How to replace the steering wheel?

5177 Views 37 Replies 11 Participants Last post by AZGregM, Jun 23, 2005

fpa1974

Discussion Starter · Apr 16, 2005

Well I finally got my alcantara steering wheel done in an acceptable fashion and I would like to install it on the car to see how it works out. Thus my question here. I am mostly concerned about the airbag and the slip ring (I do not want to damage it). So what would be the procedure to install a new steering wheel on our cars reusing the existing slip ring? Is this something I should try myself or pay 1 hour of labor to the dealer to do it?

I would appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks,
Florian

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21 - 38 of 38 Posts

JonM

· #21 · Jun 7, 2005

If you guys are interested, we can provide the name of the place we outsource to. They may or may not stock Alcantara, but we could sell pieces at cost.

They don't have perfect quality either, but they are quick. And honest. They are in Texas.

mng

· #22 · Jun 7, 2005

JonM said:
If you guys are interested, we can provide the name of the place we outsource to. They may or may not stock Alcantara, but we could sell pieces at cost.

They don't have perfect quality either, but they are quick. And honest. They are in Texas.

you have PM

JonM

· #23 · Jun 7, 2005

mng said:
you have PM

Now you have PM. You try them and report back how it works out.

mng

· #24 · Jun 7, 2005

JonM said:
Now you have PM. You try them and report back how it works out.

they're sending me samples.

oh boy :eeps:

Ron Stygar

· #25 · Jun 7, 2005

JonM said:
If you guys are interested, we can provide the name of the place we outsource to. They may or may not stock Alcantara, but we could sell pieces at cost.

They don't have perfect quality either, but they are quick. And honest. They are in Texas.

I'm interested in who they are.
Hopefully, If things work out and I have the time, I'll have an E46-M3 steering wheel on my car for HC.

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Pani

· #26 · Jun 7, 2005

Ron Stygar said:
Hopefully, If things work out and I have the time, I'll have an E46-M3 steering wheel on my car for HC.

:jawdrop:

Ron Stygar

· #27 · Jun 8, 2005

E46-M3 parts

Interesting how they pack air bags now.

E46-M3 wheel O/A diameter is the same as our cars.
The rim is thicker up and down wise and thicker yet front to back.
Being thicker up and down wise it appears to have a smaller O/A diameter.
The front projection of either wheel is the same.

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2

mng

· #28 · Jun 8, 2005

Ron,

how does the rim circ compare to ours?

(according to this, ours are 3 5/8")

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showpost.php?p=762378&postcount=1

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Ron Stygar

· #29 · Jun 8, 2005

mng said:
Ron,

how does the rim circ compare to ours?

(according to this, ours are 3 5/8")

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showpost.php?p=762378&postcount=1

Roughly 4.5 inch. The front to back being thicker feels better to me. I assume that's why BMW did it this way. If you look at closing your hand it is not a circle. It's thicker front to back too.

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mng

· #30 · Jun 8, 2005

Ron Stygar said:
Roughly 4.5 inch. The front to back being thicker feels better to me. I assume that's why BMW did it this way. If you look at closing your hand it is not a circle. It's thicker front to back too.

very good, thanks Ron.

Ron Stygar

· #31 · Jun 17, 2005 (Edited)

E46-M3 Steering Wheel

I installed the bare wheel today for some dimension checks and to try it out.
Not sure I like the thicker wheel but only have 10 miles on it. This wheel is also softer than stock. Since Pinecone has both, I would be interested in hearing his thoughts.
Both wheels set at 70 degrees.
The M-Z3 wheel rim is 31 mm front to back and 27 mm up and down.
(--)
The E46-M3 wheel rim is 38.5 mm > 39 mm front to back and 30 mm up and down.
(---)
The E46-M3 wheel is closer to you by 3/16 inch. You could probably modify the spacer ring some to change that. The extra front to back thickness is either side of the stock wheel. The centers are ~ the same.

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mng

· #32 · Jun 17, 2005 (Edited)

:yikes:

just when you got the steering wheel buttons working on the stock wheel...so is this just R&D or are you planning on sticking with this one?

Ron Stygar

· #33 · Jun 17, 2005

mng said:
:yikes:

just when you got the steering wheel buttons working on the stock wheel...so is this just R&D or are you planning on sticking with this one?

Don't know. If I get to like it and get it to work, probably so.
Saw an alcantra wheel in Montreal last Saturday in the M3 Competition package and might try that.
I enjoy figuring things out. Most of the stuff I do is based on that.
I wasn't interested in the switches until I installed a TP in an E46.
Now that I have them, I like them a lot (especially) on my stock wheel.
The switches on the E46-M3 wheel will work. Having only the switches that work show. is a major hand job since it is one piece. Still have to look at that some more.
Based on what I know now, I think this mod, although not plug and play, is doable. Not there yet so I don't know if there is a GOTCHA hiding.

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Ron Stygar

· #34 · Jun 17, 2005

Weights

Whoops. Forgot to mention.

The E46-M3 bare wheel is just over a pound lighter than stock.
The E46-M3 air bag is 1.5 pounds lighter than stock.

Takata says they are using magnesium now. Maybe the M-Z3 didn't.

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viper501

· #35 · Jun 17, 2005

I for one *love* the e46 M3 wheel. If you figure out a way to do it, and keep the airbag, I'm definitely doing the mod, regardless of the domestic repurcussions. :angel:

Ron Stygar

· #36 · Jun 17, 2005

viper501 said:
I for one *love* the e46 M3 wheel. If you figure out a way to do it, and keep the airbag, I'm definitely doing the mod, regardless of the domestic repurcussions. :angel:

The air bag and slip ring are covered (won't know for sure until I connect it). This is a very expensive time extensive mod. The parts necessary retail for around $1600 not counting the mod time (done by hand) which I still don't know for sure can be done.
The alcantra one is more.
I may make it a product but I doubt many will be interested based on the cost.
Based on people copying my experiences for financial gain, I no longer share the details to help them do that.

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kcsails

· #37 · Jun 18, 2005

Wheel removal

Follow Ron stygar's instructions below. I'd add the following comments, as I've removed the wheels on the 3 Z3's I've owned:

1) Disconnect the battery, and wait 30 minutes before starting the wheel removal. This means that it doesn't set-off the airbag sensor, and you wont' have to get it reset.
2) mark the wheel and the steering column with a marker before removal. This makes it real easy to re-install and line-up properly.
It's real easy to remove and re-install. Good luck, K.C.

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AZGregM

· #38 · Jun 23, 2005

I saw in the last accessories catalog that I picked up from the dealer that the last Z3's had a part number for the M3 steering wheel. Doesn't help the M coupe or roadster crowd, but I wonder if this wheel would make your life any easier? I kind of wish that when they did the restyle that they added some of those changes, i.e. a steering column that would accept the E46 M3 wheel, to our cars.

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