Steering wheel question
Steering wheel question
Hi all, I got this,
Recovered by Royal Steering Wheels. Shame about the crappy phone pic, the quality is fantastic. I got it to replace this
It arrived this morning but I never had time to fit it, but I did have a search on the internet for how tos and that was when I began to wonder if I may have made a mistake. Could someone tell me if I have bought a twin or single air bag wheel and whether it'll be a straight swap as I'm useless with wiring.
Here's the air bag.
Hopefully, one of you guys might know at a glance. My car is a '96 but I couldn't tell you the year of the other. Thanks for looking.
Roy.
Recovered by Royal Steering Wheels. Shame about the crappy phone pic, the quality is fantastic. I got it to replace this
It arrived this morning but I never had time to fit it, but I did have a search on the internet for how tos and that was when I began to wonder if I may have made a mistake. Could someone tell me if I have bought a twin or single air bag wheel and whether it'll be a straight swap as I'm useless with wiring.
Here's the air bag.
Hopefully, one of you guys might know at a glance. My car is a '96 but I couldn't tell you the year of the other. Thanks for looking.
Roy.
Re: Steering wheel question
Your old style is definitely single stage. The new style can be both and I can't tell from the pics.
If its got 4 wires its single stage ie x2 airbag x2 horn
If its got 6 wires its dual stage.
A dual stage will physically fit but the problem is whichever circuit you wire in to your single stage system will mean the airbag will not deploy correctly.
If you have 6 wires you could try to source a single stage airbag for that style of wheel
If its got 4 wires its single stage ie x2 airbag x2 horn
If its got 6 wires its dual stage.
A dual stage will physically fit but the problem is whichever circuit you wire in to your single stage system will mean the airbag will not deploy correctly.
If you have 6 wires you could try to source a single stage airbag for that style of wheel
Re: Steering wheel question
Cheers for that info mate, there are two for the horn and two for the air bag. That's a relief. I'm gonna have to start doing my research before I buy stuff instead of after.
Roy.
Roy.
Re: Steering wheel question
Looks really good - have they thickened it up a little too? I want to have that done on mine.
Re: Steering wheel question
Yeah, it thickened up, perforated sides, smooth top and bottom. I should have took some proper photos. The quality is superb, it's like a steering wheel in a brand new car.
Roy.
Roy.
Re: Steering wheel question
Will have to check these guys out, thanks Roy
Re: Steering wheel question
Well recommended, and such friendly people. service is super quick too.
Roy
Roy
- BladeRunner919
- Joined: Fri 17 Feb, 2012 20:18
- Posts: 2225
Re: Steering wheel question
Having my wheel done by Royal is on my list - how much does it cost?
- Southernboy
- Joined: Thu 07 Oct, 2010 12:39
- Posts: 6437
- Location: Johannesburg
Re: Steering wheel question
Your new airbag is a single stage bag...If it was a dual stage, you would have separate a multi connector...what the pic shows is a single stage connector which is the yellow plug. The brown wire goes to earth.
What is important is what is the system on the car at the moment... If it's a dual stage you have a small issue of sourcing a dual stage airbag to fit, if it's also got the same yellow connector, then no problem. The dual stage connectors are brown, and are a completely different fitting. It is significant that cars are made to fit airbags, not the other way round - airbags to fit cars - The reason is that 99% of all airbags are made in India, and the mounting bolt positions are essentially standardised...ie. you can fit any airbag to any car...but not 100% of the time...some airbags do have different bolt mount positions, but these are exceptions rather than rules...It's a manufacturing thing...keeps the costs down..
In fact, on BMW's, the dual stage airbag has exactly the same bolt mounting positions as the single stage bag...the difference is that the airbag + detonator module is deeper thicker to accomodate the extra apparatus required.
As imple description of an airbag is:- closest to the driver / passenger is the bag, and behind the bag is the detonator, and the whole is housed behind the cover of the steering wheel or wherever else the airbag is positioned.
The detonator requires an electrical current to be activated....again the current required is standard on all airbags...on BMW or Ford or whatever...it's between 4 and 6 volts...Once the airbag connector has been disconnected, the detonator can be used as a cricket ball...ie you can do what you like to it, it will not explode etc...The detonator works when the accident / impact sensor closes an electrical circuit, and the current passes tom the detonator...it then super heats a bi-metal element which reacts with incredible speed to create a gas...this inflates the bag...but know this too, by the time you, as the driver impact onto an inflated airbag, as in an accident, the airbag has already started deflating..it's literally milliseconds...If you were to hit a fully inflated airbag, it would be like slamming yourself into a brick wall...the whole idea is that it's deflation is what cushions your body, not it's inflation.
Anyone that tells you airbags are dangerous, is speaking from ignorance...they are dangerous only when connected to the sensors that can set them off, and it is only the detonator which is dangerous if connected, and not housed as it should be within the area it is designated for. ie. If you were to have it connected , and were holding it in your hand when you were struck by another vehicle, you would probably lose your hand.
What is important is what is the system on the car at the moment... If it's a dual stage you have a small issue of sourcing a dual stage airbag to fit, if it's also got the same yellow connector, then no problem. The dual stage connectors are brown, and are a completely different fitting. It is significant that cars are made to fit airbags, not the other way round - airbags to fit cars - The reason is that 99% of all airbags are made in India, and the mounting bolt positions are essentially standardised...ie. you can fit any airbag to any car...but not 100% of the time...some airbags do have different bolt mount positions, but these are exceptions rather than rules...It's a manufacturing thing...keeps the costs down..
In fact, on BMW's, the dual stage airbag has exactly the same bolt mounting positions as the single stage bag...the difference is that the airbag + detonator module is deeper thicker to accomodate the extra apparatus required.
As imple description of an airbag is:- closest to the driver / passenger is the bag, and behind the bag is the detonator, and the whole is housed behind the cover of the steering wheel or wherever else the airbag is positioned.
The detonator requires an electrical current to be activated....again the current required is standard on all airbags...on BMW or Ford or whatever...it's between 4 and 6 volts...Once the airbag connector has been disconnected, the detonator can be used as a cricket ball...ie you can do what you like to it, it will not explode etc...The detonator works when the accident / impact sensor closes an electrical circuit, and the current passes tom the detonator...it then super heats a bi-metal element which reacts with incredible speed to create a gas...this inflates the bag...but know this too, by the time you, as the driver impact onto an inflated airbag, as in an accident, the airbag has already started deflating..it's literally milliseconds...If you were to hit a fully inflated airbag, it would be like slamming yourself into a brick wall...the whole idea is that it's deflation is what cushions your body, not it's inflation.
Anyone that tells you airbags are dangerous, is speaking from ignorance...they are dangerous only when connected to the sensors that can set them off, and it is only the detonator which is dangerous if connected, and not housed as it should be within the area it is designated for. ie. If you were to have it connected , and were holding it in your hand when you were struck by another vehicle, you would probably lose your hand.
Re: Steering wheel question
That steering wheel looks dangerous just as it is:Southernboy wrote:Anyone that tells you airbags are dangerous, is speaking from ignorance...:
My wallet will be hurt if I keep looking.....
Z3 2.8 Progress Journal (Mine)
Z3 1.9 Sport Progress Journal (Wifey's)
I have an element of 'M-styling' on my car, If that's a good enough reason for the manufacturers to adorn a 320 with the M badge, then its certainly a good enough reason for me..
Re: Steering wheel question
from memory when i enquired before I bought my Raid steering wheel the Royal was about £115 depending on the finish you chose, thickened, alcantara, stitching colours etc. You could send your wheel and they'd send you a replacement, or you can send your wheel and they lend you one whilst yours is being refurbed but I think for this option it was a £100 refundable deposit plus the additional postage costs sending them back and forth.BladeRunner919 wrote:Having my wheel done by Royal is on my list - how much does it cost?
Re: Steering wheel question
I had mine done in full Alcantara, thickened a little also. Yellow Stitching. I love it but maybe not everyones taste.
Re: Steering wheel question
That's not correct, you can fit a single stage airbag to a dual stage system by connecting it to the low impact circuit and bridging the high impact circuit with a resistor. The airbag will work safely as designed as the low impact circuit fires at the same time as a single stage system would in all scenarios. You obviously loose the benefit of a dual stage system though.Southernboy wrote: If it's a dual stage you have a small issue of sourcing a dual stage airbag to fit....:
You cannot safely fit a dual stage airbag to a single stage system car as the airbags cannot deploy as designed in all scenarios.
Re: Steering wheel question
Thanks for all this information guys. I'm gonna hopefully find time to tackle the job tonight. I just hope I don't end up with the air bag light on.
I'll take a few decent pics when I get it on.
Roy.
I'll take a few decent pics when I get it on.
Roy.
- Southernboy
- Joined: Thu 07 Oct, 2010 12:39
- Posts: 6437
- Location: Johannesburg
Re: Steering wheel question
My comment is that if his car is a dual stage system...and the steering wheel he has appears to be a single stage airbag, he will need to source a dual stage airbag to fit the steeringwheel, and the system in his car...If I confused you, apology...
Re: Steering wheel question
That new steering wheel looks great, nice improvement from the original.
Sent from my HTC Desire
Sent from my HTC Desire
Re: Steering wheel question
Hey everyone, thanks for all your help. It turned out to be a straight forward job, straight swap, all connectors were the same. Here's a few crappy phone pics, just need to freshen up the air bag some how but you can see what a great job Jack does at Royal Steering Wheels.
Before
After
The hardest bit was getting the new badge lined up central.
Cheers guys,
Roy.
Before
After
The hardest bit was getting the new badge lined up central.
Cheers guys,
Roy.
Re: Steering wheel question
Looks great
Re: Steering wheel question
and my comment was that your comment was wrong. I'm not confused by itSouthernboy wrote:My comment is that if his car is a dual stage system...and the steering wheel he has appears to be a single stage airbag, he will need to source a dual stage airbag to fit the steeringwheel, and the system in his car...If I confused you, apology...
At the risk of repeating myself you can fit a single stage airbag to a dual stage system. He would not need to source another airbag as you state.
In any event he ended up with a single stage airbag and his car is single stage so striaght swap with no 2nd circuit to bridge.
The reason I corrected your statement was so that it did not mislead others who may read this thread / are tempted to get the same wheel and have a dual stage (>04/99 production) Z3.
- Southernboy
- Joined: Thu 07 Oct, 2010 12:39
- Posts: 6437
- Location: Johannesburg
Re: Steering wheel question
Well, that's cleared up the possible confusion....thanks John
Re: Steering wheel question
I had my steering done by him quality is excellent, I had the same but a marker at the 12 a clock position and M stitching of course.
Re: Steering wheel question
Looks great!
2000 Z3 2.3 Topaz Blue Metallic over Black and Sandbeige leather.