Lots of discussions around fitment of r56 steering wheel in r50/53/52. Decided to try myself. Pretty easy job, all I did is drilled bigger whole for wires and changed connector for horn wire.





Also thanks highdensity for bc coilovers and chrono

 

Nice Job

 

This is exactly what kept me up at night, searched tons of forums with loads of people saying it doesn’t fit but not saying what exactly doesn’t fit.

how about the airbag connector?

thanks for this thread! Finally someone who tried it nevertheless.

 

@arnaud_unltd you will need airbag with 2 connectors, r56 airbag connectors are 1 time use, so i just pulled them out from airbag and used the one a had on r53 airbag

 

Nice! We have carbon fiber direct replacement R52 R53 R50 7/2004+ design. I got one in my R52, no drilling or anything required and if you dont have cruise/phone/ or cruise it still works. Also works with cars with factory automatics/paddle shifters. No mods needed. Several designs/carbon fiber options.

https://www.ecstuning.com/News/MINI_...Wheel_MKT6855/

 

@ECSTuning problem with r53 steering wheel is airbag logo, its much easier to find good condition r56 steering wheel. Also no issues with r56 cruise/volume buttons, its all plug and play if you have r53 3 spoke harness except horn wire

 

My R58(r56) wings logo is in worse shape then my R52 logo (pictured above). And i did a lot of top down motoring.

The R55-R61 airbag logo tends to delaminate and they tend to flake, thus some people getting that horrible looking red logo off flea-bay. Mine does not look too good on the r58.

 

I’m confused,

I have a two-spoke steering wheel in my pre-facelift r53 with buttons (front to back lol)

Do I need a facelift R53 airbag to fit on the R56 3-spoke or can I solder the r56 steering connectors to fit? I’m not sure what/ how many connectors mine has

thanks guys.

 

@arnaud_unltd r56 wheel will only fit r56 airbag