MFSW retro fit?

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pharmed

Member
I picked up a Z4 recently that looks to be close to fully loaded (Sept 2003). It's got a MFSW but the controls do not work!

Any advise? My initial thoughts are that it was a replacement for a worn original wheel but was never wired up. I've seen the guide for retrofitting but would appreciate any help investigating!
 
The easiest DIY way is to remove the airbag and check it's wired in.
Disconnect he battery for 15 mins before taking the airbag off.

Build sheet/ dealer would also be able to tell you if it had the MFSW as OEM.


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GreyZed said:
Do the buttons illuminate when the lights are on?
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I don't think so but will check again tomorrow.

cj10jeeper said:
The easiest DIY way is to remove the airbag and check it's wired in.
Disconnect he battery for 15 mins before taking the airbag off.

Build sheet/ dealer would also be able to tell you if it had the MFSW as OEM.
Click to expand...

VIN number lookup lists - S255A - SPORT-LEDERLENKRAD - Sports leather steering wheel

Which wheel should that be?
 
The MFSW buttons only light up with the lights on.

If the airbag wasnt connected that should throw a fault as it wont be there when being polled by diagnostics.

Perhaps the connection is bad on the slip ring? Maybe just a clean?

Since we are on the subject of steering wheels....

Are there any others that fit the roadsters? Seems to be plenty of 3 and 5 series M wheels for not a lot of cash compared to Z4 specific ones. My cars a 2005 if any one knows and can point me in a direction.
 
I wasn't referring to the airbag. The MFSW has it's own separate harness and connector that plugs into the top of the slip ring.

You need to take the or ago off and look if the MFSW connector is connected. From there you need to check the lower side of the slip ring to ensure the loom is fitted and connected.

Once both of those are in place you'll be up and running, assuming the steering wheel itself is functional.


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I believe you can access the green plug to check wiring just by taking off the lower cover on the steering column? If true, do you need to disconnect the battery before removing the green plug? (as you would for airbag?)

Thanks
 
pharmed said:
I believe you can access the green plug to check wiring just by taking off the lower cover on the steering column? If true, do you need to disconnect the battery before removing the green plug? (as you would for airbag?)

Thanks
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You can indeed access the bottom of the slip ring with lower cowel removed. You can only see the top with the airbag off.

No need to disconnect airbag if not disconnecting the airbag circuit, but I would. One mistake and it's £50 at the dealers for a reset if you have the ignition on. I also hate active airbags...
 
So, just removed the plug and.... looks like I do not have the wiring. Have had a quick read through the HOWTO and it seems simple enough. Think I will be soldering and using heat shrink rather than crappy scotch lock connectors though (never been a fan of them)

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There's your issue then :)

Agree - I hate scotlocks as they are the cause of most wiring issues vs soldered joints.
Just be careful of passing static down the wires. I treat it as if working on a pc and unplug soldering irons before using them on the car.
 
Even though i'm quite experienced with a soldering iron. I'm not really a fan of soldering stuff for the car in situ (more chance of burning expensive bits of the interior!)
I've done it many times before with no issue but there's always the risk :|

But can't think of any other alternative?
 
Agree - hanging upside down under the dash trying to tap into 1 of 20 wires in a connector with soldering iron, flux and bendy wires is no fun...


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Hmm, any suggestions?!

I'm surprised that the "retrofit wire kit" from BMW still requires you to solder/tap into the cars harness. So basically close to £20 for some wires with connectors on one side...
 
pharmed said:
Hmm, any suggestions?!

I'm surprised that the "retrofit wire kit" from BMW still requires you to solder/tap into the cars harness. So basically close to £20 for some wires with connectors on one side...
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That's cheap. Some bits of retrofit harness are twice that...

I make up all my stuff these days with a bag of pig tails and connector male/females purchased from BMW for a few ££'s.
 
The retrofit "harness" from BMW is just two wires mated together. Nothing else.

Same wires can be had individually from BMW for pennies but the "kit" is 20 odd quid and the wires are shorter than the ones you can pick up for pennies!
 
pharmed said:
The retrofit "harness" from BMW is just two wires mated together. Nothing else.

Same wires can be had individually from BMW for pennies but the "kit" is 20 odd quid and the wires are shorter than the ones you can pick up for pennies!
Click to expand...

Exactly. That's why I make my own stuff.
 
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