M Performance Steering Wheel - V1 - re-trimmed

[Tony B]

I spent ages trying to find a new M Performance Steering wheel, with shift lights (V1) including importing one from a US based seller (seriously expensive, and turned out to be V2, flat-bottomed) but then found one through a friend, who lives about 10 miles from me.

As I am not keen on Alcantara on wheels - especially if part is still leather - I had this one re-trimmed in full leather, which gave me the opportunity to also have proper M Tricolour stitching, rather than the white M Performance stitching.

I also asked the re-trimmer to slightly increase the rim thickness, as I like chunky wheels.

I will - after the lockdown - try to post some video of the shift-lights in operation, as there are hardly any videos around of the V1 wheel.

[dozaiya]

that looks too freaking sexy
may i ask where you got it retrimmed? royal steering wheels?

[Tony B]

Originally Posted by dozaiya

that looks too freaking sexy
may i ask where you got it retrimmed? royal steering wheels?

Mine was done by:
https://www.designls.co.uk/index.php

They do more than just wheels - all aspects of car upholstery.

Some more pictures, showing the stitching in close-up.

They definitely went several extra miles for me, including sourcing new tinted covers for the shift lights, and re-positioning the stitching at the 9:3 spokes for extra comfort - and that was several weeks after the original job, when I had some time using the wheel. No extra charge for doing this.

Highly recommended, very helpful and genuine car enthusiasts.

[Wally1552]

That's god damn original. Good for you. Enjoy

[Tony B]

Originally Posted by Wally1552

That's god damn original. Good for you. Enjoy

Thanks - unfortunately just as the weather gets good enough for full throttle/shift light fun, its lock-down time!

[nm]

That looks amazing

[x Spades x]

That looks AWESOME!!!

I've been looking for a Electronic V2 wheel... I need to look up the differences

[M3ANMACHINE]

Looks great. Should have came from the factory this way. It's unfortunate that they stopped producing the V1's

[x Spades x]

I cant find any info... what the difference between V1 and V2?

[emr_e92]

I just got my first M3 e92! one of the mods I want to do it to upgrade the steering wheel to something more sporty!

[Tony B]

Originally Posted by x Spades x

I cant find any info... what the difference between V1 and V2?

V2 is "pseudo" flat bottomed. It also has single clear plastic cover over the central display and the shift lights, which protrudes above the surface of the wheel.

Should be plenty of examples on YouTube

I say "pseudo" because they achieved the flat bottom by building the rim out 5 and 7 o'clock positions. The vertical dimension (between 12 and 6 o'clock positions) is the same as the standard wheel. To me this gives it a really odd shape.

These 2 differences would annoy me like mad - the feel of the wheel through the hands constantly changing according to the orientation of the wheel.

Having said that - the shift lights on the V2 wheel are probably better/brighter, as is the central display.