E36 328i - Trying to find a smaller airbag 'wheel

[BGarside]

My '95 328i has the 3-spoke airbag sport steering wheel as shown here (not my ad):

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-e36-e34-Z3-3-5-iX-s...

It's 380mm in diameter and feels too large, like driving a bus. Unfortunately it also has an airbag.

I'd like to know if there's a smaller 'wheel I can fit while maintaining the airbag in order to pass the MoT and for obvious safety reasons. Ideally 360 or 370mm diameter.

Any help much appreciated!

Cheers,

Ben

[skylarking808]

Strangely that is my fave steering wheel for the E36 - the original sport wheel.
I like the feel compared to the modern over chunky ones.

For a smaller wheel I would recommend a MOMO steering wheel. Had great success on my E30 with one. The original MTECH 2 did feel large in a small car. It gave a slightly quicker feel and more leg space as there was not so much adjustment available on the E30 set up.

[Longnose]

An E46 wheel is 370mm. Don't know if it would fit though.

[Longnose]

Sorry, correction. Just measured it and it's 380mm more or less. Doesn't feel like a driving a bus though...

[BGarside]

Thanks for the feedback.

Looks like there are no options for a smaller airbag wheel then. If the car didnt need an airbag it'd be much simpler!!

Will just have to get used to feeling like a bus driver I guess.

[HustleRussell]

I had the same problem with my E34 (It's exactly the same wheel as our cars have the same splines), I actually really like the design and feel of the wheel but it felt too big. I think there's a Z3 wheel which is 15mm smaller but while it would physically fit there is a horn / airbag wiring problem iirc and I concluded that 15mm wasn't enough anyway. I tried to find a different wheel but it appeared the only other way to get a smaller wheel with airbag was to go aftermarket, but I didn't like the look of any of them.

In the end I changed the steering box for a quicker ratio M5 one and this quickened up the steering just enough that the size of the wheel didn't bother me anymore.