Steering wheel
Steering wheel
Not sure if it was this forum but I seem to think it was, someone had their Z3 steering wheel re upholstered and the result was a nice thicker more comfortable rim (I think they also had red and blue stitching to incorporate the M colours)... if that was you can you please step forward and make yourself known,
Also, can anyone tell this clumsy oaf how difficult it is to remove / replace the steering wheel as I have visions of blowing myself up with the air bag!!!!
Also, can anyone tell this clumsy oaf how difficult it is to remove / replace the steering wheel as I have visions of blowing myself up with the air bag!!!!
1999 facelit Z3 Roadster 2.8 Auto in Cosmos Black aka 'Gloria'
Re: Steering wheel
Wow.. found the post and the supplier.. the search facility on this site works a treat
Just need to know about the fitting / removal side of things...
Just need to know about the fitting / removal side of things...
1999 facelit Z3 Roadster 2.8 Auto in Cosmos Black aka 'Gloria'
Re: Steering wheel
Assuming it's the ///M style wheel
There are two torx head bolts at 3 o clock and 9 o clock on the back of the wheel, undo these and the airbag can be eased forward to reveal the connectors. Unplug these and place the airbag somewhere safe, this exposes the nut that holds the wheel in place.
Don't forget to disconnect your battery and leave for a minute before undoing anything, and remember you can't replace the battery connection whilst the airbag is disconnected for fear of the airbag light.
Jonttt's progress thread has some photos showing the wheel from when he replaced his wheel with the Raid.
There are two torx head bolts at 3 o clock and 9 o clock on the back of the wheel, undo these and the airbag can be eased forward to reveal the connectors. Unplug these and place the airbag somewhere safe, this exposes the nut that holds the wheel in place.
Don't forget to disconnect your battery and leave for a minute before undoing anything, and remember you can't replace the battery connection whilst the airbag is disconnected for fear of the airbag light.
Jonttt's progress thread has some photos showing the wheel from when he replaced his wheel with the Raid.
Re: Steering wheel
It could be my post (bottom of page):
http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopi ... =6&t=40636
I'm delighted with the service and the result.
http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopi ... =6&t=40636
I'm delighted with the service and the result.
Re: Steering wheel
Thanks guys, sounds fairly straightforward even for a numpty like me!!
This was the company I was thinking of http://royalsteeringwheels.com/
And this is the kind or rim I fancy
This was the company I was thinking of http://royalsteeringwheels.com/
And this is the kind or rim I fancy
1999 facelit Z3 Roadster 2.8 Auto in Cosmos Black aka 'Gloria'
Re: Steering wheel
we had ours done excellent service
Re: Steering wheel
Hi did mine to. Perfect and stil happy.
Re: Steering wheel
I have tried to seach for a further series of posts which showed more pictures off steering wheels on 'Zs'. No luck.
Anyone help please.
Anyone help please.
Re: Steering wheel
Seen the knowledgebase so ok thanks.
Re: Steering wheel
Anyone got a puc of a Royals wheel fitted to Z3 that I can look at.
thanks
thanks
Re: Steering wheel
Sorry 'picture'
Re: Steering wheel
1999 facelit Z3 Roadster 2.8 Auto in Cosmos Black aka 'Gloria'
Re: Steering wheel
http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopi ... 37#p373337
There you go Alan, I had mine done by Jack last year. Extra padding the same as my 330 Msport. Had the blue and red stitching (even though my Z3 is just a normal 2.8 roadster) because it's mine and I like it. Jack is a top bloke and a pleasure to do business with. A year and a half down the road and its still as good as new
See you next year Pete
There you go Alan, I had mine done by Jack last year. Extra padding the same as my 330 Msport. Had the blue and red stitching (even though my Z3 is just a normal 2.8 roadster) because it's mine and I like it. Jack is a top bloke and a pleasure to do business with. A year and a half down the road and its still as good as new
See you next year Pete
1997 Z3 2.8 (M52) Roadster Montreal blue
2013 330d (F31) M Sport Alpine White
Re: Steering wheel
Jack will do whatever you want - perforated sections is one of the standard options. He carries some stock items, but will make one to your spec if you are prepared to wait.
The cheapest option is an exchange wheel.
I drove to his address in Aylesbury, and he swapped the wheels in less than half an hour while I waited. 1st class job!
The cheapest option is an exchange wheel.
I drove to his address in Aylesbury, and he swapped the wheels in less than half an hour while I waited. 1st class job!
Re: Steering wheel
How much does he charge? There's a guy on eBay knocking out re trimmed wheels for £110 but he's in Germany.
Re: Steering wheel
They are about that price, dependant on final choice, plus £15 fitting.
Re: Steering wheel
The cost Spring 2014 as follows: All leather is £105 plus £9.99 24hr recorded delivery. The Alcantra is £130 plus delivery.
Best to ring Jack 01296 709817 / 07894 209349
http://royalsteeringwheels.com/
Best to ring Jack 01296 709817 / 07894 209349
http://royalsteeringwheels.com/
1997 Z3 2.8 (M52) Roadster Montreal blue
2013 330d (F31) M Sport Alpine White
Re: Steering wheel
Can someone please confirm that with a replacement to the original steering wheel, the girth/grip area is thicker. Looks that way but just want to confirm.
-
- Joined: Wed 11 Apr, 2007 13:13
- Posts: 160
- Location: Billingham
Re: Steering wheel
This the wheel that Jack did for me, completely changes the feel of the car, for the better!!
Great service from Jack, I could not fault the end product.
Great service from Jack, I could not fault the end product.
Pete C
2000 Z3M Coupe - Cosmos Black Metallic/Black Interior.
Previous BMWs
2003 E46 M3 6 speed manual - Carbon Black/Black Interior.
2000 Z3M Coupe - Cosmos Black/Black Interior
1986 M635
1985 E28 M5
1983 E28 528i Alpina
2000 Z3M Coupe - Cosmos Black Metallic/Black Interior.
Previous BMWs
2003 E46 M3 6 speed manual - Carbon Black/Black Interior.
2000 Z3M Coupe - Cosmos Black/Black Interior
1986 M635
1985 E28 M5
1983 E28 528i Alpina
Re: Steering wheel
Nice... VERY nice!!!
1999 facelit Z3 Roadster 2.8 Auto in Cosmos Black aka 'Gloria'
Re: Steering wheel
Looks really really good.
What I would appreciate is a picture of a black leather wheel to see whether there is much contrast between the 'dinner plate' airbag cover which is shiny.
What I would appreciate is a picture of a black leather wheel to see whether there is much contrast between the 'dinner plate' airbag cover which is shiny.
Re: Steering wheel
You can have it as thick as you like. Look at my link above.
1997 Z3 2.8 (M52) Roadster Montreal blue
2013 330d (F31) M Sport Alpine White
Re: Steering wheel
I have coverd the two parts left and right of the airbag centerpart with carbonn wrap folie.
Royal steeringwheel dit the wheel.
Looks more modern and get lot of positive reactions.
.
Royal steeringwheel dit the wheel.
Looks more modern and get lot of positive reactions.
.
Re: Steering wheel
Royal Steering Wheels, extra padding, perforated/smooth leather and blue stitching.
It makes a big difference,
It makes a big difference,
Z3 2.8 Progress Journal (Mine)
Z3 1.9 Sport Progress Journal (Wifey's)
I have an element of 'M-styling' on my car, If that's a good enough reason for the manufacturers to adorn a 320 with the M badge, then its certainly a good enough reason for me..
Re: Steering wheel
Just trying to gauge the difference in colour between you wheel and the round air bag/ horn cover. Is yours wheel the grey leather cover or black. Thanks
Re: Steering wheel
I went for double padded, smooth nappa black leather top and bottom and perforated sides with silver stitching to match the interior.
2000 BMW Z3 2.8 Titanium Silver Roadster with too many mods to list
Click For 2.0 Progress Journal
Click For 2.8 Progress Journal
Click For 2.0 Progress Journal
Click For 2.8 Progress Journal
-
- Joined: Fri 26 Jul, 2013 09:28
- Posts: 1733
- Location: Manchester
Re: Steering wheel
I'll second all the positive comments
Re: Steering wheel
johnz3 wrote:Just trying to gauge the difference in colour between you wheel and the round air bag/ horn cover. Is yours wheel the grey leather cover or black. Thanks
mine is black leather
Z3 2.8 Progress Journal (Mine)
Z3 1.9 Sport Progress Journal (Wifey's)
I have an element of 'M-styling' on my car, If that's a good enough reason for the manufacturers to adorn a 320 with the M badge, then its certainly a good enough reason for me..
- Southernboy
- Joined: Thu 07 Oct, 2010 12:39
- Posts: 6436
- Location: Johannesburg
Re: Steering wheel
The black in most Z3's is "Oregon black" which is considerably different to "Black"..... If you want a perfect black match, it will require the trimmer to match them by dyeing or sourcing a piece of OEM Oregon black leather.
Re: Steering wheel
Another +1 for Royal Steering Wheels, the guy really is a master of his craft, here's mine when I got it fitted - a year later and it's still as good as the day I got it too
1997 2.8 Z3 | Gallery Thread
Re: Steering wheel
I see he also did the two sections eithyer side of the large horn button.
I like that
I like that
- BladeRunner919
- Joined: Fri 17 Feb, 2012 20:18
- Posts: 2225
Re: Steering wheel
That's a different style of wheel to the one with the two tabs. If you look, the airbag covers are different shapes.johnz3 wrote:I see he also did the two sections eithyer side of the large horn button.
I like that
Re: Steering wheel
New wheel ordered so hope to go down there early New Year.
Re: Steering wheel
That looks great. I didn't like that style of wheel much (in standard trim) but with what you have chosen there looks great.XVar wrote:Another +1 for Royal Steering Wheels, the guy really is a master of his craft, here's mine when I got it fitted - a year later and it's still as good as the day I got it too
Is the diameter on this wheel as big the 'M Sport' wheel (the ones with big centre)?
Re: Steering wheel
There are four factors to consider with Z3 steering wheels which are:-
- the thickness, it's generally accepted the OEM wheel is too thin and a thicker wheel feels much better
- diameter, the OEM wheel is too large IMHO. A smaller diameter wheel makes the "driving" feel so much better, my preference is 340mm in a Z3, 320mm feels too much like a go cart. If you are 6ft+ it also means you don't catch you leg on agressive turns.
- fitment, the Z3 uses the E36 3 series slipring so E36 wheels can be fitted. You can adapt fitment and the slipring to fit later wheels but it's a PITA and see below
- version so SRS. The pre 04/99 "facelift" Z3s are single stage / deployment airbags (as per E36) but later are two stage airbag deployment. You can fit single or two stage airbags to a post 04/99 Z3 but you can't fit a twin stage airbag to a pre 04/99 Z3 (well you can but it won't work safely as designed)
So when you factor all those in the easiest solution is to fit a re trimmed thicker wheel to your Z3. Make sure if your exchanging it's like for like ie single or twin airbag depending if your airbag is pre or post 04/99. You can also fit an E36 wheel as the pics above but a post 04/99 Z3 will need to bridge a circuit with a resistor. This option will feel better in the hand but you have actually made the diameter worse
The best solution is to fit a smaller diameter thicker wheel IMHO. This will be more expensive however but it really does transform the drive. Is I could only do one mod to a Z3 it would be fit a smaller steering wheel. Raid are the easiest option as you can buy an adaptor hub which means they are more or less plug and play ( post 04/99 Z3's need a wiring adaptor but you can make your own easily, raids are all single stage deployment).
See simple really, there is a fuller right up I did in the knowledge base some years ago.
Ps check you royal wheels when you get them back, some of the porsche guys have recently had problems with the stitching, apparently he has been using a different solution but may have been sorted out now
- the thickness, it's generally accepted the OEM wheel is too thin and a thicker wheel feels much better
- diameter, the OEM wheel is too large IMHO. A smaller diameter wheel makes the "driving" feel so much better, my preference is 340mm in a Z3, 320mm feels too much like a go cart. If you are 6ft+ it also means you don't catch you leg on agressive turns.
- fitment, the Z3 uses the E36 3 series slipring so E36 wheels can be fitted. You can adapt fitment and the slipring to fit later wheels but it's a PITA and see below
- version so SRS. The pre 04/99 "facelift" Z3s are single stage / deployment airbags (as per E36) but later are two stage airbag deployment. You can fit single or two stage airbags to a post 04/99 Z3 but you can't fit a twin stage airbag to a pre 04/99 Z3 (well you can but it won't work safely as designed)
So when you factor all those in the easiest solution is to fit a re trimmed thicker wheel to your Z3. Make sure if your exchanging it's like for like ie single or twin airbag depending if your airbag is pre or post 04/99. You can also fit an E36 wheel as the pics above but a post 04/99 Z3 will need to bridge a circuit with a resistor. This option will feel better in the hand but you have actually made the diameter worse
The best solution is to fit a smaller diameter thicker wheel IMHO. This will be more expensive however but it really does transform the drive. Is I could only do one mod to a Z3 it would be fit a smaller steering wheel. Raid are the easiest option as you can buy an adaptor hub which means they are more or less plug and play ( post 04/99 Z3's need a wiring adaptor but you can make your own easily, raids are all single stage deployment).
See simple really, there is a fuller right up I did in the knowledge base some years ago.
Ps check you royal wheels when you get them back, some of the porsche guys have recently had problems with the stitching, apparently he has been using a different solution but may have been sorted out now
Re: Steering wheel
I am all but ready to buy a wheel from Royals. Have emailed them to find out details etc etc so almost ready to commit. Something however is holding me back and I think it is that I would like to actually sit in a Z and feel the wheel in my hands.
Know I could go down to Aylesbury and see and try something similar but given it is the best part of two hours away, it is a bit far.
Anyone local to Pitsea in Essex that has had a Royals wheel that I could drive over and see and feel what they are actually like.
Thanks
John
Know I could go down to Aylesbury and see and try something similar but given it is the best part of two hours away, it is a bit far.
Anyone local to Pitsea in Essex that has had a Royals wheel that I could drive over and see and feel what they are actually like.
Thanks
John
Re: Steering wheel
Whichever you choose, you will certainly not be disappointed
2000 BMW Z3 2.8 Titanium Silver Roadster with too many mods to list
Click For 2.0 Progress Journal
Click For 2.8 Progress Journal
Click For 2.0 Progress Journal
Click For 2.8 Progress Journal
Re: Steering wheel
Hi Johnz3, my 'Royal' wheel is arriving middle of next week, double thickness, shorter perforated grip areas (like this years Mercs) and red stitching to match my Oregon interior. I'll let you know my first impressions next week if you haven't made a choice by then.
Re: Steering wheel
That would be good. Thanks.
Re: Steering wheel
I have not been on for a while, missed this thread.
Well pleased with mine.
The difference it makes to the overall feel of the car can not be expressed enough imho.
I bought a Jan 13 X3 last a couple of weeks back and that steering wheel now feels flimsy, so think I would have to get that done too.
Well pleased with mine.
The difference it makes to the overall feel of the car can not be expressed enough imho.
I bought a Jan 13 X3 last a couple of weeks back and that steering wheel now feels flimsy, so think I would have to get that done too.
Re: Steering wheel
Just emailed Jack based on everyone's recommendations, big thanks yet again to Jontt who's write up on the removal of the wheel was spot on. Got it off in about 20mins. hopefully I'll hear back pretty quick and I'll get it sent off
''need I remind you 007, you have a licence to kill...not to break the traffic laws''
Re: Steering wheel
Hi lexybhoy.
Did you get you wheel and if so could you let me have a pic please.
Thanks
Did you get you wheel and if so could you let me have a pic please.
Thanks
Re: Steering wheel
Hi John, pics below.johnz3 wrote:Hi lexybhoy.
Did you get you wheel and if so could you let me have a pic please.
Thanks
As it was......
As it is now (sorry about the light, pretty dark here now)
The workmanship really is first class.
Perforated leather at the sides and soft Nappa leather top and bottom.
As others have said, this has got to be one of the best mods you can do, for the cost alone never mind the short time it takes to swap them over. I went for double thickness and I would recomend others to do the same unless you have tiny hands .
Re: Steering wheel
I'm thinking about getting one of Royal's wheels. Only issue is the cost of sending my original wheel to the UK! Might just have him keep the deposit. It would be cheaper!
2000 Z3 2.3 Topaz Blue Metallic over Black and Sandbeige leather.
Re: Steering wheel
Rekindling an old thread but just wanted to say thanks to some of the contributors on this thread, it's all very informative and helped me make my mind up on what to do with my steering wheel. I didn't fancy the rewiring for a raid wheel (although Jontts piece is very clear) so eventually went for a recover with Royal Steering Wheels....
Wether you choose to re-cover or replace its an absolute must. The difference is unbelievable in terms of feel and comfort, I went for double padded leather with side perforations. Extremely neat job and a bargain for a ton.
Thanks also to the instructions on how to remove and replace the wheel, doddle in the end
[URL=http://s814.photobucket.com/user/buz007 ... 2.jpg.html]
Wether you choose to re-cover or replace its an absolute must. The difference is unbelievable in terms of feel and comfort, I went for double padded leather with side perforations. Extremely neat job and a bargain for a ton.
Thanks also to the instructions on how to remove and replace the wheel, doddle in the end
[URL=http://s814.photobucket.com/user/buz007 ... 2.jpg.html]
''need I remind you 007, you have a licence to kill...not to break the traffic laws''
Re: Steering wheel
Another recommendation for Jack at Royal Steering Wheels. I had my ///M wheel re-covered a couple of weeks ago. I went for the the stock look, but with extra padding so it feels like my old E39 did.
First class service and workmanship. Its really nice to be able to wholeheartedly recommend a supplier!
Thanks Jack!
First class service and workmanship. Its really nice to be able to wholeheartedly recommend a supplier!
Thanks Jack!
2001 M roadster S54 Laguna Seca Blue