All I can say is a big thank you I with the help of my BMW/Merc Malaysia Exporter and Colleagues at work did the grind, drilled the holes and bore out the wheel. In all a tremondous effort and all thanks to the clear instructions given by Tommi.

I dont have any concerns of the steering wheel airbag as the only electrical changes that was made was to reverse the connections for the horn which makes total sense and works like a treat.

Great forum and thanks very much.

hi tommy can you tell me how you fitted the steering wheel as i have the same car i bought a m5 smg steering wheel whith round air bag the wheel fitts okay but the horn wont work as there is only five wires on the air bag and my old one had six any help would be great thanks kevin.

looks like im going to have to do this mod on my steering wheel also.

im all fingers and thumbs :(

what are the locating pegs for? are they for the steering lock?
and do they have to be there?
i can live without the steering lock function if thats all it is? (just grind the locator pins off)

can anyone help me here please, prehaps im being a bit bone here but i dont understand the airbag/horn wiring bit..my old connector has the 6 wires 4 air bag and 2 horn (+ & - purple and green)
the new bag has only 5 wires again 4 airbag and 1 horn wire (purple) as the horn seems to earth through the steering wheel...whay is being asked here??
if i add another wire/pin (from the old connector) where does it connect too?
and why/what is ment by reversing them (+ & -) ??
thank you in advance.

ok, all done and fitted, but i have one problem, the left hand paddle is the only one working? it shifts up and down on the paddle, but the right side is redundant? wiring was from fred so im presuming its all good, and steering wheel was from a 07 car and seemed fine?
it was a harder job than i thought, but it looks cool now.
pics to follow.

pics

Attachment 66250
Attachment 66251

Im looking to do this to my 2006 550 too. Quick question, my build date says 09/05, does that mean I should get the one on the right? the 09/05+ steering wheels?

Thanks

the answer to that is yes.
good luck.

Hi

This is the "real" stuff :)

An Org. BMW M5 steeringwheel from 02/06 ( can be recognized on the "M" at the inner upper right botton ) with full working shifting pads ,re-fitted in a 12/03 BMW 525IA , also the light in -/+ are working , aswell as Air Bag according to BMW safty standard.

the one in my photo is genuine also ben i know this as i pulled it from a dead M5 2007 model
as far as i recall, they stopped using the + - marks 2 years ago?
on the rear of the wheel it had the m packet markings.