month to get recovered and modified. Because of that, the shipping costs and volume costs are lower per wheel. We've done a few 355 wheels and they look great at the fraction of the cost of what others are charging. Usually around $1,000 less. I took one wheel to a really well know interior and upolsterer here because I wanted him to evaluate the materials being used (ie cheap alcantara that will fade, wear, and get those fabric bunnies, verus the good stuff). He reassured me the materials being used in the wheel he inspected were high quality. So there are examples of the BMW steering wheel designs at www.bimmian.com . But you could do many other things as well. Winter is a good time to do this because the turn around time is about 6 weeks. For a few hundred more he can expedite things to three weeks. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Should be able to find them at any store that deals in wrenchs and such. I founf mine on ebay for just a couple bucks for a few different sizes.
I got the right torx bits tonight. In the end I was able to use a T25 to remove the two rear botls for the air bag. Then a 15/16" bit to remove the main bolt attaching the steering wheel. I just put the sample thick 355 steering wheel on the car to see what it looks like. It actually looks better than I thought, but I am still ordering the wheel as previously shown. Did run into one issue, I forgot to take the three screws out that hold the airbag wiring between the wheel and the hub. So as you can see, it unravelled a bit. It also looks a tad beat up. Not sure if that is normal. Any comments would be appreciated. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
too late now but next time, don't remove the one large nut. Do remove the four small screws at the base of the steering wheel. That way, the steering wheel comes off leaving the horn connection in place.
