[batou]

I just changed to a three spoke wheel from the original 2 spoke leather boat wheel. Looks so much nicer

I followed the instructions correctly. Disconnected the battery, unplugged airbag swapped them over etc. Now when I reconnected the battery I had the keys in the ignition (this was to stop accidentally putting the steering lock on) which may have been a mistake as the ignition came on straight away. So I drive for about 2 minutes and the airbag light comes on... gutted.

I strip it back down, and refit from scratch ensuring the airbag is connected correctly. Ok now I understand the light is not going to go off until reset so looks like I need to take it straight to a dealer.

Has anyone got any ideas what I could have done wrong? This is a brand new airbag.

[batou]

anyone?

[chris.lamb]

Probably due to the key being in when you reconnected the battery.
This would turn everything on at the same time which does not happen during a normal startup turn of the key.
You can buy units off Ebay that will reset the airbag light, may work out cheaper than going to a dealer.

[Randall Raines]

Once the AIRBAG light is has been activated it's on until it has been turned off with the with the proper diagnostic equipment (AIRBAG light re-setter), the key in the ignition may have been your downfall, if it was in position 1 (ignition on) when you re-connected the battery, you can actually turn the ignition to position 1 to remove the steering lock and then turn the ignition off back to position 0, and if you don't remove the key the steering lock should stay off until the key has been removed from the ignition, without the ignition being on, you should have been OK if you did it that way, another problem is if you didn't connect the AIRBAG properly it may have turned the light on once the ignition was turned on, if everything is OK now (properly connected) you should have no problem turning the light back off (with the proper equipment), however you could have a faulty component (AIRBAG) even though the AIRBAG is brand new, but you wont know until you plug it into a diagnostic machine (I think that you may have left the ignition in the on position triggering the light when you connected the battery).

I fit and change AIRBAGs all the time and I have turned the ignition on or forgot to connect a plug and activated the AIRBAG light in the past, it's easily done , however on some cars the systems check everything and reset themselves providing everything is OK, but some cars don't including the MINI, hence once the light has been activated it needs checking / plugging into the right equipment to see why it has been activated and then it can be reset once the fault has been corrected.

Nice upgrade! I prefer the 3 spoke steering wheel .

A little advice, you should never re-connect a battery when the ignition is on, as this can damage the electrical systems in modern cars, even more-so if you have been messing with the AIRBAG system (you could have set the AIRBAGS off, not just turned the light on , rare but not impossible) .

[batou]

Quote: Originally Posted by Randall Raines (original)

Once the AIRBAG light is has been activated it's on until it has been turned off with the with the proper diagnostic equipment (AIRBAG light re-setter), the key in the ignition may have been your downfall, if it was in position 1 (ignition on) when you re-connected the battery, you can actually turn the ignition to position 1 to remove the steering lock and then turn the ignition off back to position 0, and if you don't remove the key the steering lock should stay off until the key has been removed from the ignition, without the ignition being on, you should have been OK if you did it that way,

It was in position one and the ignition came on immediately, followed by a "DOH!!!!"

Quote: Originally Posted by Randall Raines (original)

... another problem is if you didn't connect the AIRBAG properly it may have turned the light on once the ignition was turned on, if everything is OK now (properly connected) you should have no problem turning the light back off (with the proper equipment), however you could have a faulty component (AIRBAG) even though the AIRBAG is brand new, but you wont know until you plug it into a diagnostic machine (I think that you may have left the ignition in the on position triggering the light when you connected the battery).

The light only came on after starting the engine and driving around for 2 mins or so.

I have to admit at this point that initially hadn't lined up the wheel correctly so when road wheels were straight the steering wheel was quarter of a turn to the left. I stupidly did it in the afternoon and the light went quicker than I anticipated. So I mainly started over to correct that (in the daylight I might add ). So maybe the poor alignment may have tugged at the airbag connections?

I feel that it's probably best that I take it to a dealer to have it checked right? I do have a warranty that covers electrical components so if there is something wrong I can get a replacement airbag from the buyer or if anything else do it through the warranty (non-bmw).

Quote: Originally Posted by Randall Raines (original)

I fit and change AIRBAGs all the time and I have turned the ignition on or forgot to connect a plug and activated the AIRBAG light in the past, it's easily done , however on some cars the systems check everything and reset themselves providing everything is OK, but some cars don't including the MINI, hence once the light has been activated it needs checking / plugging into the right equipment to see why it has been activated and then it can be reset once the fault has been corrected.

I thought this was the case, it's the same with the tyre pressure sensor. It only resets after you tell it you've made a change and for it to re-check.

Quote: Originally Posted by Randall Raines (original)

Nice upgrade! I prefer the 3 spoke steering wheel .

Deffo, it looks much cleaner and modern

Quote: Originally Posted by Randall Raines (original)

A little advice, you should never re-connect a battery when the ignition is on, as this can damage the electrical systems in modern cars, even more-so if you have been messing with the AIRBAG system (you could have set the AIRBAGS off, not just turned the light on , rare but not impossible) .

I knew this and shat myself when i realised what I'd done, it was a genuine mistake. I thought the same I was almost ready to cover my ears lol .

Thanks for the response, great to hear from someone who knows exactly what their doing. I was sure I could do this but feel like such a tool now lol!

[batou]

Quote: Originally Posted by chris.lamb (original)

Probably due to the key being in when you reconnected the battery.
This would turn everything on at the same time which does not happen during a normal startup turn of the key.
You can buy units off Ebay that will reset the airbag light, may work out cheaper than going to a dealer.

I saw one on ebay but it was over £50, quite expensive for something I may only need once. Then again if going to the dealers the same it could make sense.

[Randall Raines]

Quote: Originally Posted by batou (original)

I saw one on ebay but it was over £50, quite expensive for something I may only need once. Then again if going to the dealers the same it could make sense.

If you go to the main dealers it could cost about that if not more for them to reset the light once anyway (I'm not sure how much they charge), due to re-occurring faults the main dealers sometimes turn the AIRBAG lights out on warranty, if your car is still in warranty, but the fact that you replaced the AIRBAG yourself, you should expect a charge.

As "chris.lamb" pointed out you can get cheap re-setters on eBay etc... etc... but the cheap units normally only turn the light out which is all people want in most cases especially due to the problems with the MINI AIRBAG lights that keep activating for no apparent reason. The dearer / better units actually give fault codes (you need to know what the codes mean) or fault codes and state what the fault was in understandable text (can cost £ thousands £), rather than just re-setting the light and you being non the wiser & wont help if you actually have a faulty unit (the light will come back on again once reset).

You stated the unit was new, If you purchased it from a genuine reputable seller then you should have no problems changing the unit for another should the unit be faulty (unlikely but not impossible), but then you have the issue of the cost of re-setting the light and postage costs if applicable .

Most small - medium independent garages should have the equipment these days as you need it for re-setting most thing now, service lights, etc... etc... in my experience they normally charge approx £30 although someone I know charges me £10 a time if that, sometimes £0, for re-setting lights, if I have to use him .

[RyanK]

Just got the airbag and 3 spoke steering wheel that I was going to fit myself.

Is it advisable to get my dealer to fit it for me?

Thanks

[Meeerrrk]

i see your in maidenhead. come over to camberley (J4 M3) and i will reset it for you, FOC.

Mark

[batou]

Quote: Originally Posted by Meeerrrk (original)

i see your in maidenhead. come over to camberley (J4 M3) and i will reset it for you, FOC.

Mark

Nice one, I've been on the long road that goes past the Agincourt before but thats about all I know.

[Randall Raines]

Quote: Originally Posted by RyanK (original)

Just got the airbag and 3 spoke steering wheel that I was going to fit myself.

Is it advisable to get my dealer to fit it for me?

Thanks

Normally I would advise that any messing around with AIRBAGs should be left to someone who knows what they are doing, especially if your unsure yourself , due to the fact that you could pay a mechanic to change the steering wheel & AIRBAG over which should take around ½ an hour - 1 hour to do providing there are no problems as much as it may cost you to get your AIRBAG light turned off if you accidentally activate the AIRBAG light (if the mechanic turns it on it should be down to him to turn off, unless it's a problem with the supplied parts).

It describes the procedure (removing & replacing AIRBAGS 2 & 3 spoke) clearly (with pics) in the HAYNES Workshop Manual which is readily available now, jobs in there are rated 1 spanner to 5 spanner ratings and in there it states removal of AIRBAG system parts are a 3 spanner rating (Fairly difficult, suitable for the competent DIY mechanic).

The only advice I can give you if you do decide to do it without describing the whole procedure, is before you start, put your wheels in the straight ahead position, disconnect the negative terminal on the battery (making sure the lead can't spring back & connect) for at least 5 mins as the AIRBAG module holds a small charge in-case the battery is disconnected in an accident, make sure all the connections are securely fastened back on properly and be careful not to damage the connectors removing them in the 1st place, once the AIRBAG & the steering wheel bolt is removed try and mark the steering column (with a line or mark to give you a guide so you know roughly when the wheels are straight ahead as you can move the wheels trying to remove the steering wheel and once the steering wheel has been removed you wont know where straight ahead is (there will be a factory mark / notch there somewhere but it's not always clear where straight ahead is, this mark is to realign the steering wheel should you be removing & replacing the original steering wheel with the original steering wheel, the mark on replacement steering wheels (off a different car) is not always in exactly the same place ).

Taking all the above into account on fitting your new steering wheel put it to where you think it is straight and tighten the centre bolt, on a 2 spoke wheel you can fasten the AIRBAG on as they are easy to bolt up & loosen off however a 3 spoke AIRBAGs are very easy to fit as they just snap into place but are very difficult to remove again (if your not experienced in removing them), follow my advice on marking the column, snap the AIRBAG into place properly and hope you get it straight on the 1st go , if it's not straight you may have to do it all over again (to straighten the steering wheel), and as I said 3 spoke AIRBAGS can be quite difficult to remove if you have to (if a mechanic misaligns the wheel it should be down to him to put it straight).

From what "batou" has said it sounds like misalignment of his steering wheel was part of his problem as-well, because a steering wheel that looks straight when stationary can be a long way of centre when driving (if you mark the column and luck is on your side you could get it right 1st time).

Another way to do it, to make sure that the wheel is straight (if you have access to an AIRBAG light re-setter) is to drive the car without the AIRBAG fitted (this will trigger the AIRBAG light), just enough to check that the steering wheel is straight, reposition the steering wheel if needed, once the steering wheel is straight fit the AIRBAG and then have the light turned off with your re-setter.

[Meeerrrk]

Quote: Originally Posted by batou (original)

Nice one, I've been on the long road that goes past the Agincourt before but thats about all I know.

yeah not too far from there, can meet you at a motorway junction or something if you like.

email me on burton.mark@sky.com to arrange a day.

Mark

[RyanK]

Thanks for that advice Randall!

Seems a tad complicated and I would rather it being fitted by a dealer. Its the cost factor that is bothering me. However when you compensate £50-£100 for what could be death isn't a bad thing at all!

I will thouroughly look through all the advice on fitting etc, and then see what my best bet is. Although now I am more or less going to put it to the dealer. I'll let you know how it goes

Thanks again for your input

Ryan

[batou]

Quote: Originally Posted by RyanK (original)

Thanks for that advice Randall!
Although now I am more or less going to put it to the dealer. I'll let you know how it goes
Ryan

I asked a dealer and they wouldn't fit anything unless they supplied the parts. This includes the OBC which I am/was interested in doing.

[Snowie]

Quote: Originally Posted by batou (original)

I asked a dealer and they wouldn't fit anything unless they supplied the parts. This includes the OBC which I am/was interested in doing.

Not true for me - Sytner Sunningdale fitted my JCW wheel and set up my headlights even thoough the parts were supplied by Chris at Woodmans. After all is is still fairly easy money for them.

Depends on the dealer and your relationship with them, mine even gave me the wiring instructions for the glove box light (full fitting instructions for the glovebox) as I needed to know what pin in the BCU to connect up to - work being done by me and parts from Woodmans.

[chris.lamb]

Just a thought...............
The volute spring may have been damaged when the car was driven with the steering wheel incorrectly fitted.
IF it was turned lock to lock then the spring may have over travelled and got damaged.
Usually this shows as a slight scraping noise when turning the wheel.
IF this is the case then the spring assembly will have to be replaced.

See item no. 3 here :-

RealOEM.COM * BMW R53 Cooper S STEERING COLUMN SWITCH

BTW this needs to be changed to get MFSW to work, see above pictorial for part numbers.

I did this when I fitted my MFSW.

Hope this helps.

[batou]

Quote: Originally Posted by Snowie (original)

Not true for me - Sytner Sunningdale fitted my JCW wheel and set up my headlights even thoough the parts were supplied by Chris at Woodmans. After all is is still fairly easy money foir them.

Depends on the dealer and your relationship with them, mine even gave me the wiring instructions for the glove box light (full fitting instructions for the glovebox) as I needed to know what pin in the BCU to connect up to - work being done by me and parts from Woodmans.

Yeah I know what you mean it depends on the dealer, I'm never funny with them and never question what they quote for anything when it comes to labor I just pay the man. It does however seem that they are reluctant to do anything unless the parts are bought through them.

Quote: Originally Posted by chris.lamb (original)

Just a thought...............
The volute spring may have been damaged when the car was driven with the steering wheel incorrectly fitted.
IF it was turned lock to lock then the spring may have over travelled and got damaged.
Usually this shows as a slight scraping noise when turning the wheel.
IF this is the case then the spring assembly will have to be replaced.

See item no. 3 here :-

RealOEM.COM * BMW R53 Cooper S STEERING COLUMN SWITCH

BTW this needs to be changed to get MFSW to work, see above pictorial for part numbers.

I did this when I fitted my MFSW.

Hope this helps.

This is what I thought so before re-fitting the wheel I turned the spring lock to lock and returned to the centre (to ensure it was correctly centred) a few times and there were no unusual noises or any signs of damage.

Please note the spring was always central the first time, it was the wheel itself that wasn't. The spline and wheel have a groove on them that need to line up and they weren't. The light was dropping and the crap instructions I got off NAM (before I found the ones posted earlier) made no mention of this.

[Randall Raines]

Quote: Originally Posted by chris.lamb (original)

Just a thought...............
The volute spring may have been damaged when the car was driven with the steering wheel incorrectly fitted.
IF it was turned lock to lock then the spring may have over travelled and got damaged.
Usually this shows as a slight scraping noise when turning the wheel.
IF this is the case then the spring assembly will have to be replaced.

Thanks! for pointing that out "Chris.lamb", I'm that used to fitting AIRBAGS it just comes as second nature to make sure that that (volute spring, rotary contact unit, squb or whatever they are called) doesn't move once the steering wheel is removed, this can spin around just due to the weight of the connectors being at the top and once it has moved it's all to easy to spin it back the wrong way, and could cause damage, forgot to add it in in post #11, however I have never known one be damaged just because a steering wheel is a little off centre but 1 complete turn could do it .

Quote: Originally Posted by batou (original)

I asked a dealer and they wouldn't fit anything unless they supplied the parts. This includes the OBC which I am/was interested in doing.

Quote: Originally Posted by Snowie (original)

Depends on the dealer and your relationship with them,

I think "Snowie" has hit the nail on the head there.

To be fair the Main Dealers or anyone for that matter will give you a price for a job knowing roughly what's involved and if they have the equipment to do it (which may also be part of the cost), so you find that you can get the parts elsewhere cheaper but you can't get them fitted because no one has the equipment to program them in once fitted, so you then have to go to the Main Dealer who would have lost out on the initial sale, programming could have been included as part of a deal (cheaper than normal), than you have the added complication of faulty incompatible (wrong) parts, everybody's unhappy (and who do you blame), the Dealer will still want paying for his time trying to program the vehicle which could take longer than it should have with incompatible or wrong parts or even someone wiring a part in wrong .

I think that section belongs in a different thread .

And remember the Main Dealers or a Garages equipment eg. for turning the AIRBAG lights of hasn't come off eBay for £50.00 or so, it will have cost thousands and they have to get their money back somehow and it can be hard at £30 - £60 a time