Installing steering-mounted audio controls on my Maruti Ignis

The audio controls for the steering wheel were borrowed from the top-spec variant of the Ignis.

BHPian sole_rider recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Here's my journey of installing the steering wheel with audio controls from the top variant in my Sigma (base) variant Ignis.

Parts changed:

Steering wheel - part number changed: 48110M66R70-GJL

Cost: Rs 4,463

Clockspring assembly part number: 37410M68P10

Cost: Rs 3,315

Total cost (Rs 4,463 + Rs 3,315 + Rs 1000 labour charge) = Rs 8,778

I went to VM Customs Mangalore for this installation. I had inquired about it whether they would be able to install it on my car a month before when I went there for the reverse camera installation. To which he said yes. Which boosted my confidence to go ahead with this mod. The parts arrived after a few weeks. Then we decided it be installed in my car on a Saturday so I took an appointment for 11 am.

I reached the shop by 10:45 am hoping they will start the work as soon as I reached. But that was not the case. I had to wait about 30 minutes more till the parts arrived there from the service centre.

The technician assigned to do the job had to make custom wiring for the installation. I expected VM customs would make custom wiring harnesses with proper connectors instead of cutting and splicing some wires. It was kind of sad to see I lose my car's electrical warranty. But the usefulness which brings the audio controls on the steering wheel is well worth I guess. I asked several of the technicians can he use proper connectors or at the least can the wires be crimped into the existing connectors by pulling the pins out. He was very sure about all these cannot be done and went ahead with splicing. I even asked Mr Vishwas beforehand will I lose my warranty after this installation, to which he replied no. But even at this time at the back of my head, I was sure I will lose the electrical warranty. So went ahead anyway.

PS: I think they made a mistake in choosing the right part number for my steering as I can see two part numbers for the steering wheel.

The part number of the steering installed in my car is 48110M66R70-GJL which is listed under "Steering Wheel (N\Navigation.)", and the other part number 48110M66R60-GJL was listed under "Steering Wheel (W\Navigation.)". I request our in-house MGP expert dear @leoshashi to help me clear this doubt. Both of these parts are listed for the same amount and both had audio controls on them.

I'd be really annoyed to know if they goofed up on the part numbers required for this mod.

After all this drama now I feel like an idiot not to go ahead with the Zeta variant when I had a chance. But I was going through severe mental trauma at the time of the purchase due to losing someone very close to me earlier this year. So at that time, I thought spending more was not a wise thing to do.

New steering wheel with the audio controls on it:

Old steering wheel:

My first sight of my car being stripped down:

But this is not the first time I am seeing it stripped down like this. It was when I installed the Sony head unit in it. But still, it was heartbreaking to see. By this time I have decided if I ever buy another car in my life it will be of the top-end variant only.

Old connectors:

New clockspring assembly:

New connectors:

Technician being worked on:

You can see the wires attached to the connector on top of the clockspring assembly in the above image.

Final look after the installation:

Some trivia:

Apparently, the newer steering installed in my car was manufactured 8 days before the manufacturing date of my old steering wheel.

Manufacturing date on the new wheel:

Manufacturing date on the old steering wheel:

It took about 4 hours for them to complete the steering installation task. I was out at about 3:30 pm. As soon as I started back to my horror I saw this in my dashboard:

A steering symbol with an exclamation mark next to it. A quick google search revealed that something is wrong with the power steering module. I quickly turned around and went back to the shop. Steering was working normally though. As soon as I reached there and explained it, they connected the OBD scanner. Which showed two errors 1 for EPS error and the other for airbag I think. But Mr Vishwas confirmed that it was due to some calibration of the steering angle sensor and he cleared the code. So I thanked him and left the shop to pick up my sister. Then after I reached the highway and drove about 4 km I figured there's something weird with the new steering. It was not properly centred. I called him again and explained the issue. He confirmed steering alignment is wrong and asked me to come back.

The steering alignment being corrected:

Finally after all these and filling up a full tank of gas from the Shell bunk I was back on the highway driving back to Koppa only by 7:00 pm. I reached my place at Koppa by 11 pm.

Some closing thoughts:

The proprietor Mr Vishwas is a really good, easily approachable, very courteous without any drama nice guy with good knowledge about all the things. All the technicians were very helpful and friendly also.

Will I go back to the shop for future upgrades? Sure yes.

Am I happy with the work carried out? Yes No. Yes because I got what I wanted. Now I can control music and calls without taking my hands off the wheel and keep my attention on the road. No, because it was not actually turned out the way I expected. I expected the technicians will be professional enough to make a custom harness so that no wires will be cut in the process. But I was proved wrong and I most certainly lost my electrical warranty.

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