2008 M3 has a thicker steering wheel than 2011?

Seattle S65B40 · 08-14-2011, 01:22 PM

Test drove a 2011 E92 M3 with DCT yesterday and the first thing I noticed when I sat in the car is the steering wheel is not as thick as mine?? I told the CA and he felt both and was surprised to see this as well. Noticeably thicker in my car. What do you guys know about that? Was there a change at some point? I'm wondering if it thickens as it breaks in... maybe the stitching is really tight at first or something... or MAYBE DCT gets a thinner wheel than 6MT?

as for the DCT, it's pretty cool. I'm going back on forth on trying to figure out if I should get a 2012 E92 or just keep my car and wait to see what's in store 6-12 months from now. I'll keep you posted.

1sikbmr · 08-14-2011, 01:48 PM

how thick is it.

zing!

rye m3 · 08-14-2011, 01:54 PM

Worthless post without a measurement.

mdosu · 08-14-2011, 03:16 PM

When you grab your wheel, does your wheel ask: "is it in yet?".

but seriously

was the new wheel just softer and the difference small? or was it obviously thinner?

Gesler · 08-14-2011, 03:20 PM

I used to have the M3 steering wheel on my 07 335i. The one in the M3 (2011) is smaller, maybe slightly thinner and the leather is different too ('matt' as against 'glossy' on the older one). I had just assumed that the M3 wheel in my 335i was from the e46 M3 or it was not OEM.

piloto · 08-14-2011, 03:44 PM

It grows as you get the car excited by reving it past 5500 rpm, but if you got the car through ED, it won't have the ability. One of EDs few drawbacks.

AM150 · 08-14-2011, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piloto

It grows as you get the car excited by reving it past 5500 rpm, but if you got the car through ED, it won't have the ability. One of EDs few drawbacks.

winner!

Seattle S65B40 · 08-14-2011, 04:06 PM

Hahaha. Of course, there are plenty of opportunities to make wise cracks here. The point is that the steering wheel is not the same. Not even close. Trying to see if you guys know why. I wonder if DCT cars get thinner wheels so that it doesn't impede the paddle shifters (serious). Need to compare my wheel with 2011 6MT.

1MOREMOD · 08-14-2011, 04:28 PM

just measured mine, weve all dont it, at 38mm. its a 2008. now someone with a newer one get theres measured we can compare.

sensi09 · 08-14-2011, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gesler

I used to have the M3 steering wheel on my 07 335i. The one in the M3 (2011) is smaller, maybe slightly thinner and the leather is different too ('matt' as against 'glossy' on the older one). I had just assumed that the M3 wheel in my 335i was from the e46 M3 or it was not OEM.

It gets glossy as the dirt and oils accumulate.

piloto · 08-14-2011, 04:36 PM

2011.75 6MT, diameter as measured at 12 o'clock on the wheel is 1.55" (39.4 mm).

Measured again using vernier calipers (sorry, don't have access to a micrometer at the moment), and at the same location, I got a measurement of 38.4 mm.

The wheel is padded quite a bit with foam, unlike most other wheels. You can feel it compress. Controlling dimensions with foam is difficult. The leather wrapped around the wheel is stretched over the foam and then sewn. Depending on the patter of leather cut, and how tightly the leather needs to be pulled to get it to sit right, it could compress the foam more in some cases, which will result in a slightly thinner wheel. That would explain a 1 to 1.5mm variance. Something beyond that is likely attributed to a different factor.

Seattle S65B40 · 08-14-2011, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chriszeh

just measured mine, weve all dont it, at 38mm. its a 2008. now someone with a newer one get theres measured we can compare.

Quote:

Originally Posted by piloto

2011.75 6MT, diameter as measured at 12 o'clock on the wheel is 1.55" (39.4 mm).

Sweet. Now we just need a DCT Measurement. My guess is it comes in at 36mm or less.

1MOREMOD · 08-14-2011, 04:39 PM

so its a DCT vs 6MT thread now not a new vs old. i also measured at 12 oclock.

Seattle S65B40 · 08-14-2011, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chriszeh

so its a DCT vs 6MT thread now not a new vs old. i also measured at 12 oclock.

HAHA -not intentionally. My first thought was new v. old, but Pilot confirmed that's not it. But as I stated, it is possible it has to do with the paddle shifters. Don't know that this has ever been discussed, but that would be pretty monumental as far as discoveries go, this long after the car has been out.

Seattle S65B40 · 08-14-2011, 04:46 PM

WAIT - How are you guys measuring this? Just wrapped a tape measure around mine at 12 o'clock and it was 11.5 cm - so 115mm.

piloto · 08-14-2011, 04:49 PM

Edited my first post above. Diameter didn't change much, but I think it's just a design and manufacturing tolerance issue, given how the wheel is constructed. I too am curious to see the measurement off of a DCT wheel (just so I can claim superiority over DCT folks that have a smaller wheel.

j/k. C'mon, you all know where this was headed the minute the terms DCT and 6MT were uttered...)

piloto · 08-14-2011, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seattle S65B40

WAIT - How are you guys measuring this? Just wrapped a tape measure around mine at 12 o'clock and it was 11.5 cm - so 115mm.

That's the circumference. 2(pi)R=Circumference

2*3.14*R=115mm

2R=Diameter=36.62 mm

The difference is likely due to how accurate your and our measurements were, and some manufacturing tolerance.

Midwest X6 · 08-14-2011, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seattle S65B40

Test drove a 2011 E92 M3 with DCT yesterday and the first thing I noticed when I sat in the car is the steering wheel is not as thick as mine?? I told the CA and he felt both and was surprised to see this as well. Noticeably thicker in my car. What do you guys know about that? Was there a change at some point? I'm wondering if it thickens as it breaks in... maybe the stitching is really tight at first or something... or MAYBE DCT gets a thinner wheel than 6MT?

as for the DCT, it's pretty cool. I'm going back on forth on trying to figure out if I should get a 2012 E92 or just keep my car and wait to see what's in store 6-12 months from now. I'll keep you posted.

Thicker steering wheel, but the 08 is substantially slower than the 011 with ZCP

Seattle S65B40 · 08-14-2011, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piloto

That's the circumference. 2(pi)R=Circumference

2*3.14*R=115mm

2R=Diameter=36.62 mm

The difference is likely due to how accurate your and our measurements were, and some manufacturing tolerance.

haha - right. been a while since I had a math class.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midwest X6

OMG, I actually just read through this thread...

yeah - I'm sure you think this thread is full of fail, but it's hilarious at the same time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midwest X6

Thicker steering wheel, but the 08 is substantially slower than the 011 with ZCP

Gesler · 08-14-2011, 05:58 PM

I am sure it does but the material was different to begin with. The older one is more squishy

Quote:

Originally Posted by sensi09

It gets glossy as the dirt and oils accumulate.

1MOREMOD · 08-14-2011, 06:17 PM

im using a caliper gauge. old wheel is better looking.

Kayani_1 · 08-15-2011, 12:23 AM

The wheel on the right looks exactly like mine on a sport pkg E92 335i. Are you sure it is from an old M3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gesler

I am sure it does but the material was different to begin with. The older one is more squishy

08-14-2011, 01:22 PM	#1
Seattle S65B40 Major Drives: 2008 e92 M3 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: PNW Posts: 1,398 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW M3 [0.00]	2008 M3 has a thicker steering wheel than 2011? Test drove a 2011 E92 M3 with DCT yesterday and the first thing I noticed when I sat in the car is the steering wheel is not as thick as mine?? I told the CA and he felt both and was surprised to see this as well. Noticeably thicker in my car. What do you guys know about that? Was there a change at some point? I'm wondering if it thickens as it breaks in... maybe the stitching is really tight at first or something... or MAYBE DCT gets a thinner wheel than 6MT? as for the DCT, it's pretty cool. I'm going back on forth on trying to figure out if I should get a 2012 E92 or just keep my car and wait to see what's in store 6-12 months from now. I'll keep you posted. __________________ Club 6MT 2008 E92 M3 6MT, AW/Blk Ext., brushed aluminum 2006 E46 M3 ZCP 6MT Carbon blk/blk(sold) 2001 E46 325Xi 5MT Jet Blk/Blk (sold) Last edited by Seattle S65B40; 08-14-2011 at 04:39 PM.
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08-14-2011, 01:48 PM	#2
1sikbmr Brigadier General Drives: E90 M3 6MT Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: New York Posts: 3,106 iTrader: (12)	how thick is it. zing! __________________ E90 ///M3 6MT Atlantis Blue - Fox red Gloss black grilles/Red gills\|V1 hardwire\|Painted reflectors\|ZHP lighted shift knob\|VMR V710 silver\|GTS lip\|Lux custom 8k kit\|AA Green Filter\| AA Pulley\| RPI GTM Exhaust\|Sosi x-pipe\|BMW Performance Steering Wheel V1\|

08-14-2011, 01:54 PM	#3
rye m3 Lieutenant Drives: 2011.75 E92 M3 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: New York Posts: 489 iTrader: (2)	Worthless post without a measurement. __________________ E92 M3 MR on Red/Black ZCP Sound Carbon 2007 997S - sold 2003 E46 M3 Steel Grey on Red- sold 1997 E36 M3 Arctic Silver on Black- sold

08-14-2011, 03:16 PM	#4
mdosu Help! Can't decide btw MW & AW, 1st world problems Drives: 2008.99989 SSII E90 "Civic" Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 5,936 iTrader: (4)	When you grab your wheel, does your wheel ask: "is it in yet?". but seriously was the new wheel just softer and the difference small? or was it obviously thinner? __________________ Yes, that's a xmas tree in my trunk

08-14-2011, 03:20 PM	#5
Gesler Second Lieutenant Drives: 335i e90 6MT Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 235 iTrader: (0)	I used to have the M3 steering wheel on my 07 335i. The one in the M3 (2011) is smaller, maybe slightly thinner and the leather is different too ('matt' as against 'glossy' on the older one). I had just assumed that the M3 wheel in my 335i was from the e46 M3 or it was not OEM. __________________

08-14-2011, 03:44 PM	#6
piloto Captain Drives: 2011 E90 M3 - AW/FR Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 832 iTrader: (0)	It grows as you get the car excited by reving it past 5500 rpm, but if you got the car through ED, it won't have the ability. One of EDs few drawbacks.

08-14-2011, 04:06 PM	#8
Seattle S65B40 Major Drives: 2008 e92 M3 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: PNW Posts: 1,398 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW M3 [0.00]	Hahaha. Of course, there are plenty of opportunities to make wise cracks here. The point is that the steering wheel is not the same. Not even close. Trying to see if you guys know why. I wonder if DCT cars get thinner wheels so that it doesn't impede the paddle shifters (serious). Need to compare my wheel with 2011 6MT. __________________ Club 6MT 2008 E92 M3 6MT, AW/Blk Ext., brushed aluminum 2006 E46 M3 ZCP 6MT Carbon blk/blk(sold) 2001 E46 325Xi 5MT Jet Blk/Blk (sold)

08-14-2011, 04:28 PM	#9
1MOREMOD Major General Drives: at a moderate pace Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: garage Posts: 6,523 iTrader: (3)	just measured mine, weve all dont it, at 38mm. its a 2008. now someone with a newer one get theres measured we can compare. __________________ 02 Tiag e46 M3\|6MT\|GC plates\|MCS c.o.\|GC race control arms\|GC bushings & bearings\|BW eng. & tran. mounts\|subframe kit\|BW race shifter\|BW Jaffster knob\|Euro header\|Eisenmann sport\|K&N c.a.i.\|Seibon CF hood\|CSL bumper\|CSL brakes\|RS19s\|SS lines\|half cage\|Recaro profi\|Profi 2 harness\|race pulleys\|BMWpedals\|Apex studs\|1995 Ford Probe gt chump car\|

08-14-2011, 04:36 PM	#11
piloto Captain Drives: 2011 E90 M3 - AW/FR Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 832 iTrader: (0)	2011.75 6MT, diameter as measured at 12 o'clock on the wheel is 1.55" (39.4 mm). Measured again using vernier calipers (sorry, don't have access to a micrometer at the moment), and at the same location, I got a measurement of 38.4 mm. The wheel is padded quite a bit with foam, unlike most other wheels. You can feel it compress. Controlling dimensions with foam is difficult. The leather wrapped around the wheel is stretched over the foam and then sewn. Depending on the patter of leather cut, and how tightly the leather needs to be pulled to get it to sit right, it could compress the foam more in some cases, which will result in a slightly thinner wheel. That would explain a 1 to 1.5mm variance. Something beyond that is likely attributed to a different factor. Last edited by piloto; 08-14-2011 at 04:45 PM.

08-14-2011, 04:39 PM	#13
1MOREMOD Major General Drives: at a moderate pace Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: garage Posts: 6,523 iTrader: (3)	so its a DCT vs 6MT thread now not a new vs old. i also measured at 12 oclock. __________________ 02 Tiag e46 M3\|6MT\|GC plates\|MCS c.o.\|GC race control arms\|GC bushings & bearings\|BW eng. & tran. mounts\|subframe kit\|BW race shifter\|BW Jaffster knob\|Euro header\|Eisenmann sport\|K&N c.a.i.\|Seibon CF hood\|CSL bumper\|CSL brakes\|RS19s\|SS lines\|half cage\|Recaro profi\|Profi 2 harness\|race pulleys\|BMWpedals\|Apex studs\|1995 Ford Probe gt chump car\|

08-14-2011, 04:46 PM	#15
Seattle S65B40 Major Drives: 2008 e92 M3 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: PNW Posts: 1,398 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW M3 [0.00]	WAIT - How are you guys measuring this? Just wrapped a tape measure around mine at 12 o'clock and it was 11.5 cm - so 115mm. __________________ Club 6MT 2008 E92 M3 6MT, AW/Blk Ext., brushed aluminum 2006 E46 M3 ZCP 6MT Carbon blk/blk(sold) 2001 E46 325Xi 5MT Jet Blk/Blk (sold)

08-14-2011, 04:49 PM	#16
piloto Captain Drives: 2011 E90 M3 - AW/FR Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 832 iTrader: (0)	Edited my first post above. Diameter didn't change much, but I think it's just a design and manufacturing tolerance issue, given how the wheel is constructed. I too am curious to see the measurement off of a DCT wheel (just so I can claim superiority over DCT folks that have a smaller wheel. j/k. C'mon, you all know where this was headed the minute the terms DCT and 6MT were uttered...)

08-14-2011, 06:17 PM	#21
1MOREMOD Major General Drives: at a moderate pace Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: garage Posts: 6,523 iTrader: (3)	im using a caliper gauge. old wheel is better looking. __________________ 02 Tiag e46 M3\|6MT\|GC plates\|MCS c.o.\|GC race control arms\|GC bushings & bearings\|BW eng. & tran. mounts\|subframe kit\|BW race shifter\|BW Jaffster knob\|Euro header\|Eisenmann sport\|K&N c.a.i.\|Seibon CF hood\|CSL bumper\|CSL brakes\|RS19s\|SS lines\|half cage\|Recaro profi\|Profi 2 harness\|race pulleys\|BMWpedals\|Apex studs\|1995 Ford Probe gt chump car\|

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