Will the Heated Steering Wheel Work in my Car?

[X5 Meister]

Did you read the write-up? It would have saved you a call.

[Naz24]

Originally Posted by X5 Meister

Did you read the write-up? It would have saved you a call.

Well i skimmed it, i'm going through a crazy time, welcome to Finals at Cornell

[edco]

I did mine about 2 years ago. One of the best investments I ever made, and while appearing daunting at first (I hate having to open up wiring/fuse areas), I learned a lot, and if you do a search on my name, you'll find the post where I originally was looking for help, and went ahead and did it with my cousin.

I have a mental block on one point that I referenced in my DIY post, and Naz is asking for my help, but I reference a relay, I remember buying a green relay, but cannot seem to recall where/what it was used for.. I buy so many parts that they begin to blur together..It makes sense that a relay would be used to stop power to the wheel once it reached a certain temp, but I'll be darned, I cannot remember the part number or even where I installed it. I am going to go back to my dealer (Open Road in Edison, NJ) as they keep track of all the parts that I have bought, to see if that helps me overcome my fading memory.

So if anyone can help refresh my memory, I can help Naz.

ed

[Naz24]

ed, did you have to change the steering column switch?

http://www.bmwmotorsports.org/pdf/e5...20retrofit.pdf

the DIY is right here

[edco]

Originally Posted by Naz24

ed, did you have to change the steering column switch?

http://www.bmwmotorsports.org/pdf/e5...20retrofit.pdf

the DIY is right here

Naz:


YES !!!! Thats the relay. I did remember it was green...

and yes, the steering wheel column switch which is called the slip ring most times, has to be changed. While the wiring is there, the slip ring doesn't have the contact on the face to accept the wiring for the heat plug. I guess there is a possibility and it would make sense to install the ONE slip ring on all the cars whether or not they were getting a heated wheel option further down the assembly line, BUT at least in my case, it plugged into the back from the fuse panel, but the topside was blank ie, no where to plug the heat coil wire.

BTW, if you decide to buy the parts locally,I can go with you if you don't have a BMW CCA account, so you can get the discount. Those parts were pretty expensive as I recall.

thanks for jogging my brain..

Let me know when you decide if/when to do it.

ed