When you change your steering wheel, the airbag stays yours. The original module is removed from the old wheel and refitted on the new one. For everything to fit perfectly, the shape of the module and the shape of the wheel must match. It is one of the first points the compatibility check looks at.
Why does the airbag shape matter for the steering wheel?
The airbag module sits in the centre of the steering wheel. Its outline, its thickness and its mounting points are specific to one steering wheel family. A wheel designed for another module would leave a visible gap or prevent mounting.
The same model can also have several airbag shapes depending on the generation, the facelift or the sports trim. The compatibility guide by make and generation presents the overall method. Here, the focus is on the module itself.
Which details should you record on the airbag module?
- the make, model, generation and model year of the vehicle;
- a well-lit photo of the centre of the steering wheel, taken from the front;
- a side photo that shows the thickness of the module;
- the finish of the cover: smooth, grained, leather or other;
- the emblem fitted: manufacturer logo or performance line badge;
- the type of steering wheel: standard, sport or performance package.
These details are often enough to identify the steering wheel family. They complement the photos of the buttons, paddles and other controls already requested for the check.
Good to know
To record these details, leave the airbag in place: photos of the fitted steering wheel are enough. Removing an airbag module requires switching off the ignition, disconnecting the battery and waiting for the time stated by the manufacturer. If in doubt, leave this job to a professional.
How do you tell two generations, or a pre-facelift from a facelift, apart?
During a facelift, the manufacturer sometimes changes the design of the steering wheel and its airbag, sometimes only the controls. Two wheels that look alike can therefore take different modules. The article on pre-facelift, facelift and the steering wheel explains how to spot these changes.
When a doubt remains, the VIN confirms the original configuration of the vehicle. The guide to the VIN and compatibility explains what this number helps to check and how to send it.
What does Apex Studio offer for the airbag cover?
The cover is the visible part of the module, the one that carries the emblem. In the configurator, Apex Studio offers an optional cosmetic cover that matches the new steering wheel. Only the cover is affected: the airbag mechanism remains the one from your vehicle, for legal and safety reasons. The cover goes on in a few minutes, with no special tools.
You can also keep your current cover as it is. The choice is purely cosmetic, and the airbag works the same way in both cases. To understand the role of the airbag during the change, read what happens to the airbag when you change steering wheels.
What if the vehicle had no compatible airbag?
Some projects start from a steering wheel of another trim level or another generation than the one fitted at the factory. This is called a retrofit. If the original configuration of the vehicle does not include the airbag suited to the new steering wheel, the compatible airbag is ordered directly from the manufacturer.
The article on original compatibility and retrofit covers both situations. In every case, Apex Studio checks your configuration by hand before your custom steering wheel goes into production.
