Alcantara wheel issues [Archive] - bimmerfest

KU Ned

08-02-2004, 02:58 PM

The alacantara wheel on my ZHP has balled up. I did a search and found a few references to people that have had the wheel replaced but could not find anything from anyone that has actually had the wheel replaced under warranty. I also found references to replacing the alacantara with the leather M3 wheel as a no-cost option when they ordered the ZHP. Does anyone have first hand experience?

I loved the alacantara when the car was new but I have 18,000 miles on the car and don't want to have to replace the wheel every 1-1.5 years. I have an appointment to do some other work this Thursday and am going to try to get them to replace the wheel with a the M3 leather wheel.

I still love the alacantara/clothe interior. It is not showing any wear at all.

elbert

08-02-2004, 03:23 PM

I still love the alacantara/clothe interior. It is not showing any wear at all.

That's because those areas aren't exposed to the sweat and oils from your skin, as opposed to your steering wheel. You probably need to start wearing gloves :eek:

Dr. Phil

08-02-2004, 03:24 PM

I am at 31k and have little fuzzing on my wheel. I good cleaning always seems to help mine, YMMV :eeps: My SA chuckled when I asked if I could get a replacement if my developed balls :angel:

doeboy

08-02-2004, 04:58 PM

I have very little fuzzing too. I've got some on the bottom of the wheel from my leg rubbing against it getting in and out of the car, and a little on the left side. But I don't have much fuzzing at all. I think its because I don't slide my hands around on the wheel perhaps?

grimreapa

08-02-2004, 07:42 PM

If I were you would just change it to the M one. The alacantra may not react to well to the sun and heat either.

kyyuan

08-02-2004, 09:13 PM

I've read some have used those cloth shavers to shave the little balls.

listener

08-02-2004, 09:16 PM

I have no balls....on my steeering wheel that is! With 19,000 miles, no issues. I've heard that some people have used an electric razor to shave their balls...on the steering wheel. ;)

doeboy

08-02-2004, 09:23 PM

I have no balls....on my steeering wheel that is! With 19,000 miles, no issues. I've heard that some people have used an electric razor to shave their balls...on the steering wheel. ;)

(Dr. Evil Voice)"there's nothing quite like a shorn scro.... er... I mean steering wheel... it's quite breathtaking...." (end Dr. Evil voice) :eek:

mkh

08-02-2004, 09:25 PM

I'm at 27k miles now. Have never done any shaving. Though it doesn't look like new, it is far more than acceptable, and seems to last at least another 27k. :thumbup:

listener

08-02-2004, 09:37 PM

(Dr. Evil Voice)"there's nothing quite like a shorn scro.... er... I mean steering wheel... it's quite breathtaking...." (end Dr. Evil voice) :eek:

BAAAAWWWWWAAAAAAA!!!!
:rofl: :rofl:

artbrunson

08-08-2004, 05:33 PM

I have had my imola for 3 weeks and hate the fuzzy wheel. It has already started "balling" up. I am ordering the m3 wheel with leather. $380 plus install.

Dr. Phil

08-08-2004, 05:40 PM

I have had my imola for 3 weeks and hate the fuzzy wheel. It has already started "balling" up. I am ordering the m3 wheel with leather. $380 plus install.
You can get that wheel alot cheaper from cirle bmw and it is a 10 minute install. Also you could sell you alcantara wheel for almost enough to cover your expense.

BloodRedHog

08-08-2004, 06:22 PM

I have no balls. And I use Purel hand cleaner stored in the center console to make sure my hands are clean.

:)

Have some fun with that statement.

KU Ned

08-09-2004, 07:03 AM

330soon2b

08-09-2004, 08:24 AM

Can you provide pics? I have yet to see a pic of an Alcantara steering wheel that is falling apart. I would help to know what to look for...thanks. Good luck getting the M3 steering wheel.

KU Ned

08-09-2004, 09:08 AM

Can you provide pics? I have yet to see a pic of an Alcantara steering wheel that is falling apart. I would help to know what to look for...thanks. Good luck getting the M3 steering wheel.
I will try to take pictures and post this evening.

adc

08-09-2004, 12:29 PM

I got one, battery operated, for about $5 (!!!) at Amazon. Shipping was more than the actual product...

About once or twice a year I use it to shave the little fuzzballs on the steering wheel, no big deal. Before the OEM warranty expires I will attempt to get the dealer to swap a new one in, if the condition further deteriorates.

It is still great to hold, especially on very hot or very cold days. Also very comfortable at the track and it cancels the need to wear driving gloves for those sweaty palms.

wingspan

08-09-2004, 12:45 PM

I have no balls. And I use Purel hand cleaner stored in the center console to make sure my hands are clean.

:)

Have some fun with that statement.

But we knew that from the beginning :angel: . 8100 miles on mine and I have no balls either ;)

Purell is good stuff, but I thought it sanitised vs. cleaning - no bother though, I use gloves!

Salvator

08-09-2004, 01:14 PM

BMW agreed that the condition of the wheel is unacceptable. They have agreed to replace the alacantara wheel with another alacantara wheel. I am working on them get the M3 leather wheel. I will post again when the issue is resolved.
Buy an M3 wheel yourself, (Circle or Pacific) and give it directly to the tech to install in place of your alcantara one... take the new alcantara one and put it on E-Bay... You should make enough money on the sale of the alcantera wheel to offset the cost of the leather wheel... They probably won't agree to swap alcantera for leather directly, because they are required to replace things with what exactly was there before... I had the same issue with a broken gearshift knob... offered to pay the difference (between the standard knob and the ///M knob) and have the ///M knob installed... SA said that they were not allowed to do that under warranty... Good luck! :thumbup:

KU Ned

08-09-2004, 07:08 PM

doeboy

08-09-2004, 07:21 PM

:yikes:

Wow... that's pretty nappy....

woohoo

08-09-2004, 07:29 PM

Wow those are some really furry balls. Maybe you're gripping it too hard? :dunno: :rofl:

Galun

08-09-2004, 08:02 PM

Wow those are some really furry balls. Maybe you're gripping it too hard? :dunno: :rofl:

:eek: :slap:

wag-zhp

08-10-2004, 01:12 AM

Wow! That wheel really is a mess. I wonder if you got one from a defective batch, or if there is just something about your hands that tears the alcantara up. Maybe your sweat, or the oils in your skin, or some product that you use combined together causes some kind of a chemical reaction that is tough on the alcantara. It is a synthetic fabric, so who knows?

I guess you have to make a choice.

1. If you like the alcantara, let the dealership replace it once, and if it falls apart again really push them to replace the 2nd one with a leather covered wheel. Perhaps after going through 2 steering wheels they may realize the alcantara just isn't tough enough to handle what you're dishing out.

2. If you really like the M3 wheel, do as Salvator recommened, buy the M3 wheel and let them install it, then take the new alcantara wheel that they would have installed and sell it on ebay.

Seeing pictures of your wheel makes me a little nervous. I've only had mine for a couple of months, and so far there are no indications that the alcantara is going to disintegrate... knock on wood, oh wait there isn't any wood... does knocking on the blackcube trim work? ;)

teknic330

08-10-2004, 01:48 AM

My wheel is starting to look the same. I had it for about 10 months now. I'll be happy if the dealer is willing to swap it out for another alcantera wheel. :D

doeboy

08-10-2004, 01:51 AM

I know the wheel feels good to the touch and all but really people... stop rubbing it so much! It's just a steering wheel! :rofl: :p :D :angel:

Dr. Phil

08-10-2004, 05:42 AM

I know the wheel feels good to the touch and all but really people... stop rubbing it so much! It's just a steering wheel! :rofl: :p :D :angel:
:jack: would be better for the wheel longevity, aye :rofl:

My wheel after 31k looks no where near as worn :yikes:

330soon2b

08-10-2004, 06:10 AM

ok, ok, you have set me straight. That wheel is UACCEPTABLE. You're not stressed, are you? Looks like you have a death grip on the wheel. :) Good luck, getting it replaced. They shouldn't give you any problems. Thanks for the pics. Very helpful.

KU Ned

08-10-2004, 06:41 AM

I know the wheel feels good to the touch and all but really people... stop rubbing it so much! It's just a steering wheel! :rofl: :p :D :angel:As the wheel has gone bad, so has my vision. Do you think there is a correlation? :dunno: :rofl:

doeboy

08-10-2004, 09:25 AM

As the wheel has gone bad, so has my vision. Do you think there is a correlation? :dunno: :tsk:

Relax... I was just kidding around... :stickpoke:

I have the same wheel and mine is nowhere near that either.

artbrunson

08-10-2004, 09:58 AM

Here is a pic of my alcantara wheel after only 1 month. I don't think these are isolated incidents. I have my m3 leather wheel on order.

pony_trekker

08-10-2004, 10:03 AM

I've read some have used those cloth shavers to shave the little balls.
Just watch for nicks and cuts. Can be painfull if you use cheap shaving cream.

Patrick

08-10-2004, 10:06 AM

Wow those are some really furry balls. Maybe you're gripping it too hard? :dunno: :rofl:

Cronically sweaty palms?

-

330soon2b

08-10-2004, 10:34 AM

Here is a pic of my alcantara wheel after only 1 month. I don't think these are isolated incidents. I have my m3 leather wheel on order.

pic? :confused:

wingspan

08-10-2004, 02:12 PM

pic? :confused:

Its an invisible wheel :angel:

artbrunson

08-10-2004, 05:51 PM

sorry, file was too big

doeboy

08-10-2004, 06:35 PM

sorry, file was too big

Do you drive with your hand resting on top of the wheel at 12 o'clock position? Just curious.

mkh

08-10-2004, 10:17 PM

sorry, file was too big
Wow! You are really incredible. Mine is about 28k miles and is not even close to the condition of yours. I don't think mine will look like this even at 50k. I never wash my hands before driving. In fact, I often put lotions on my hands too. So it doesn't really require clean hands to keep it in good shape.

eliyale

08-11-2004, 05:55 AM

artbrunson

08-11-2004, 06:11 AM

This can't be a new problem. I bought mine in July and it came strait from South Carolina having been dropped off by a big boat recently. It was probably made in late spring. I do drive with my hands on the top of the wheel, and the bottom is in better condition. One thing that may have hastened the balling is using leather conditioner on the wheel to break it in- bad idea. It makes the wheel feel better but also makes it shred more. I couldn't stand the dry feel of "suede" so I had no choice. Bottom line is that my m3 leather wheel comes tomorrow. Pacific BMW sells for $329 plus install if your dealer asks the $450 dollar list price. Here is a link to the instruction page on the new wheel and how to put it on even yourself! Not that I would. www.bmw330ci.com/DIY_M3_Wheel.htm

doeboy

08-11-2004, 12:21 PM

One thing that may have hastened the balling is using leather conditioner on the wheel to break it in- bad idea. It makes the wheel feel better but also makes it shred more. I couldn't stand the dry feel of "suede" so I had no choice.

Did you realize that Alcantara isn't suede? It's a fabric. Interesting point about the leather conditioner though. Don't know what effects it has on fabrics such as Alcantara...

mkh

08-11-2004, 12:53 PM

My wheel looks as bad as KU Ned's if not worse. Mine started to wear almost as soon as I got it. Since different people seem to be having different experiences with wear, I wonder if it is a manufacturing issue. I know that KU Ned and I were among the first to take deliver of ZHPs on this board. Do you think this might be a problem that has been corrected since then? I don't know, but my wheel is in a totally unacceptable condition. I'm ordering a leather M wheel soon.
I don't believe it is a manufacturing issue. I took delivery earlier than both you and KU Ned, so mine is also among the first batch production. I think it really depends on how people hold and turn the wheel, the tightness of the grip, and the condition of their hands. Also, if you often track or autoX, yours will wear faster than those who only do street driving.

KU Ned

08-11-2004, 01:46 PM

IAlso, if you often track or autoX, yours will wear faster than those who only do street driving.
Good thing I do neither of these activities! :eek:

doeboy

08-11-2004, 02:21 PM

I don't believe it is a manufacturing issue. I took delivery earlier than both you and KU Ned, so mine is also among the first batch production. I think it really depends on how people hold and turn the wheel, the tightness of the grip, and the condition of their hands. Also, if you often track or autoX, yours will wear faster than those who only do street driving.

I track pretty regularly and mine's not anywhere near that worn... :dunno:

Hou330izhp

08-11-2004, 02:37 PM

One thing that may have hastened the balling is using leather conditioner on the wheel to break it in- bad idea. It makes the wheel feel better but also makes it shred more.

Yeah, I don't think you should be using anything on the wheel but some water and a soft cloth. Here are the cleaning/care instructions for Alcantara:

http://www.alcantara.it/istituzionale/manutenzione_inglese.pdf