Changing a steering wheel on a modern BMW..?
Discussion
Hi all,
A bit of a random one... I'm looking at buying a BMW of 2014 vintage, and some of them have a different steering wheel to others depending on whether they were before or after the 'interior facelift' which took place during that year.
My problem is that I really, really dislike the old wheel (big, frumpy looking thing), and really, really like the facelift wheel (that delightful slender three-spoke number they've put in all sorts of cars now on M Sport models).
Usually I wouldn't even consider doing something as random as changing a perfectly good steering wheel, but so as to not discount a significant portion of the cars in my price bracket I was wondering if any of you lovely people have done this on a modern car?
Note:
- The car has steering wheel paddles for gearshift
- Multi-function including cruise control on the wheel
- It does of course have an airbag in it
I'm looking to learn whether:
1. It'd be something a BMW main dealer would entertain doing
2. Whether they'd entertain doing it for the price of a new car or something more reasonable
3. If anyone has done anything similar to any modern car and ran into any problems or issues
I would no doubt keep the old wheel unless I could achieve some resale value - I see shells of them for sale on eBay which are around £300, but they don't seem to include the central piece with the logo and airbag, which I guess would be a lot more...
All thoughts appreciated!
Matt
A bit of a random one... I'm looking at buying a BMW of 2014 vintage, and some of them have a different steering wheel to others depending on whether they were before or after the 'interior facelift' which took place during that year.
My problem is that I really, really dislike the old wheel (big, frumpy looking thing), and really, really like the facelift wheel (that delightful slender three-spoke number they've put in all sorts of cars now on M Sport models).
Usually I wouldn't even consider doing something as random as changing a perfectly good steering wheel, but so as to not discount a significant portion of the cars in my price bracket I was wondering if any of you lovely people have done this on a modern car?
Note:
- The car has steering wheel paddles for gearshift
- Multi-function including cruise control on the wheel
- It does of course have an airbag in it
I'm looking to learn whether:
1. It'd be something a BMW main dealer would entertain doing
2. Whether they'd entertain doing it for the price of a new car or something more reasonable
3. If anyone has done anything similar to any modern car and ran into any problems or issues
I would no doubt keep the old wheel unless I could achieve some resale value - I see shells of them for sale on eBay which are around £300, but they don't seem to include the central piece with the logo and airbag, which I guess would be a lot more...
All thoughts appreciated!
Matt
I had the weedy plastic leathered steering wheel in my 2016 Mustang retrimmed by Royal Steering Wheels near Aylesbury.
Cost just over 200 quid. He even did the swap over as he takes your original wheel in exchange. So all the switches were sorted.
He does lots of BMW wheels.
Mine is now thicker with proper thumb grips, perforated leather left and right with dark alcantara top and bottom. The bottom now squared off.
The stitching is in Orange so it matches the exterior colour.
A real quality job and a joy to hold.
Cost just over 200 quid. He even did the swap over as he takes your original wheel in exchange. So all the switches were sorted.
He does lots of BMW wheels.
Mine is now thicker with proper thumb grips, perforated leather left and right with dark alcantara top and bottom. The bottom now squared off.
The stitching is in Orange so it matches the exterior colour.
A real quality job and a joy to hold.
The question will be whether BMW have changed the connector design and/or pin-out; I rather suspect it'll just be a question of unbolting the old wheel and bolting the new one on but I don't actually know. Obviously the new wheel will need paddles too (assuming you want that feature).
I have changed a few 3 series steering wheels it only takes 15 mins to do, make sure the replacement wheel has the same buttons and paddles and it will all plug in, the airbag costs more than the steering wheel ( 2nd hand) and the airbags are different e.g. Swooping an SE wheel for a Sport wheel the airbags are a different shape so you will need to make sure your airbag will fit or Get the airbag with the new steering wheel.
Also worth noting if you fit a paddle shift wheel to a car not equipped
With paddle shift when new it won't work unless you retro fit the wiring ( which is difficult).
Also worth noting if you fit a paddle shift wheel to a car not equipped
With paddle shift when new it won't work unless you retro fit the wiring ( which is difficult).
I have changed a few 3 series steering wheels it only takes 15 mins to do, make sure the replacement wheel has the same buttons and paddles and it will all plug in, the airbag costs more than the steering wheel ( 2nd hand) and the airbags are different e.g. Swooping an SE wheel for a Sport wheel the airbags are a different shape so you will need to make sure your airbag will fit or Get the airbag with the new steering wheel.
Also worth noting if you fit a paddle shift wheel to a car not equipped
With paddle shift when new it won't work unless you retro fit the wiring ( which is difficult).
Also worth noting if you fit a paddle shift wheel to a car not equipped
With paddle shift when new it won't work unless you retro fit the wiring ( which is difficult).
Decky_Q said:
If you are selling your old steering wheel don't put it in writing anywhere that you are including the airbag, 2nd hand airbags are illegal to sell. I got a wrap on the knuckles for including one with a merc steering wheel!
Never heard of that before and if you look on eBay there are 1,000's of 2nd hand airbags advertised for sale.Thanks for all the replies guys. I'll definitely check Royal out, might give them a call actually to ask for rough pricing on getting it done. I have to say, they have done an alcantara conversion of one of the wheels I don't (...didn't?) like and it looks much nicer... I felt it was too plain beforehand.
Interesting to hear about the airbags, I guess it would be a bit dodgy to put one in the post, but generally you'd think they could be sold!
Croyde, is your wheel on their website as a featured pic? There's a flat bottomed Mustang one there and it looks fantastic
Interesting to hear about the airbags, I guess it would be a bit dodgy to put one in the post, but generally you'd think they could be sold!
Croyde, is your wheel on their website as a featured pic? There's a flat bottomed Mustang one there and it looks fantastic
I would be extremely surprised if BMW would support this type of change. There is a good chance that many things in the vehicle change at a significant facelift point and this may include vehicle crah performance and airbag definition. It almost certainly will not have a backwards compatible flag in the spare parts system. Even if they do do it I am pretty sure it would cost and arm and a couple of legs from BMW
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