1999 bmw 323.I convertible

It is in the centre of your steering wheel and allows the wheel to turn and still make contact with the electrics that are contained on the steering wheel like the horn and airbag.

https://www.google.com/search?q=1999+saturn+cs1+clock+spring+replacement

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You have to be very careful with the airbag system It is very dangerous.
Before attempting anything. It will be more appropriate for a mechanic or technicians to do it. But have a look at this link:
https://www.autozone.com/repairguides/GM-Bonneville-Eighty-Eight-LeSabre-1986-1999/AIR-BAG-GENERATION-1-CORPORATE-SYSTEM/General-Description/_/P-0996b43f8038fb7d

1. Have the SRS fault code retrieve
Do-it-yourself,
2. Remove the airbag fuse wait 5 minutes at least so the condenser for SRS system to goes out. (if you unplug the battery terminal you will have to reset many things)
3. Remove the steering wheel airbag and steering wheel until you find the split ring. Unplug the connector, under the dash and remove it from the steering column.
It is very complex procedure if you never play with SRS system
As far as I can tell the noise you can hear is the

You can unhook your battery for 15min. which should reset your airbag light. If it keeps coming on it is very possible it is the airbag clock spring which is located in the steering column causing the airbag light to come on. These are known to go out and cause the light to come on. The steering wheel has to be removed with a steering wheel puller to replace this part. This repair should be performed by a qualified mechanic. I had the same problem with my 05 Grand Caravan and the clock spring fixed the problem.

Most vehicles have a "clock spring" behind the horn button area on the steering wheel. The clock spring has nothing to do with clocks and inst really a spring. It's a flat coil of wiring that is would around in a circle and connected to a stationary item in the middle of the steering column. The outer end of the coil is allowed to move around (coil and uncoil) as the steering wheel is turned. The clock spring typically supplies power to the horn and to the airbag. This is a relatively simple fix, but unless you have mechanical experience, this is a repair I would leave to a mechanic. Pulling the steering wheel and the airbag can possibly lead to airbag deployment and injure or kill you.

My daughter has a "99 Saturn SC1, and she hit a curb and deployed hers. I (Many years as a mechanic) replaced both bags, the computer which is located under the center console, and the "clock spring" located behind the steering wheel to get it all working. (No air bag light on while driving) The steering wheel airbag melted the clock spring when it fired. I purchased these all used on E-Bay.

When the airbag light (SRS) is on or blinks it means a fault has occurred in the system and the airbag diagnostic monitor has disabled the system, the most common problem that turns the light on is a break in the connection to the steering wheel mounted airbag, this is due to a rotating ribbon contact that breaks under the steering wheel that connects the airbag to the wiring harness and the diagnostic monitor, the part is called the clock spring contact, a coiled up ribbon electrical contact that turns with the steering wheel while maintaining a mechanical connection to the airgag mounted on the steering wheel, to replace this part you must disarm the airbag system and remove the steering wheel, this requires a special steering wheel puller tool and that you disarm the airbag system before you start the work, to do this disconnect the battery negative cable for 1/2 hour prior.

When the airbag light (SRS) is on or blinks it means a fault has occurred in the system and the airbag diagnostic monitor has disabled the system, the most common problem that turns the light on is a break in the connection to the steering wheel mounted airbag, this is due to a rotating ribbon contact that breaks under the steering wheel that connects the airbag to the wiring harness and the diagnostic monitor, the part is called the clock spring contact, a coiled up ribbon electrical contact that turns with the steering wheel while maintaining a mechanical connection to the airgag mounted on the steering wheel, to replace this part you must disarm the airbag system and remove the steering wheel, this requires a special steering wheel puller tool and that you disarm the airbag system before you start the work, to do this disconnect the battery negative cable for 1 hour prior.

they sell steering wheel pullers at any auto parts store that simplify the task. they cost about 40.00 but also come with instructions that tell you how to do it

this problem is most commonly caused by the rotating contact under the steering wheel (also called the clock-spring contact), it has developed and open circuit, the airbag control/diagnostic monitor senses this and disables the airbag system

Replace the clock-spring contact under the steering wheel, it has an open circuit.