DIY Cruise Control Stalk

[Usel]

With the price of the cruise control stalk going up a lot in recent years I decided to look into options to make our own cruise control stalks.

I was browsing the internet and found a forum where members with E46's have used the Z4 stalk on their cars when they have changed the steering wheel to a custom one.

So I thought, if the Z4 stalk works on an E46 then it'll work the other way. However the cruise on an E46, E39, X3 etc... looks like this:





A couple of wires need swapping round so I made up an extension lead and connected it up to the Z4 cruise connector. Went for a drive and all the commands worked. Off, set +, - and resume.

Now to find a way to operate it that will look oem. BMW don't make another stalk which looks like the Z4's with a button so had to opt for the steering wheel adjuster stalk from the E39:



The E39 stalk fits into the Z4 steering wheel cowling perfectly:




Now to connect the stalk to the cruise unit.

You want to open up the cruise unit by removing the screws and once apart remove all the buttons. With the buttons removed chop put the plastic where the arrows point:



Then drill an 6mm hole on the bottom of the casing (the end opposite to the resume button)



Then using 24awg wire at a length of 40cm solder onto the switch pads on the circuit board. Make sure you only solder onto one half. If you solder other both you'll make a permanent connection and the switch won't work.

Earth goes onto back of the the pin:



Resume



Set +



- (minus)

 

[Usel]

And then finally off:



Now put hot glue over all the solder joints. The pads are reasonably strong but it doesn't take a lot of force to rip them off the circuit board:



Then put hot glue on wires to hold them in the positions like so:



That's done and can now be put into the casing:





Wrap the cables with self amalgamating tape, insulation tape, shrink tubing or cloth tape:



On the end of the wires you need to add this plug1241370)



It's not actually the correct plug but it's what I had to hand. You need to clip its wings:



Then the 5 wires need 5 pins added:

 

[Usel]

Once the wires have the pins you can put them in the plug:



Now wrap the cruise box in insulation tape:



Now we need to make a wire from the box to the car cruise connector. You'll these plugs (968813 & 1452576) and pins and 3 wires 50cm long:



Connect them up like so:





You can test you have it correct by plugging them together and the wires should match:



Then wrap the wire:



Plug this wire into the cruise box:



The other wire from the cruise box plugs into the stalk but leave till later. However here's a picture:

 

[Usel]

Remove and cut the lower cowling for the stalk and leave to one side where you can stand on it later. Now slide the cruise stalk into place:



Now connect in both plugs. One into the stalk and the other onto the cars cruise connector. Red arrow is stalk and blue is cruise:



Now find a hiding spot for the cruise box. There is loads of room to hide it. I cable tied it onto the metal frame tubing used to support the dash:



Install the lower cowling and go for a drive :driving:

The stalk commands are the same as the original except for resume. This has replaced one of the off commands.

Set + Push forwards
- Pull towards you
Resume Push Up
Off Push down

 

[BumpyZ4]

Very nice work!

 

[ChrisGUK]

This is superb work. I saw your comment on the other thread and I’m keen to invest in your time please!

I have a 2003 3.0 manual. I think I’ve read before that the early cars have all the electronics on the loom even if you don’t have the option, is this right do you know?

 

[Usel]

This is superb work. I saw your comment on the other thread and I’m keen to invest in your time please!

I have a 2003 3.0 manual. I think I’ve read before that the early cars have all the electronics on the loom even if you don’t have the option, is this right do you know?

Yes, generally cars made upto around October 2004 have all the wiring

 

[Carlosos]

Now that is commitment to the cause. Great work.

 

[Gebbly]

Amazingly detailed description, thank you.

 

[Sp1boy0]

Just wanted to say thank you very much for making this guide. I purchased all the parts and assembled them this evening. Saved me a fortune!

 

[Usel]

Just wanted to say thank you very much for making this guide. I purchased all the parts and assembled them this evening. Saved me a fortune!

Excellent! Glad it helped you

I have been playing with the stalk from an L322 Range Rover. It fits the same as the stalk above but is round and it has a fixed silver chrome cap on the end that I have modified into a button for resume.

However it was very time consuming and quite fiddly to fit. I may do a write up on it sometime but I'm in no rush. I purely made it because I wanted to prove myself correct that it could be done :rofl: