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Re: How to retrofit M Steering Wheel with Multi Function Con

Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 8:12 pm
by MrPT
Finally got round to retrofitting the MFSW controls I bought from Mark-Z4. Thanks to Mark and also sideshowbob for the excellent instructions. :)

I did the cruise control retrofit at the same time - the MFSW job was pretty simple in comparison, although I did have a false start because my 2006 2.5si needed a retrofit cable, which I hadn't initially expected (it was £19.90 inc delivery and VAT from Sopers). The only issue I had was trying to undo the torx screw inside the instrument cluster - was totally stumped by this since a torx screwdriver is too long, but luckily I was able to disassemble a torx multi-tool I have and that did the trick:

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The other tricky bit was splicing in the cruise control and MFSW at the same time. Got there in the end, with the help of several cups of strong coffee:

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:headbang:

Love the controls - definitely worth it as I am always fiddling with my knob (wahey!).

Re: How to retrofit M Steering Wheel with Multi Function Con

Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 7:10 pm
by TonyP
Many thanks to the OP for the very concise instructions, I did print off the BMW 12 page document but found I only referred to this thread for fitment.

Anyway, I had a free afternoon today so decided to fit my newly acquired ///M MFSW today, I used the official BMW retrofit lead as of course my car needed it :roll:

I dislike scotchlocks & wanted to make proper solder connections, at the lightswitch end I popped the permanent connectors out of the blue socket (pins 21 & 27 - very easy to do), I then carefully bared approx 8mm of the original wires insulation with a Stanley blade & twisted the ends of the retrofit wires around the newly stripped insulation before soldering.

By undoing the connectors out of the blue socket this enabled me to slide on some heatsink sleeving covering the soldered joint and making a decent strain free connection too - an added bonus of no bulky scotchlocks to try & tuck away as well, if you look closely you can see the other connection is already made.

I did one wire at a time so that I couldn't accidentally reverse them when refitting into the blue socket.

below is a photo just before putting a heatgun on to shrink down the sleeving - note the old rag to protect the inside of the dash against any damage from the heatgun.

Total time to swap old SW to new MFSW one was 2.5 hours (excluding the 30 min wait after disconnecting the battery), but I wasn't rushing it.

One unexpected feature is that the buttons light up with the dash :thumbsup:

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Re: How to retrofit M Steering Wheel with Multi Function Con

Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 11:13 pm
by RJS-Z4
Nice work.. not jealous, at alll. :oops:

Re: How to retrofit M Steering Wheel with Multi Function Con

Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2014 10:48 am
by cj10jeeper
Always nice to see a job being done properly with solder and shrink wrap :)

Hope you enjoy the results

Re: How to retrofit M Steering Wheel with Multi Function Con

Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 10:57 pm
by JazzFM28
I've recently retro fitted a MFSW on a car made in Dec 03, and it does not work, therefore I need to explore the possibility of fitting the retro fit cable as described. Therefore it's not always correct to say that a post Sept 03 car has the wiring already installed.

Re: How to retrofit M Steering Wheel with Multi Function Con

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 12:08 pm
by bradz
MrGringo wrote:the cost of the cable has risen from £5 to £17. £17 for what is essentially two wires seems mightily expensive. If you can locate the scotch lock connectors elsewhere, you could order two bushing contacts (part 1) from BMW and use those, only thing you'd need to remember is which is which as they'd both be black.
It's part number 61130006663 and only £0.98 for 75cm cables (which you can trim to the size you need). (item 1 on the bmwfans link)
So £2 vs £17.

There we are, hope some of you benefit from this!

Just ordered this today from my local stealers in MK and they were £6.70 (inc vat) for 2x repair cables!

I wasn't expecting to need them on a 2006 coupe!

Adam

Re: How to retrofit M Steering Wheel with Multi Function Con

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 8:23 pm
by bradz
Just a Quick note to say thank you for the guide! Spot on!

Easy to follow even with using a different cable!

Adam

Re: How to retrofit M Steering Wheel with Multi Function Con

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2015 9:33 pm
by biojo
Just curious, i have a 2007 coupe 3.0 with a "M" on steering wheel. I dont think its the top model, looks like this http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTA2NlgxNjAw/ ... z/$_57.JPG

Now the retro fit kit from bmw seems to be for standard wheel

Ive found plastic covers for the M but not the switches, could some one advise which parts i would need

thanks
Carl

Re: How to retrofit M Steering Wheel with Multi Function Con

Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2015 6:43 pm
by hopz121
Just attempted this but the airbag doesn't seem to be fitting flush has anyone else had this probelm?

It's clip in but it's sticll sticking out a fair amount and doesn't seem to want to go any further

Any ideas?

Ash

Re: How to retrofit M Steering Wheel with Multi Function Control

Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2015 7:02 pm
by Panta Rhei
Yesterday, I spent 1 hour picking my screwdriver throug the holes with no effect. Then my dad came and lighten up the hole so he could see spring left and right arm. With help of my dad and this knowledge, I removed my air bag in 15 seconds. Now I am sure I can remove this problematic air bag every time with no much effort. I used flat-head screwdriver.
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Re: How to retrofit M Steering Wheel with Multi Function Control

Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 6:41 pm
by Any1else
Fitted mine today using this guide. Fantastic how-to. Cheers sideshowbob. Mine is a 09/03 and I needed the cable but got it from Sopers for £11. Only two issues - 1. Airbag light came on when I was finished and I had to talk nicely to a mate to reset it for me, and 2. The airbag fits "ok" but it seems to sit a little proud of the wheel and as such rests on the bottom spoke and if I press on the top of the airbag it will move about 5mm and if I let it go it will rest again on the bottom spoke. Anyone else experience this? I took it off again to make sure it was seated properly and it seems to be.

How to retrofit M Steering Wheel with Multi Function Control

Posted: Wed May 04, 2016 6:03 am
by bmw343hp
Hi all,
New from the forum, put the mutil function steering wheels but , mutil button not working, vehcile was not fit this equipment, already turn on the vehcile function list, vehicle is 05 build, it's looks like this case will need the retrofit cable
Will update once later on
Cheers

How to retrofit M Steering Wheel with Multi Function Control

Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2017 8:40 pm
by pip_pill
nice write up - took me 1 month to find - nothing like this on the USA forums!

How to retrofit M Steering Wheel with Multi Function Control

Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2017 3:57 pm
by firebobby
Just having a quick deek through this old thread and it appears that I may need a retro fit cable for my MFSW. My car war registered on 25/09/03. What am I looking for when I remove the wheel ?? Any advice on this. :)

How to retrofit M Steering Wheel with Multi Function Control

Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2017 4:34 pm
by Ducklakeview
Fred, youu can't tell by just looking when the wheel is off.

I fitted an M MF wheel to mine last night to replace the M wheel I had and the controls don't work., my car is an aug 03 build.

I believe the retrofit cable goes from the back of the wheel connector to the loom, so I think you need to remove the column cover to see.

I have the loom and will be fitting it later.

Mike