Steering Wheel Center Piece: Removal

[Dan B]

Friends,
I am considering removing, working on and then reinstalling/replacing Scooter's steering wheel center piece to resolve some minor cosmetic issues.

Before I even think futher...
Is this piece tied to the air bag system in the steering wheel? (I certainly wouldn't want to set off the air bag trying to correct a minor cosmetic issue.)

If this center piece is not linked to the air bag system, has anyone done this? What is the proper way to remove this piece without damaging it or the surrounding area of the steering wheel?

Thanks,

Dan

[RustyPaint]

All I would say is becarefull if it is. There is a small charge of exposives in that air bag.

[ncdave]

Are you talking about just the round "mini" badge with the soft surround or the entire center pad of the steering wheel? The center pad IS the airbag. If you near a dealer, I'd probably have them remove it so you work on it on your workbench in safety. I just had my wheel replaced and observed that it's really easy to do but I truly don'y know what, if anything, was disabled beforehand.

[Damo]

I'd say speak to your dealer first, but if your ignition is off surely the airbag can't go off. But that can't stop you screwing up so it does go off when you put the ignition back in.

Could always disconnect the battery.

As for being able to remove it, can't see it being a problem, as it just "pops" out of the way when the bad goes off, otherwise people who crash would have INIM imprinted on there foreheads

[Root Ginger]

When a MINI Emergency guy came out to tighten my steering wheel (that the dealer had forgotten to do after some work ) He just disconnected the battery before removing and reinstalling the wheel. Nothing was disabled.

ncdave could you post the method used for replacing the wheel please. Obviously with all the usual disclaimers

[JC380]

Dan B,

The Mini "wing" badge (outer silver ring) is part of the airbag assembly. Even if you remove the whole airbag you're not able to change the badge.

[ncdave]

I'd be happy to relay my observations with the obvious disclaimer that they are merely observations and I do not kow what "disabling" steps were taken beforehand as I did not witness the removal of the wheel; only the fitting up and reinstallation.

Apparently, the MFSW components (swtiches,etc) merely screw in from behind as they look like a "clam shell" design which grips around the steering wheel base component.

The steering wheel then slips onto the splines (which looked like they were pre-marked from the factory for position) and the securing nut tightened as in any other car without an airbag.

The airbag assembly was then hooked to the harness via a single lead and simply snaped (carefully) into place (bottom first, then the top).

I will say that the airbag/badge assembly didn't seem particularly user-serviceable as it looked like a sealed unit.

Interestingly, it did not look like the battery was ever disconnected as the rear fog light retrofit was performed immediately thereafter requiring a software download and light test so I have a question as to how the airbag system was isolated.

Hope that helps - sorry that I don't have any pics.