I'm still down too if you need a hand, I'm only available on weekends though.

Thanks

Now that the wife is all better, it's time to put this back on the priority list before it gets too cold outside..

Gimme a couple of days and I'll put a proposal out there..

ED

We ALMOST did it today..(warning..long story)
 

My cousin had an open house (he's selling and couldn't be home from 1-4) and decided to come over and kill a few hours sooooo, I said, "Hey why don't we do the steering wheel swap on my X5.." It really wasnt so cold out so we began..

Almost immediately the directions on the X5World home DIY page gave us a snag.. Since I had a 4 spoke, the first thing we discovered, was that that it's screwed into the airbag with Torx screws, not push in springs.
We began dissembling the steering wheel, air bag, steering column, etc. But darnit, there were no pins for the plug that connects the heating element to the steering wheel ring.

Now, I had checked earlier that there was a 10A fuse in slot 29, which SHOULD have meant it was prewired for the heated wheel, BUT when we looked at the pictures (again on the DIY page) we couldn't find it wrapped up below the column awaiting our discovery. I was so bummed !! And confused.. WHY put a fuse somewhere if you weren't planning on using it???

OK.. So we moved ahead. Removed the glove box (1 screw is a be-yatch to get to), and pulled the fuse panel (again 4 torx screws VERY difficult to get to - at least for 2 slightly-more-than-a-little-outa-shape 53 year olds), I had purchased the relay, that was required so I popped that in, and was able to see behind slot 29 the green wire that was in the picture on the DIY page. I took out my trusty meter to even make sure that the wire was going to Fuse 29, and had continuity.

Frustrated, we began to design new wiring (UGH) imagining having to get a pin removal tool, and run wires from the steering column..and all the while I'm thinking "it's GOTTA be there.. they wouldn't just run the wire to no where" Now remember, we're reading the DIY instructions and looking for a wrapped wire and pink pigtail..

We were about ready to call it quits (I did need to buy the replacement steering wheel ring ANYWAY, since there were no pins for the heating element plug to plug into), when I looked and said "Carmine, that looks like the pin connector THERE. It's even got the green and brown wire" He says, "Ed, I disconnected it when we pulled the airbag..it's gotta go to something (else)" " No way, I said..that's it ..that's the heated steering wheel power plug and wires". So, with the fuse panel still dropped down, I ran my meter to the back of plug 29, and he held it to the green wire in the mystery connector and VOILA !! CONTINUITY..

Here's the mystery solved.. Although the steering wheel ring did not have the 2 PINS to plug the steering wheel element into, it WAS plugged into the blank (from behind). So when he disconnected the wires to the steering wheel ring, it WAS plugged in (to nothing) instead of being wrapped and waiting below the column.

It was starting to get dark (and cold) so we reinstalled the fuse panel and the glovebox. Hopefully tomorrow I can get the new steering wheel ring for heated steering wheels, and I REALLLLLLY hope when everything gets plugged back in (of course I disconnected the battery), including the airbag, the there are no surprises...

So in case someone else does a SEARCH on HEATED STEERING WHEEL RETROFIT, maybe they can find our discovery of value (which would probably have been obvious to anyone else on this board who regularly takes their car apart). I'll try to take some photos tomorrow, so this will make more sense.

My apologies to those of you who wanted to watch, as this was a spur-of-the-moment decision, but I'm a bit more skilled now for the next person who wants to do this in the NJ area.

Almost done....

ED

DONE !

Today I picked up the part at OpenRoad (my man Tim Taylor was close by so I got an EXTRA discount), plugged everything back together..tightened all the screws..mounted the steering wheel..pressed in the airbag wires..and the airbag into the steering wheel..reattached the battery (note to self, next time leave rear hatch open so I dont have to attach the battery on my belly), turned the key..and VOILA ! No explosions, everything works including the heated wheel, and it looks mighty cool..
Took her out for a drive and she's straight as an arrow..

(It's too dark to take pictures, but I will tomorrow and add to the post).

Again, my apologies to folks who wanted to watch..but when you're ready, I can add some value having gone through all the "surprises".

Ed in Metuchen

Glad you got her done. Tim is the man!

Is there any better feeling than taking on a challenge and accomplishing it when it comes to taking a car apart and putting it back together and everything WORKS !!!??

I'm lovin it !

Thanks for your offer to help BTW...

ED

I'm glad you got it done, if I ever get to do this project I'll be contacting you for sure.
Congrats on your new toy.

Thanks bud..

Actually, the wheel swap was the easy part.. Opening the glovebox and taking apart the fuse panel was "scary".

Anytime you're ready, come on over..

ED

Ed
Post the pics of the newly installed conquest.
Congrats on the new mod. BTW did you ever call our guy Tony (the guy I asked you to call in case you needed help).

Cheers
George

Thanks George
 

Hi George..

YES ! Tony was there for moral support. For example, when we had all but given up on the car being pre-wired, Tony helped add to my conviction that if the fuse was there..there was a wire - somewhere !

On the other hand today I called him because I couldnt recall the torque spec for the bolt that holds the steering wheel to the column.. his reply was "Just make sure it's real tight...":rofl:

Soooo, I'm glad I had him there to bounce some ideas off. And didnt have to trouble him to come to Metuchen..on crutches..

But thanks for your referral..

I look forward to meeting you sometime.

ED