BMW Performance Steering Wheel

Frozen Black · 03-11-2011, 12:10 AM

I was wondering if anyone uses the BMW Performance Steering wheel?

And what are your thoughts?

radiantm3 · 03-11-2011, 01:08 AM

Unless you can get a significant discount, I'd wait for the newer design. It looks much better.

I had that old wheel on my 135i and while it was nice, the novelty wore off pretty quickly. Some of the data it provides is cool, but not sure it's $999 cool. The lap timers are very unintuitive to use so I couldn't imagine fumbling with them while you are on a track. The only thing I liked was getting an exact reading of my oil temp, the G meter, and the shift lights (although that was sort of useless on a 135i).

And I never want an alcantara wheel for a daily driven car again. All of the oils in your hand end up making the alcantara look shiny and flat in the places that you hold it often. You really need to be wearing gloves for it to last years looking good.

It was always a conversation starter though. Everyone who rode in my car was amazed by the wheel.

Frozen Black · 03-11-2011, 01:19 AM

Are there any pics of the new wheel?

I drive my car daily, and wearing gloves is certainly not an option.

thanks for your feed back.

BimmerM · 03-11-2011, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frozen Black

Are there any pics of the new wheel?

I drive my car daily, and wearing gloves is certainly not an option.

thanks for your feed back.

Try this thread: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=482516

And this: http://www.bmw.com/com/en/owners/acc...ing_wheel.html

mdosu · 03-11-2011, 09:13 AM

wow, they both look good. The new one looks a lot better, but i won't be sad with either. I'm thinking of picking up a pre-owned one.

For me, there's use for the shift lights, it's harder to look down on the tach when you're doing some high performance driving, i also agree, it's not $999 good, but at least maybe $400 good.

mdosu · 03-11-2011, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radiantm3

Unless you can get a significant discount, I'd wait for the newer design. It looks much better.

I had that old wheel on my 135i and while it was nice, the novelty wore off pretty quickly. Some of the data it provides is cool, but not sure it's $999 cool. The lap timers are very unintuitive to use so I couldn't imagine fumbling with them while you are on a track. The only thing I liked was getting an exact reading of my oil temp, the G meter, and the shift lights (although that was sort of useless on a 135i).

And I never want an alcantara wheel for a daily driven car again. All of the oils in your hand end up making the alcantara look shiny and flat in the places that you hold it often. You really need to be wearing gloves for it to last years looking good.

It was always a conversation starter though. Everyone who rode in my car was amazed by the wheel.

why did you feel like the shift light was useless on your 135?

kmarei · 03-11-2011, 09:55 AM

to keep the alcantara looking new
use a soft brush with alcohol in a spray bottle
alcohol disolves oils from your finger
and the brush keeps it looking fresh

i used a softbrush i had that was made for suede

radiantm3 · 03-11-2011, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdosu

why did you feel like the shift light was useless on your 135?

Because power drops off like 1000 rpms before redline so shifting at redline wasn't really important

radiantm3 · 03-11-2011, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmarei

to keep the alcantara looking new
use a soft brush with alcohol in a spray bottle
alcohol disolves oils from your finger
and the brush keeps it looking fresh

i used a softbrush i had that was made for suede

I wish I knew that when I had mine.

Sears · 03-11-2011, 10:35 AM

I have it on my new-to-me 08 M3 sedan. I love it. Would I pay $999 for it? No, but it came with the car so that's fine. I LOVE knowing the specific oil and water temps, especially since the car only has an idiot light for coolant. The timers are useless to me though the G reading is mildly entertaining. I have no problem maintaining the alcantara, I just use a suede cleaning kit which contains a cleaning bar and a soft brush to bring the nap back.

3XTR3M3 · 03-12-2011, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radiantm3

Because power drops off like 1000 rpms before redline so shifting at redline wasn't really important

I'm not sure where I got this but, can't you adjust when you want your shift lights to come on? For example, RED on 6500 instead of 7500 where power drops.

This is my favorite features of the M3. You get on the pedal til the last bit you're putting out more and more power.

e92pvaz · 04-21-2011, 10:34 AM

Does anybody no when the new performance steering wheel with shift lights is coming out?

///Armin · 04-21-2011, 01:54 PM

I would stick with stock, the M3 original steering wheel is absolutely amazing. You get a very nice grip and it's thick. This may be a good upgrade for 135 or 335i, but the M steering wheel is top in my opinion as far as looks, grip, quality.

radiantm3 · 04-21-2011, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///Armin

I would stick with stock, the M3 original steering wheel is absolutely amazing. You get a very nice grip and it's thick. This may be a good upgrade for 135 or 335i, but the M steering wheel is top in my opinion as far as looks, grip, quality.

You get pretty much the same wheel on the 135/335 with the sport/M-sport package. The M3 just has nicer stitching.

rye m3 · 04-21-2011, 03:04 PM

They seem to have deleted the performance steering wheel with the lights and now only offer the Alcantara wheel with a flat bottom and a top stripe. Looks pretty cool and can be had for only $600. Anybody have one yet?

shamoo · 04-21-2011, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///Armin

I would stick with stock, the M3 original steering wheel is absolutely amazing. You get a very nice grip and it's thick. This may be a good upgrade for 135 or 335i, but the M steering wheel is top in my opinion as far as looks, grip, quality.

FYI, the old performance wheel (with LED lights) and the new one coming out is the same thickness as the OEM M steering wheel. In fact, you could even say it's a tiny bit thicker towards the top because of the little area where the readouts are.

e92pvaz · 04-21-2011, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rye m3

They seem to have deleted the performance steering wheel with the lights and now only offer the Alcantara wheel with a flat bottom and a top stripe. Looks pretty cool and can be had for only $600. Anybody have one yet?

No, I beleive they have the one without lights currently,but are coming out with a new version of the HUD and shift light version, anyone?

rye m3 · 04-21-2011, 09:26 PM

I'm thinking about getting the Alacantara one without the lights. For $600, it is a relative bargain -it would cost more to custom wrap a stock wheel. The lights are too bling for me.

///Armin · 04-22-2011, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shamoo

FYI, the old performance wheel (with LED lights) and the new one coming out is the same thickness as the OEM M steering wheel. In fact, you could even say it's a tiny bit thicker towards the top because of the little area where the readouts are.

That's incorrect, anyone that has one can confirm. The stock M is thicker.

shamoo · 04-22-2011, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///Armin

That's incorrect, anyone that has one can confirm. The stock M is thicker.

Really? I have one.

Slightly thicker up top, you can feel a little bump where the indicators are. Sorry, only pic I have which I took only because of the 1 mile left on the gas. :P

03-11-2011, 12:10 AM	#1
Frozen Black Private 15 Rep 83 Posts Drives: M3 E92 2010 Frozen Black Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	BMW Performance Steering Wheel I was wondering if anyone uses the BMW Performance Steering wheel? And what are your thoughts? __________________ Drive it like its stolen Last edited by Frozen Black; 03-17-2011 at 02:29 AM..
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03-11-2011, 01:08 AM	#2
radiantm3 Apex Everything! 976 Rep 4,378 Posts Drives: 2007 Honda S2000, 2017 GT350 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Cedar Park, TX iTrader: (6) Garage List 2011 E92 M3 [9.35] 2014 BMW i3 [10.00]	Unless you can get a significant discount, I'd wait for the newer design. It looks much better. I had that old wheel on my 135i and while it was nice, the novelty wore off pretty quickly. Some of the data it provides is cool, but not sure it's $999 cool. The lap timers are very unintuitive to use so I couldn't imagine fumbling with them while you are on a track. The only thing I liked was getting an exact reading of my oil temp, the G meter, and the shift lights (although that was sort of useless on a 135i). And I never want an alcantara wheel for a daily driven car again. All of the oils in your hand end up making the alcantara look shiny and flat in the places that you hold it often. You really need to be wearing gloves for it to last years looking good. It was always a conversation starter though. Everyone who rode in my car was amazed by the wheel. __________________ 2011 E92 M3(Sold). 2007 Honda S2000 (Track Car). 2016 Cayman GT4 (Sold). 2017 Shelby GT350 (AKA Crowd Killer). My pet project: https://stickershift.com
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03-11-2011, 01:19 AM	#3
Frozen Black Private 15 Rep 83 Posts Drives: M3 E92 2010 Frozen Black Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	Are there any pics of the new wheel? I drive my car daily, and wearing gloves is certainly not an option. thanks for your feed back. __________________ Drive it like its stolen
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03-11-2011, 09:13 AM	#5
mdosu Banned 314 Rep 8,496 Posts Drives: Double Vanos'd Civic-M3 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (6)	wow, they both look good. The new one looks a lot better, but i won't be sad with either. I'm thinking of picking up a pre-owned one. For me, there's use for the shift lights, it's harder to look down on the tach when you're doing some high performance driving, i also agree, it's not $999 good, but at least maybe $400 good.
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03-11-2011, 09:55 AM	#7
kmarei Major General 688 Rep 6,845 Posts Drives: 2018 Audi RS5 coupe Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Reston, VA iTrader: (34) Garage List 2018 Audi RS5 [0.00]	to keep the alcantara looking new use a soft brush with alcohol in a spray bottle alcohol disolves oils from your finger and the brush keeps it looking fresh i used a softbrush i had that was made for suede
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03-11-2011, 10:35 AM	#10
Sears New Member 0 Rep 17 Posts Drives: 2008 E90 6MT Alpine White Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (0)	I have it on my new-to-me 08 M3 sedan. I love it. Would I pay $999 for it? No, but it came with the car so that's fine. I LOVE knowing the specific oil and water temps, especially since the car only has an idiot light for coolant. The timers are useless to me though the G reading is mildly entertaining. I have no problem maintaining the alcantara, I just use a suede cleaning kit which contains a cleaning bar and a soft brush to bring the nap back. __________________ 2008 E90 6MT Alpine White 1992 Porsche 968 Grand Prix White
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04-21-2011, 10:34 AM	#12
e92pvaz Private First Class 9 Rep 176 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: az iTrader: (0)	Does anybody no when the new performance steering wheel with shift lights is coming out?
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04-21-2011, 01:54 PM	#13
///Armin First Lieutenant 91 Rep 355 Posts Drives: AW E92 M3 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Northern VA iTrader: (0)	I would stick with stock, the M3 original steering wheel is absolutely amazing. You get a very nice grip and it's thick. This may be a good upgrade for 135 or 335i, but the M steering wheel is top in my opinion as far as looks, grip, quality.
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04-21-2011, 03:04 PM	#15
rye m3 Lieutenant 33 Rep 489 Posts Drives: 2011.75 E92 M3 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: New York iTrader: (2)	They seem to have deleted the performance steering wheel with the lights and now only offer the Alcantara wheel with a flat bottom and a top stripe. Looks pretty cool and can be had for only $600. Anybody have one yet?
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04-21-2011, 09:26 PM	#18
rye m3 Lieutenant 33 Rep 489 Posts Drives: 2011.75 E92 M3 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: New York iTrader: (2)	I'm thinking about getting the Alacantara one without the lights. For $600, it is a relative bargain -it would cost more to custom wrap a stock wheel. The lights are too bling for me.
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