E53 Wheel/Airbag question
 

My 2003 X5 came with the 'Multifunction Steering Wheel' but the leather is very worn, and I want to replace the wheel.

I've been looking around and found a decently priced wheel from an E46, but I want to know if it will fit..

I believe the spline will be the same, but someone has mentioned that there are 1 stage and 2 stage airbags, so now I'm not sure if the new wheel will fit on my car.

I have attached an example photo of the wheel on my car, and 2 photos of the wheel I want to buy (not the biggest fan of the carbon, but whatever).

I'm in Australia, if that matters at all.

From e46 fanatics:


Its fine to install a dual stage airbag on the single stage system.

The only difference is your airbag will work as one stage. It wont work 2 stage like it would if you put it in a newer car.

So short answer is yes it will work exactly like the one you have now, there are no extra parts needed, just the airbag and the wheel.

BTW, one stage is one strength meaning no matter how bad the accident is the airbag will deploy at full strength.

Two stages are to strenghs, if the accident isnt as serious (sensors can calculate how hard the impact will be). The airbag deploys at a lower strength (speed) then if it was a really bad accident.

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I like that steering wheel! Hmmmm, maybe I need to add that to the list. I read that the sport steering wheels are plug and play too, but harder to find? Good info about the airbag deployment, thank you.

E53 front airbags are all 2-stage. Those sport and M-sport wheels with round airbag are also always 2-stage.

Hmm, the seller says "In good condition no rips or frayed stitching. Missing 3 screws."

What screws would they be talking about?

At least on those pictures the screws securing the metal plate are intact. So the only other screws would be the ones holding front covers from the backside.

By the way is there a picture from the backside of the airbag? Some of these were changed by BMW campaign because they can be unsafe. The potentially faulty ones have a sticker marking "BAM PT1 - 1085".

No, there is no photo of the backside at all.. if the screws holding the front covers from the back are missing, I assume I can just grab some from a car at the wrecking yard?

As for the recalled airbags, BMW has been replacing those free of charge for years.. I would like to assume this one has been replaced.. I sure hope so. Selling a known faulty airbag would be bad.

I got the E46 Sport wheel.. the airbag does have the markings "BAM PT1 - 1085". It is on a yellow sticker. I have asked BMW to confirm if this bag is faulty or not. In the meantime, I also pulled another sports wheel from a wrecking yard with more wear on the wheel itself, but everything else in good condition, including an airbag with white sticker which apparently isnt part of the recall.

I have frankensteined them together to make one really nice condition steering wheel, and have ordered the 'lower trim' in black to match my car.

Ask them to check campaign 0032790200. It's clearly pictured there.