530i Steering Wheel Trim Replacement
05-01-2005, 04:57 AM
#1
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My Ride: E60 530i
Model Year: 2004
Engine: M54
I finally have a chance to replace the steering wheel trim with the silver color version (as used in 545i).
1) Disconnect the battery -ve cable using a 10mm socket.
2) The tool that I used was the torx keys set. This key set is long enough for me to push it through the hole in the bottom of the steering wheel to unlock the airbag.
This picture shows the torx keys set and the silver steering wheel trim. The trim came with 6 black torx screws (T20) to hold the trim in place. Only 4 out of 6 were used.
I didn't reuse the old screws.
3) This picture shows the hole in the bottom of the steering wheel. I used one of the torx key and inserted the key into this hole to unlock the airbag module. I needed to use a bit of force to push the "latch" to unlocke the airbag. When the airbag is unlocked, you can hear the "click" sound.
4) This picture shows the airbag module after it was removed from steering wheel.
5) This picture shows the steering wheel without the airbag module. The 4 silver torx screws (T25) in the center of the steering wheel are needed to be removed to access the black torx screws which hold the trim of each side.
6) This picture shows the original "black" color trim.
7) This picture shows 2 (top 2) out of 4 silver torx screws were removed. After all 4 silver torx screws were removed, pull the whole piece (switches and trim) away from the steering wheel and flip it upward a little bit to access the 4 black torx screws in the back.
8) This picture shows the removal of upper black screw on the original trim
9) This pictures shows the removal of the lower black torx screw on the original trim.
10) After the upper and lower black torx screws were removed, pull out the original "black" color trim and install the new "silver" trim. This picture shows the install of the lower black torx screw to the new silver trim.
11) This picture shows the torx key (in the middle) that go through the bottom of the steering wheel hole.
12) This picture shows the "latch" in the back side the trim. It is a thick metal wire. When the torx key was inserted through the bottom of the steering wheel hole, it was pushed against this metal wire to unlock the airbag module.
13) This picture shows the whole (switches and silver trim) piece was installed back to the steering wheel.
14) This picture shows the airbag module was snapped back to the steering wheel.
15) Reconnect the battery -ve terminal and install the trunk trim back.
16) From the passenger side (just in case), insert the key and turn it to II position (without starting the car). You cannot start the car anyway without stepping on the brake pedal.
17) I made sure that the airbag light came on and then went away. After that I removed the car.
18) Back to the driver side and start the car. No airbag light (
, and thanks to Hobi's instruction 
).
The whole process took me about 1 hour. If I have to do it again, it will be about 30 minutes.
Hope this help.
Ching-Ho Cheng
1) Disconnect the battery -ve cable using a 10mm socket.
2) The tool that I used was the torx keys set. This key set is long enough for me to push it through the hole in the bottom of the steering wheel to unlock the airbag.
This picture shows the torx keys set and the silver steering wheel trim. The trim came with 6 black torx screws (T20) to hold the trim in place. Only 4 out of 6 were used.
I didn't reuse the old screws.
3) This picture shows the hole in the bottom of the steering wheel. I used one of the torx key and inserted the key into this hole to unlock the airbag module. I needed to use a bit of force to push the "latch" to unlocke the airbag. When the airbag is unlocked, you can hear the "click" sound.
4) This picture shows the airbag module after it was removed from steering wheel.
5) This picture shows the steering wheel without the airbag module. The 4 silver torx screws (T25) in the center of the steering wheel are needed to be removed to access the black torx screws which hold the trim of each side.
6) This picture shows the original "black" color trim.
7) This picture shows 2 (top 2) out of 4 silver torx screws were removed. After all 4 silver torx screws were removed, pull the whole piece (switches and trim) away from the steering wheel and flip it upward a little bit to access the 4 black torx screws in the back.
8) This picture shows the removal of upper black screw on the original trim
9) This pictures shows the removal of the lower black torx screw on the original trim.
10) After the upper and lower black torx screws were removed, pull out the original "black" color trim and install the new "silver" trim. This picture shows the install of the lower black torx screw to the new silver trim.
11) This picture shows the torx key (in the middle) that go through the bottom of the steering wheel hole.
12) This picture shows the "latch" in the back side the trim. It is a thick metal wire. When the torx key was inserted through the bottom of the steering wheel hole, it was pushed against this metal wire to unlock the airbag module.
13) This picture shows the whole (switches and silver trim) piece was installed back to the steering wheel.
14) This picture shows the airbag module was snapped back to the steering wheel.
15) Reconnect the battery -ve terminal and install the trunk trim back.
16) From the passenger side (just in case), insert the key and turn it to II position (without starting the car). You cannot start the car anyway without stepping on the brake pedal.
17) I made sure that the airbag light came on and then went away. After that I removed the car.
18) Back to the driver side and start the car. No airbag light (
, and thanks to Hobi's instruction ).The whole process took me about 1 hour. If I have to do it again, it will be about 30 minutes.
Hope this help.
Ching-Ho Cheng
05-01-2005, 02:25 PM
#3
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My Ride: E60 530i
Model Year: 2004
Engine: M54
Originally Posted by acribb' date='May 1 2005, 04:46 PM
Thanks for the info.? Good stuff.
How much did you get the part for, out of curiousity?
How much did you get the part for, out of curiousity?
[snapback]122637[/snapback]
I paid $40 (discount price) from Circle BMW in NJ. The list price was $50.
Ching-Ho Cheng
05-02-2005, 04:34 AM
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My Ride: E60 530i
Model Year: 2004
Engine: M54
Originally Posted by alohalc' date='May 1 2005, 08:23 PM
lcc014, you are one brave man .? btw, time to clean your mats 
? 
.
.? btw, time to clean your mats ? .[snapback]122705[/snapback]
Ching-Ho Cheng
05-02-2005, 01:14 PM
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My Ride: F02 LCI Individual
Model Year: 2013
Originally Posted by alohalc' date='May 2 2005, 11:09 PM
i'm saying the same word "soon" all the time but normally it means weeks .
.[snapback]123028[/snapback]
05-02-2005, 01:17 PM
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not really island mode. but hate to have the car washed because it rains right after the people dry the car...almost every time. and the other times is rains when they are wiping 
.
.
05-02-2005, 01:20 PM
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My Ride: F02 LCI Individual
Model Year: 2013
Originally Posted by alohalc' date='May 2 2005, 11:17 PM
not really island mode.? but hate to have the car washed because it rains right after the people dry the car...almost every time.? and the other times is rains when they are wiping .
.[snapback]123040[/snapback]
