Steering wheel upgrade - Air Bag question

JCS · Feb 13, 2016

Hi All,

I've been hunting through the forum and I'm slightly confused about single stage and dual-stage airbags.

I have a 54 A3 with a 3 spoke DSG wheel that I want to upgrade to MFSW. I've bought a four-spoke MFSW wheel with airbag, a new slip ring and steering module but noticed that the old airbag has a single connector on the rear and the new one has two connectors.

Old:

New:

If my forum research is correct it means I can't fit this new one as it's dual-stage. Is that right?

So, I need to look for a new steering wheel and airbag but can I fit any airbag which just has a single connector or is it more complicated than that? How do you tell the difference between single-stage and dual-stage?

I don't want a mod that means the airbag doesn't go off but I would like a MFSW if possible. Does anyone know any that will work?

Thanks.

grainqey · Feb 13, 2016

There are a couple of ways, the most straight forward is an probably an A3 (8V) steering wheel and airbag as they are single stage - which I think "Ash187" (or something very similar) who does retrofits on here advised about in a thread on here (It is on google but you'd have to put in the right key words)

Otherwise you could add two pins to (I think) the steering module to connect to the other ignitor which "NHN" has spoken on of a different thread and I think it is on his list of things to do

I've previously gone down the non functioning dual stage and managed to wire it so the airbag light wasn't on but cant for the life of me remember how I did it - I ended up selling the wheel and airbag but didn't hold onto the loom that I butchered which would have been a big help as they all seem to be slightly differently wired I.E between the A6 and A4 for example (from what I've seen looking at the looms)

I'm debating between those two options depending what response I get about putting the REV D slipring on as I have the REV C and the buttons work on an A4 wheel and airbag but cant get rid of the light even trying to butcher the loom like I did before!

HTH
Alex

Ash187 · Feb 14, 2016

The 8V steering wheel wont work on the 8P. the airbag from the 8V will work with the B8 A4/A5 wheel and some airbag wiring changes.

JCS · Feb 14, 2016

Thanks Alex (grainquey), I'd got to a similar conclusion I think.

JCS · Feb 14, 2016

Thanks Ash. With the airbag wiring changes will the 8V airbag work? I'd rather have an airbag that will definitely fire than a fancy steering wheel. All I really want is some buttons that work. I've already got the slip ring and steering module that you previously advised. I was hoping this was a reasonably simple swap that I could do myself but as you did such a good job with my cruise install I may need to get you to fit if it requires complicated wiring changes.

This is the wheel and airbag I've got - the airbag with the two connectors from the original post. Do I need a different wheel, or airbag, or both? There are a number on eBay and I'd be happy to just get the cheapest that fits.

Thanks.

Ash187 · Feb 14, 2016

The 8v airbag is a single stage airbag so yes it will work. All other airbags until the 8V were dual stage.
The wiring that needs changing is for the mf buttons to work but if you use the 8v steering wheel then it won't work as there are too many buttons for the car to understand.

fernando young · Feb 15, 2016

in your case you'd need an 8K steering wheel, because those buttons are recognized by the car. And use it with 8V airbag

Tj 0785 · Jul 13, 2017

Ash187 said:
The 8V steering wheel wont work on the 8P. the airbag from the 8V will work with the B8 A4/A5 wheel and some airbag wiring changes.

I'm looking to fit a mfsw to my s3 8l I'm told I need a 8v wheel (single stage airbag) with mode button is the a5 wheel 2013 + be suitable or the a4 ? What other models have single stage air bag

Search

Search

Steering wheel upgrade - Air Bag question

JCS

Registered User

grainqey

Registered User

Ash187

Well-Known Member

JCS

Registered User

JCS

Registered User

Ash187

Well-Known Member

fernando young

Registered User

Tj 0785

Well-Known Member

Similar threads