Late steering wheel & directional switch swap ???

[John Buchtenkirch]

I have swapped the stock coupe turn signal switch over to the left side of my column and I’m attempting to install a steering wheel off an early 7 series car that has the correct spline. My steering shaft has a stamped steel tab on it to turn off the directionals but now it is 180 degrees away from the correct operating location. My question is “has anyone removed that tab and reattached it in the correct location to work the directional switch when moved to the left side” ?
Or “has anyone just cut the stock coupe tab off and used the tab that is attached to the later BMW wheel which by the way I feel is in the correct position rotation wise” ?
I kind of hate to cut off the stock tab because then I would never be able to use the stock so called big bus wheel again if I was lucky enough to find a cherry one but if that’s the best way to go I have to be realistic. As always thanks for everyone’s help, I think I would still be stuck on the 5 speed swap without you guys. ~ John Buchtenkirch

 

[rsporsche]

John,

my tab was just pressed in. give it a tug and see if it won't come out. it is shown as a separate part on real oem.

 

[DaveG]

Yup the pressed metal piece will pop right off..... I changed to an early 5 series TS switch that also has Hi/Lo beams as well (my dip switch had gone T.U.) All that's left on the right stalk are the wipers.......been thinking about hooking the T/S switches in parallel so they both do T/S. That way when i get confused at least I'll get T/S's.....I have a 2002 that I'm always flashing the high beams on.....
DaveG

 

[John Buchtenkirch]

Yup the pressed metal piece will pop right off..... I changed to an early 5 series TS switch that also has Hi/Lo beams as well (my dip switch had gone T.U.) All that's left on the right stalk are the wipers.......been thinking about hooking the T/S switches in parallel so they both do T/S. That way when i get confused at least I'll get T/S's.....I have a 2002 that I'm always flashing the high beams on.....
DaveG

Wow, that sounds like a great way to go :-D and directional switch #61311363647 is still available for the E12 for $109.93. Might that be the one you used ? Did it bolt right in ? Was it hard to wire in and possibly did you do a write up on the conversion I could search for ? Thanks ~ John Buchtenkirch

 

[DaveG]

Yup that's it....It's only ~$85 from Penske....I bought mine on Ebay for a bit less......It bolts right in.....
The wiring part isn't too bad....
.The new switch has six wires for turn signals that essentially form a DPDT switch..... The original switch is a SPDT.... So you only need half the wires......maybe I could use them for redundency..;-)
The Dip switch wires work the same as the stock one . They just activate the relays. Another SPDT switch.....
The wires even have cryptic labels, that you can figure out, where the wires are soldered to the back of the switch.....
I just cut the unusable connector off the new switch and used spade connectors into the E9 connectors........
DaveG

 

[Sven]

Dave,

You lost me with DPDT and SPDT?

The dip switch I have from the 1972 CS works per the attached diagram. Power comes from the light switch and feeds either the high beam circuit or the low beam, but not both at the same time. I tried to make a newer switch work with no success. Does the one you mention make the same connections as the original?

 

[DaveG]

First.... Notice the green wire in your diagram is redundent....
SPDT (single pole double throw) has 3 connections,,,1 input and 2 outputs Either connection1 connects to connection2 OR conn.1 connects to connection3
A DPDT (Double Pole Double Throw) is just 2 SPDT's (in parallel) in one housing with one actuation mechanism....
The switch shown is a SPDT with a redundent fused power wire to the high beam relay. Not sure where this goes I'll have to look at the schematic...probably to allow running another set of lights straight thru the headlight switch, which is a bad idea anyway. (edit)Come to think of it there is an extra white wire.at the relays that is un-connected....I'll bet it is for additional driving lights......Mine (73 CS) only had 3 wires.
DaveG

 

[Sven]

Thanks Dave.

The green wire supplies power from the ignition so that you can flash your high beams when the main light switch is off. I suppose I could give this feature up to use the SPDT. Carl Nelson has a modified switch but it is expensive.

 

[John Buchtenkirch]

Yup, one good shot with my Morgan Knocker (an auto body slide hammer) and that cancellation tab jumped right off. Got the directionals working last night :-D with the tab that’s already attached to the later steering wheel. THANKS guys. ~ John Buchtenkirch

 

[DaveG]

Ahh I didn't think of that......The second set of contacts could easily be used for that! Easy Peazy.....Of course the high low beam function toggles.... but the contacts make, well before the toggle grabs hold.....Just pull partway to flash....
DG