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Subject: How to replace the turn signal stalk on the steering column. Author: DavidC (moderator) : member since December, 2003 : 12116 posts Posted on: 2008-07-17 18:09:11

Vehicle Model: A cherry 1998 BMW 750iL with about 86,000 miles on it.

Symptom: Stuck turn signal. The left blinker lights are constantly flashing and won't shut off. Using the control to turn on the right-side signal still works, but the left blinkers resume when the stalk goes back to the normal position. It's enough to drive you crazy, hearing that constant blinker noise all day and having to wave sheepishly to passers by who must think you've lost it for "forgetting" to turn them off.

Solution: Replace the turn signal stalk in the steering column.

Cost: $100 for a new part from a dealer, plus 2 hours of labor (roughly another $200 or more), OR... you can DIY the project for $25 with a used part from a salvage yard and about 45 minutes of your time.

Tools Required: A 17mm socket, a T27 torx bit on a 3/8" socket, a 3/8" ratcheting wrench and a philips screwdriver. Amazingly, yes, that's all you need to do this job.

Summary of procedure: Disconnect the negative battery cable, remove the airbag, remove the steering wheel, remove the clamshell housing on the steering column, swap out the turn signal stalk and reassemble.

IMPORTANT: Before working on your steering wheel, disconnect the car battery (negative terminal in the trunk) and avoid any static discharge. The steering wheel contains the airbag and you could be injured if it discharges in your face. Exercise caution when handling the airbag assembly and, when setting it aside, lay it face up without anything on top of it in order to avoid launching anything at you should you accidentally set it off. Don't worry too much, though, as I've never heard of one going off by accident, but caution is prudent nevertheless. It's also necessary to disconnect the battery in order to avoid triggering the airbag light in the instrument cluster, since we'll be removing the airbag during the procedure.



Front and rear views of what I bought from the salvage yard (Strictly German in Atlanta -- thank you Bobby Thrash). For $50, you get the entire assembly with the turn signal stalk and the other two stalks for the windshield wipers and steering column adjustment. I could've bought the turn signal stalk alone for only $25, but I couldn't pass up having more spare parts in my parts bin for another $25. Note that these parts are actually from a '98 528i, but they'll work in our e38's because the part numbers are identical.


This is a closeup of the turn signal stalk control that we'll be installing.



A shot of the rear side of the turn signal control. This side would normally face the dashboard when installed in the car. There is a single electrical connector on it, and it pops out of the surrounding housing by depressing two simple plastic clips (see arrows in photo above).



The first step is to remove the airbag, which is attached to the steering wheel with two T27 torx screws on the back. The photo above is a view of the rear side of the steering wheel showing the hole for one of the screws.


Once the two torx screws are unfastened, the airbag assembly can be lifted away from the steering wheel as depicted in the photo above. The airbag assembly is connected to the steering wheel by an orange (or yellow) connector in the center of the airbag itself, a spade connector for ground, and one or two more 4-to-6-pin flat keyed connectors for the button and (optionally) heating controls. Just unplug them all. They're all keyed so you can't mix them up when you put it back together. The orange (or yellow) connector in the center of the airbag just pops off. I used a small flat-blade screwdriver wedged underneath it to pop it off, but you can also use your fingers. Again, BE CAREFUL to avoid static electricity while handling the airbag assembly (don't let your cat start rubbing on your leg at this point).



This is a view of the back of the airbag assembly. Note that you don't want to leave it in this position. Turn it over when not working on it to eliminate the danger of having it launch itself should it accidentally go off.


The next step is to remove the center bolt using a 16mm socket wrench. You have to use a bit of force to loosen the bolt, so its handy to have someone hold the steering wheel tight while you work. By the way, you don't have to have the steering wheel perfectly centered before you start since, as I'll explain below, since we'll mark the wheel and the spline onto which it mounts.



A closeup view of the center of the steering wheel with the bolt removed. If you'll look at the bottom of the center area, you'll see a small white line and a corresponding notch engraved into the wheel. These are the alignment markings you'll use to confirm proper placement of the steering wheel when reinstalling it. If your car doesn't have this, take a fine-tip permanent marker and draw a line across the spline and the outer ring as your own alignment marks. The white plastic piece with the torx bolt going into it is part of the slip ring mechanism. The rest is just a white plastic cover to keep the wiring behind it. We won't be working with those.


Now pull the steering wheel off the spline, taking care not to damage or unwind the ribbon cable connecting it to the steering column. It's ok to unwind a few inches, though, enough to set the wheel aside.


There are two philips screws securing the plastic clamshell cover around the steering column, one on the top and one below. Remove both of these, taking care not to lose the little plastic expansion rivets that go along with them. Separate the two halves of the clamshell, which can be done by gently pressing in on the sides to release the plastic clips that hold them together. The upper clamshell is just going to be pushed up out of the way, but not completely removed. The lower clamshell is going to be lowered out of the way (see below).


This is what you should be seeing at this point. The steering wheel is removed and out of the way, and the clamshell has been opened up, exposing the stalk controls within.


A closeup of the turn signal stalk that we're going to remove and replace.


Press the two plastic tabs, one above and one on the bottom, on the body of the turn signal control and it will slide out of the steering column.


Now unplug the white electrical connector, grab the replacement stalk and insert the connector, then place the stalk into the steering column making sure that the two plastic tabs snap it securely into place.


IMPORTANT TIP: I found the most difficult aspect to be reassembling the clamshelf over the steering column. There's a leather cover attached to the lower edge of the upper clamshell next to the instrument cluster. It tends to fold and get caught in the holes for two plastic tabs that are meant to hold the housing in place. You can see them in the photo above. Just take your screwdriver and gently push the leather out of the way when reinstalling the upper cover.

Install the plastic expansion rivet and screw, then do the same for the lower clamshell cover. After that, re-install the steering wheel, taking care to wind the ribbon cable smoothly into place, insert the 16mm bolt and torque it down snugly but not so tightly that you can't get it off again (it won't work loose, don't worry), attach the airbag and it's electrical connections and you're nearly done!

Finally, reconnect the negactive terminal of your battery to wrap it up. Start up the car and test out your new turn signal. If you neglected to re-connect the airbag wiring harness before re-connecting power, you'll see an airbag warning light in the instrument cluster. If that's the case, you'll have to reset the computer using something like a Peakre SRS reset tool or take it to a dealer, or someone with a BMW diagnostic computer.

David Cecil
Lexington, KY
'97 740iL, 166k miles
'92 750iL, 92k miles
'86 735i, 101k miles

Visit e38.org for everything technical about your BMW



E38 mods: Factory nav retrofit, widescreen display, XM satellite receiver in place of CD changer, custom Valentine1 stealth interface to instrument cluster, BimmerNav bluetooth, retrofitted heated seats x4, StrongStrut tower brace, crystal clear taillights and corners, M aluminum pedals, stainless steel brake lines, billet aluminum throttle bushings, staggered 18" M-parallel wheels with Kumho Ecsta ASX rubber

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The 7 Series E38 Forum | Message Thread:

• How to replace the turn signal stalk on the steering column. (pic) - DavidC 2008-07-17 18:09:11 (6390 views)
  • Great write up David. When the time comes, the dealer won't be doing mine ;-) (nt) - RobinK 2008-07-18 05:38:05 (137 views)
  • tisk tisk on pulling the slip ring coil - 04sshd 2008-07-17 23:09:50 (196 views)
  • Don't know if I'm more impressed with the disclaimer or the write up - Good job! (nt) - Lurcher 2008-07-17 19:00:05 (191 views)

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