Has anyone replaced their stock steering wheel?

Since I cannot find a service manual for the CM yet I am just looking for any special tips/tricks to removing the stock wheel. Understand about disconnecting the battery first (to prevent inadvertent airbag deployment). I have a steering wheel puller (if necessary).

The dealer wants around 3 hours of labor (at $175/hr!) to do this.

Thanks!

-steve

 

This thread has the most info: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...n-the-cms.html

 

i found all the info i needed to do mine here on NAM in various posts.
search around. it took me about 20 minutes to make the switch, no special tools. awesome mod. have fun. motor.

 

I've seen it done on my car in 20 minutes. They're joking with 3hrs

 

its super easy. the hardest part is unclipping the airbag. Look at the new steering wheel to see where the clips are and practice on that so you understand the feel when doing it on your current steering wheel.

And don't forget to disconnect your battery.

BTW, i've done this many times on the countryman and the cooper S and my BMWs. Can easily get it removed and installed in less than 20 mins. First time took me about an hour.

If you are close by I can help you out...

 

I would run -- not walk -- away from that dealer.

My dealer's service dept switched out the stock steering wheel for the JCW wheel for me in maybe 30 mins. and charged me less than $60.

 

I hope that isn't your only dealer within driving distance because that's criminal. I changed mine in about 15 minutes. The biggest time killer is swapping over the trim pieces. Also you don't have to disconnect the battery and such, just make sure the car is completely off, no keys in the ignition, while R&R'ing the airbag. If someone has done it before and has a cordless impact (as all technicians do), it could be done in 7-10 minutes.

 

I just picked up a JCW wheel for my Countryman - could anyone from Minnesota help me install it?

 

I just did mine last night. To get the airbag out, first disconnect the battery for safety sake or your discretion. Find the small hole at the bottom of the wheel at the 6 o'clock postion, then using a small flathead screw driver push up with not too much force. The airbag should pop out. What I suggest is to practice on your new whel to see how the clips release. After that it is just a means of swapping the 2 MFSW over if you have them and the 6 o'clock position plastic cover and removing the 16mm bolt. Then install in reverse order except the airbag part since you just push it back in. Finally reconnect battery and go for a drive and enjoy. Very easy, should take no more than 30 minutes. Tools needed: Small flathead screw driver, torx bits (don't know the sizes but there are 2 different sizes), 16mm socket/ratchet/extension, 10mm socket/ratchet for battery. Good luck with install!

 

I'm so proud of my one-and-only Youtube vid that this is too good a chance to pass up showing it. I recommend a blunt-ended object to poke up the hole behind the bottom spoke - as you can see, it releases all four catches holding the airbag in place at one go.