Swapping e39 3 spoke steering wheel with 4 spoke ste
 

I tried searching the forums and also look at the How To's and didn't find anything. Anyone swap there 4 spoke steering wheel with a 3 spoke? I have the installer saying there are "extra" wires and he won't attempt to do it. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Does your 4 spoke steering wheel have the "heat" feature? If yes, and the 3 spoke is non heated...that is why there's an extra wire.

^ Yeah pretty sure you nailed it on the head. Slip ring has one extra connection if your wheel is heated and converting to one without. The 3-spoke does not come heated. Nothing to worry about.

Just got off the phone with him.. he is saying there is four connections from the original 4 spoke steering wheel as compared to only two with the three spoke steering wheel.. does this make sense?

Should be fine. There have been quite a few of us who swapped out for 3 spoke M-Sport (E39) and E46 M3 steering wheels without issue.

Are there any specific instructions / pics / diagrams for doing this? He thought it would be a straight swap...

Pics or it didnt happen.

The size of the E46 M3 wheel is perfect, I think the E39 wheels are a few mm bigger.

http://just.razzi.me/photos/801294/4b8f528.jpg

E46 M3 and E39 M5 is the same exact steering wheel

I did it, and it's a straight swap.