Steering wheel

jenmark · Post by **jenmark** » Tue 18 Mar, 2014 20:35

Had my steering wheel back from Jack royal steering wheels
Today, he's done a superb job the quality is fantastic
We'll recommend it

Mint · Post by **Mint** » Tue 18 Mar, 2014 21:18

Any pics? Be good to see...

Koolflyer · Post by **Koolflyer** » Tue 18 Mar, 2014 23:34

Also got my wheel back from Jack today. A super job to, put it this way, if I was splashing out 40-50k on a new Beamer, I wouldn't be expecting anything better!

Put it back on the car this evening before night shift, and it feels spot on (and smells of beautiful new leather too). Its double thick as well, so feels just like my E91 M Sport. Will upload some pics tomoz.

Koolflyer · Post by **Koolflyer** » Wed 19 Mar, 2014 08:57

There you go, it's the black plain leather (which is textured) so not too dissimilar from the airbag plastic cover. It is also double thickened to match my M Sport 330 Tourer, which has a good feel. I'm told that the Napper leather is smooth and a dark grey...worth noting. General workmanship and stitching is top notch in my opinion.

......right, just off nights so off to get some 'shut eye' see ya

BladeRunner919 · Post by **BladeRunner919** » Wed 19 Mar, 2014 11:00

Looks great - I think that's the way I'll go when I have mine done. Thanks for the pics.

Buz007 · Post by **Buz007** » Wed 19 Mar, 2014 12:14

im torn between doing this and fitting a RAID. been in touch with carnewal in Belgium and they want 60 quid for a boss and about £400 for the wheel itself. Expensive stuff

posts from others suggest the feel is totally different and an essential mod, driving a car like a Z3 with a wheel from a 7 series is mad!

Would be interesting to know if the wheel 'feels' smaller and sportier? and what the difference would be between the new Raid cost wise? Plus there is the added tension of fitting a new whell without setting the airbag light off!!!!

Brian H · Post by **Brian H** » Wed 19 Mar, 2014 12:19

Buzz,

I have had both, I had a standard wheel recovered and thickened by Jack and it felt superb, his work is really good, I now have a Raid wheel, a great upgrade but not essential.

The costs do not compare as a recovered wheel is approx £125.00

Brian

gookah · Post by **gookah** » Wed 19 Mar, 2014 16:58

I hankered after a raid steering wheel for a while, but after having mine recovered by Jack I no longer want or need one...

I had the smooth nappa mixed with perforated leather, double padding and blue stitching.
Its like the feel I had with my Z4M wheel, and its like using a modern-car steering wheel again, and it doesnt block out anymore of the instrument cluster.

Koolflyer · Post by **Koolflyer** » Wed 19 Mar, 2014 16:59

Hi Buz007

Just being that much more thicker gives you bit more grip and comfort, also doesn't feel like driving a lorry any more. Cost for all leather is £105 plus £9.99 24hr recorded delivery. The Alcantra is £130 plus delivery. I reckon a great mod. for not a huge outlay IMHO. I've just come back from a top down, full sunshine test ride, and I now have a big grin on my face.....gotta be worth it!

Cheers Pete

Buz007 · Post by **Buz007** » Wed 19 Mar, 2014 17:08

A re-cover it is! You've all sold it to me plus the pics look great. Cheers everyone!

Scrapman · Post by **Scrapman** » Wed 19 Mar, 2014 19:41

gookah wrote:I hankered after a raid steering wheel for a while, but after having mine recovered by Jack I no longer want or need one...

I had the smooth nappa mixed with perforated leather, double padding and blue stitching.
Its like the feel I had with my Z4M wheel, and its like using a modern-car steering wheel again, and it doesnt block out anymore of the instrument cluster.

I think that is stunning. I want the same in red.

How quickly do they turn these around, and how easy is it to remove the steering wheel?

Del · Post by **Del** » Wed 19 Mar, 2014 19:53

Scrapman wrote:I think that is stunning. I want the same in red

I agree, they look great.

gookah · Post by **gookah** » Wed 19 Mar, 2014 20:11

Scrapman wrote:
gookah wrote:I hankered after a raid steering wheel for a while, but after having mine recovered by Jack I no longer want or need one...

I had the smooth nappa mixed with perforated leather, double padding and blue stitching.
Its like the feel I had with my Z4M wheel, and its like using a modern-car steering wheel again, and it doesnt block out anymore of the instrument cluster.
I think that is stunning. I want the same in red.

How quickly do they turn these around, and how easy is it to remove the steering wheel?

2-3 weeks, its all on his site.

http://royalsteeringwheels.com
You can send in yours and wait, or he will refurbish one of his stock and send it out then refund your deposit on receipt of your old wheel.
Mine cost £115 for that version. the refundable deposit is £100, I had no problems as you just post the wheel back in the box the new one came in.

To remove the wheel disconnect the battery for at least half hour before and during.
The two trim pieces (in blue on mine) are just a push fit and you can gently remove them with a screwdriver.
on the back of the wheel are two recesses with torx screws that you need to remove to remove the airbag, disconnect the cable.
Undo the centre bolt on the steering wheel after making sure the wheels are in straight ahead position.
If its a bit stiff to remove, screw the bolt back in a few turns and give the wheel a good sharp yank with 2 hands. The bolt stops it hitting you in the face.
Once it has moved it will pull off easy after removing the bolt.
Turn the wheel over and remove the torx bolts on the complete slip ring, fit it to your new wheel and then build everything back up in reverse.

Woody1000 · Post by **Woody1000** » Wed 19 Mar, 2014 20:19

Royal steering wheels have certainly built up a great reputation and it's next on my list Thanks for sharing.

deni2s · Post by **deni2s** » Wed 19 Mar, 2014 20:25

I went to opposite direction - smaller, old-school steering wheel with some racing look.

Buz007 · Post by **Buz007** » Wed 19 Mar, 2014 20:27

I need an airbag the way I gork at birds while I'm driving

Buz007 · Post by **Buz007** » Wed 19 Mar, 2014 20:28

Do you know you've fitted it on the wrong side? Epic fail.

deni2s · Post by **deni2s** » Wed 19 Mar, 2014 20:37

Buz007 wrote:Do you know you've fitted it on the wrong side? Epic fail.

Wrong side parts from UK are usually cheaper

g8jka · Post by **g8jka** » Wed 19 Mar, 2014 20:38

Had mine done recently as well. Probably one of the best mods I have done certainly improves the driving experience and feels a lot more modern. I went for double padding, perforated leather top and bottom with smooth nappa on the sides and silver stitching

deni2s · Post by **deni2s** » Wed 19 Mar, 2014 20:39

Buz007 wrote:I need an airbag the way I gork at birds while I'm driving

Adds some spice to boring life

Driving without airbag is like living on the edge

Scrapman · Post by **Scrapman** » Wed 19 Mar, 2014 21:28

My everyday car has 14 airbags, which is more than my last 3 cars put together.

If I crash I will suffocate.

BladeRunner919 · Post by **BladeRunner919** » Thu 20 Mar, 2014 13:52

Is there any way of dulling down the gloss sheen of the airbag cover so that it looks more in keeping with the leather?

Southernboy · Post by **Southernboy** » Thu 20 Mar, 2014 14:13

.... Rustoleum plastic or vynil matt paint....

BladeRunner919 · Post by **BladeRunner919** » Thu 20 Mar, 2014 14:24

Does the airbag cover split open or does it flip out of the way when deployed?

Southernboy · Post by **Southernboy** » Thu 20 Mar, 2014 14:30

....take a fast drive...find a tree...and let us know...

It splits across the center line... So technically, you could cover it in leather provided you don't use a single piece of leather across the line...You can fit a single piece of leather, and then use a thin sharp blade - a doc's scalpel - and split the leather. It won't interfere in the deployment.

bertiejaffa · Post by **bertiejaffa** » Thu 20 Mar, 2014 15:01

Look on ebay for a set of red and black M seats - there is a set on there for £1499.... yep thats right, £1.5K... however in the pictures you can also buy the steering wheel looks to have had the "fast drive, big tree" treatment and you'll see how they open.

BladeRunner919 · Post by **BladeRunner919** » Thu 20 Mar, 2014 15:20

Oh yes! I don't think I'd risk covering it and making my own cuts - you'd only find out whether you'd cut it far enough at the point of impact!!

gookah · Post by **gookah** » Thu 20 Mar, 2014 16:28

BladeRunner919 wrote:Oh yes! I don't think I'd risk covering it and making my own cuts - you'd only find out whether you'd cut it far enough at the point of impact!!

What I always wondered with airbags is why do manufacturers continue to have the horn built into the centre of the wheel. If someone is coming towards you and maybe you are pressing the horn, you have a big hand in front of the airbag when it deploys.
I have heard of an incident where an airbag deployed and shoved a lit cigarette up the drivers nose....

beerbelly · Post by **beerbelly** » Thu 20 Mar, 2014 16:44

perfect birthday prezzie for me mrs her steering wheel has gone a bit sticky to the touch and the red colour comes of on your hands on a hot day. and as its going back on the road at the beginning of next month I better get it off the car anyone know what size nut is holding it on and I presume the airbag is held on at the back with a couple of screws/torx

Southernboy · Post by **Southernboy** » Thu 20 Mar, 2014 17:15

5/8" SOCKET WILL DO IT...

Airbag comes away with the hooter pod....all you do is remove the push in plug conector(s) at the back....FIRST DISCONNECT THE BATTERY & WAIT 20 SECONDS !!!!

Southernboy · Post by **Southernboy** » Thu 20 Mar, 2014 17:18

If you cover it with leather, then the cut must go all the way through the leather...that's why you need to use a THIN blade...so it leaves no obvious mark..

beerbelly · Post by **beerbelly** » Fri 21 Mar, 2014 07:21

Southernboy wrote:5/8" SOCKET WILL DO IT...
Airbag comes away with the hooter pod....all you do is remove the push in plug conector(s) at the back....FIRST DISCONNECT THE BATTERY & WAIT 20 SECONDS !!!!

er cheers anyone know what 5/8 is in metric

Southernboy · Post by **Southernboy** » Fri 21 Mar, 2014 07:38

Probably around 16...

deni2s · Post by **deni2s** » Fri 21 Mar, 2014 08:30

It is 16. You should have this tool in your boot tool box. I think it's the same as the one for sparks.

There are also two torx bolts to remove airbag. I think they were T25 or T27.

Southernboy · Post by **Southernboy** » Fri 21 Mar, 2014 08:46

I do have a 16 flat ratchet spanner...I use that on the safetybelt bolts which fit to the seat at the bottom... I have no 16 socket, and dislike sparkplug spanners..they're not stable enough if they're not doing sparkplug work.... But I do have a set of Imperial sockets and 5/8" is a perfect fit, and it's a proper socket for bolts...

My steering wheel doesn't have torx screws...it's the facelift one with the "stick the screwdriver in the hole and pop the spring locks" type fitting. Must admit, I preferred the torx screw method of mounting in my last Z3... the spring locks are a PITA... too fiddly.

beerbelly · Post by **beerbelly** » Fri 21 Mar, 2014 16:10

16mm it was I was expecting a big 36mm or something anyway its on its way to royal the wheel was red but iv decided on having it done in black nappa and perforated (like my audi a3) as I didn't think new red would blend in with the old red of the cars interior and the car has red and black sports seats should look ok (gone for dark red stitching tho)

Scrapman · Post by **Scrapman** » Sat 22 Mar, 2014 18:59

If you don't mind, could you post a photo when you get it back?

I also have the red/black leather, but I am trying to revitalise it with Ecco shoe products. It's starting to slowly improve, but not sure the red will ever be bright again.

beerbelly · Post by **beerbelly** » Sun 23 Mar, 2014 00:12

certainly will feller

beerbelly · Post by **beerbelly** » Tue 08 Apr, 2014 16:40

well it came back today absolutely chuffing great

I fitted it tonight but then it started raining so I pulled the cover back over the car ill take some pics Friday when it goes for an mot (im taking it to a place where the testers over 6 foot tall as when you adjust the seat the airbag light comes on im six foot so he wont adjust the seat

)