Panel Underneath Steeing Wheel Removal

[GoldenEagleFan]

What a wonderful Forum. I have learned much about my new car in the last week and fixed a few nagging items thanks to the info here. I have the infamous brake circuit warning and want to replace my switch. I've removed the screws holding the panel underneath the steering wheel but for the life of me can't figure out how to get it out. Is it attached somehow to the front panel beneath the steering whell with invisible clips? I've removed the screws attacheing to this panel but still no luck.

94 525i, 155,000 miles.

[mattyb]

welcome! i tried the same thing a while ago. i gently prised the section from the steering column that seemed to be holding it in. the bottom plastic sections on the column came free and the section came out. i guess u just gotta be careful or maybe someone else knows the secret that makes it just bloody easy. was not too hard though.

tell us a bit about yourself and ur car. plus pics would be great!

[GoldenEagleFan]

As soon as I can get a picture I'll post.

Just want to check. Brake lights do not work with ignition off. Ignition on they work. Sometimes first tap on brakes has Brake Light Circuit Warning, sometime days. Change the Brake Switch or something else?

[mattyb]

give it a couple of days maybe and the experts will have shown up with no doubt the answer to the problem. have u done a search yet? most problems allready have the answer allready somewhere in a thread, just type some key words into the search feature and see what comes up. if u do this first and find nothing al least the others will see that u have done it and u will find the response will be a bit warmer than if u havent.

[Jay 535i]

I had the same thing last month. New brake switch fixed it.

[GoldenEagleFan]

Thanks, I did search, thought it was based on tuning to an AM radio station and hearing the "pop"everytime I stepped on the brakes. Noticed just now that a very light tap gets lots of static, not lights and the warning comes on.

Now if I can only figure out how to get that panel off without hacking anything up.

I am assuming replacing the switch will allow the brake lights to work without a key in the ignition, or is there something unique about the E34?

[Russell]

a couple of years ago. I ended up breaking the panel and had to reglue it. However, I think You also need to remove the wood trim covers on each side of the steering column. Then remove the foam knee pads under the steering wheel which frees up the top edge of the panel. I also think you need to remove the trim carpet on the console. There may be a sensor or chime connected to the trim panel as well.

Not sure where I found that out. Think it was the archives. Also section 513-4 of the Bentley manual. Get it if you do not have it.

What a wonderful Forum. I have learned much about my new car in the last week and fixed a few nagging items thanks to the info here. I have the infamous brake circuit warning and want to replace my switch. I've removed the screws holding the panel underneath the steering wheel but for the life of me can't figure out how to get it out. Is it attached somehow to the front panel beneath the steering whell with invisible clips? I've removed the screws attacheing to this panel but still no luck.

94 525i, 155,000 miles.

[Kalevera]

It's going to be tough to get because there's not enough clearance between the knee bolster and the interior side of the firewall/footwell area. Removing it without pulling the knee bolster is further complicated by the ducting that runs out of the heater box to the footwell vents, conveniently located in the black plastic trim. You'll also have a gong (electric speaker, two wiring harness connectors if your car has anything like an OBC) to deal with. So, as Russell said, it'll be much easier to remove (and reinstall!) if the knee bolster is out of the way.

You might also want to glance over the bulb sockets and the trunk lid wiring harness to confirm that there is no serious corrosion in the former and no cracking of the wiring in the latter. Both are common problems (but corrosion seems more applicable to the E30 what with the shitty tail light gaskets) and may potentially cause this issue.

Do a search for Bill R's dash module removal procedure; it may be in the archives. It details how to remove the bolster. In short, the thing is held in by about nine self tapping screws that run into speed nuts (behind the wood trim, gently pry it out; one on the outboard side of the bolster, usually covered by a trim-colored plastic nub; two behind the removable plastic trim sliver immediately next to the radio and HVAC controls; two at the bottom of the knee bolster itself, by the leading edge of the black plastic trim that you're trying to remove). Then, the bolster itself is held in place by four M8 bolts or something around that size.

Once that's off, you'll have no problem getting the black trim out (or correctly reinstalling it)

best, whit

[Qsilver7]

I am assuming replacing the switch will allow the brake lights to work without a key in the ignition, or is there something unique about the E34?

No, there is nothing unique about your e34...all BMWs that I know of require the ignition to be on before the brake lights work. (my 85 E30; 91 E32; 95 E34; and 97 E38 all did/do this) Sorry it took so long for someone to answer that question for you.

[Visions]

Remove the wood trim and you will see screws,,, After that take the knee kick panel off--thats the metal panel with alot of wires going to it... let hang loose and move out of your way... the hard part for me was the trim under that cause I had such a hard time figuring out how to get it loose on the right side---but now that I have done it,,,its easy... remove the screws and on the right side there is another screw on the right side down lower... the side and the panel overlap...this is where the vents are... just take out the screw and pull it apart... from there you will easily see the switch... break the switch to get it out...

You'll get it...