Need help: Knowledge of F10 M5 Steering Wheels required

[RPiM5]

Alright so here's the story.

Like Boots, I have a lot of miles on my M5 and my steering wheel has worn to the point where it has become no longer comfortable to drive with it. I have just over 61,000 miles now. I thought hard about a replacement. Truth is that I don't like the M5 LCi / M6 Steering wheel, plus I still think that for all of the parts involved it is just way too much money to spend on just a steering wheel (over $2,500 bucks). So I thought of ordering the Pre-LCI M-Performance Steering Wheel, but the only thing is that I lose the heat function, which I really don't want to lose. So I decided to try and order another duplicate Pre-LCI M5 Steering Wheel and try and refurbish the old and worn out steering wheel with Alcantara.

Two things happened. I got my new steering wheel in today and after removing my original OEM worn out steering wheel, I realized that my new Pre-LCI Wheel does not have the heated steering wheel function. Doh! I must have ordered the wrong part number. I also noticed that the type of leather on the new wheel that I ordered is rougher than my original wheel. It feels like the M Sport Steering wheel leather you get on a 528i with the M Sport Package. I don't like that at all. The M5 Nappa Leather is much smoother. Anyways, I ordered the part from ECS Tuning and have already contacted them about returning the wheel and ordering the right part, but I am unable to find the right part number for the M5 Pre-LCI Steering Wheel with the heating element in it. I'm also guessing that maybe the M5 Steering Wheel I got may be the wheel you get if you don't order the Executive Package, as the heated function won't come on the wheel if you don't order that Package in the USA.

The second thing is that I want to try and refurbish my old worn out wheel. Does anyone know if it is even possible to refurbish a leather wheel with a heating element in it with Alcantara? I took a look at my OEM original wheel today and it seems that the heating element is a wire that looks to be glued or melted onto the inside of the leather on the wheel. I dunno. Also, I am wondering if the heating element will work with Alcantara material? I wonder this because the M Performance Wheel does not come with a heating element, maybe Alcantara and heat don't go well together. I'm just trying to figure out a way to avoid throwing away an otherwise perfectly good steering wheel, that just needs the leather replaced.

Any help would be appreciated gents. Thanks!

[Scott@Radar-Mirror.com]

I would contact Dallas Custom Steering Wheel and see if they can help you. They did a couple of wheels for me that turned out very well. I know they can do the M tri-color stitching. http://www.dallassteeringwheel.com/index.htm

[RPiM5]

Originally Posted by Scott@Radar-Mirror.com

I would contact Dallas Custom Steering Wheel and see if they can help you. They did a couple of wheels for me that turned out very well. I know they can do the M tri-color stitching. http://www.dallassteeringwheel.com/index.htm

Thanks! Will look into them.

[M6-Coupe]

Originally Posted by RPiM5

Alright so here's the story.

Like Boots, I have a lot of miles on my M5 and my steering wheel has worn to the point where it has become no longer comfortable to drive with it. I have just over 61,000 miles now. I thought hard about a replacement. Truth is that I don't like the M5 LCi / M6 Steering wheel, plus I still think that for all of the parts involved it is just way too much money to spend on just a steering wheel (over $2,500 bucks). So I thought of ordering the Pre-LCI M-Performance Steering Wheel, but the only thing is that I lose the heat function, which I really don't want to lose. So I decided to try and order another duplicate Pre-LCI M5 Steering Wheel and try and refurbish the old and worn out steering wheel with Alcantara.

Two things happened. I got my new steering wheel in today and after removing my original OEM worn out steering wheel, I realized that my new Pre-LCI Wheel does not have the heated steering wheel function. Doh! I must have ordered the wrong part number. I also noticed that the type of leather on the new wheel that I ordered is rougher than my original wheel. It feels like the M Sport Steering wheel leather you get on a 528i with the M Sport Package. I don't like that at all. The M5 Nappa Leather is much smoother. Anyways, I ordered the part from ECS Tuning and have already contacted them about returning the wheel and ordering the right part, but I am unable to find the right part number for the M5 Pre-LCI Steering Wheel with the heating element in it. I'm also guessing that maybe the M5 Steering Wheel I got may be the wheel you get if you don't order the Executive Package, as the heated function won't come on the wheel if you don't order that Package in the USA.

The second thing is that I want to try and refurbish my old worn out wheel. Does anyone know if it is even possible to refurbish a leather wheel with a heating element in it with Alcantara? I took a look at my OEM original wheel today and it seems that the heating element is a wire that looks to be glued or melted onto the inside of the leather on the wheel. I dunno. Also, I am wondering if the heating element will work with Alcantara material? I wonder this because the M Performance Wheel does not come with a heating element, maybe Alcantara and heat don't go well together. I'm just trying to figure out a way to avoid throwing away an otherwise perfectly good steering wheel, that just needs the leather replaced.

Any help would be appreciated gents. Thanks!

Replace your car with a car with no worn out steering wheel

[johntomferg]

Dave, can we get pictures of this tremendously worn out steering wheel from you? Are you wearing racing gloves and contributing to the wear, or something else?

Just asking cause my wheel still seems to be in really good shape and I think we are near the same mileage and pickup date if I recall correctly.

And you might reach out to: http://www.redlinegoods.com/SteeringWheelCover.php

[RPiM5]

Originally Posted by M6-Coupe

Replace your car with a car with no worn out steering wheel

I hate you.

[RPiM5]

Originally Posted by johntomferg

Dave, can we get pictures of this tremendously worn out steering wheel from you? Are you wearing racing gloves and contributing to the wear, or something else?

Just asking cause my wheel still seems to be in really good shape and I think we are near the same mileage and pickup date if I recall correctly.

And you might reach out to: http://www.redlinegoods.com/SteeringWheelCover.php

No I used to wear gloves a lot when I had the car in California, but stopped wearing them after my gloves themselves wore out. Yeah I have pictures on my phone. There is one spot at the 12 o'clock position that got damaged from not only wear but I also made a boo boo and applied too much pressure when cleaning it. I decided that I am going to return the wheel that I bought new since it doesn't have the heat function and they already provided me with the right part number for the heated wheel, but I also got good news that my old wheel can be refurbished with Alcantara but they are still looking into whether they can keep the heat function. So I'll find out soon.

[bake]

I made the same "boo-boo" as you, applying too much pressure while cleaning. I want to replace mine now as well.

Originally Posted by RPiM5

No I used to wear gloves a lot when I had the car in California, but stopped wearing them after my gloves themselves wore out. Yeah I have pictures on my phone. There is one spot at the 12 o'clock position that got damaged from not only wear but I also made a boo boo and applied too much pressure when cleaning it. I decided that I am going to return the wheel that I bought new since it doesn't have the heat function and they already provided me with the right part number for the heated wheel, but I also got good news that my old wheel can be refurbished with Alcantara but they are still looking into whether they can keep the heat function. So I'll find out soon.

[brad850csi]

Would love a pic!

[13M5F10]

Isnt there an M Performance Wheel for sale in classified for like $500. Its pre LCI

[RPiM5]

Originally Posted by 13M5F10

Isnt there an M Performance Wheel for sale in classified for like $500. Its pre LCI

Yes there is but there is no heating element on that wheel. I hate losing functionality on the car when it doesn't make sense. It's not like the M Performance wheel is 56lbs lighter than the OEM wheel. Lol! Not only that but it winter here in the Northeast already it was 15 degrees going to work this morning. I need my heat.

[RPiM5]

Originally Posted by bake

I made the same "boo-boo" as you, applying too much pressure while cleaning. I want to replace mine now as well.

I've been talking with the dudes at Coby and they said they can refurbish the wheel with Alcantara no problem and they also said that I can keep the heating element on my OEM wheel when they refurbish it. Yay! See, way better than the M Performance Wheel at 1/3 the cost. Lol! They will charge only $200 bucks to refurbish the wheel. Woot!

http://cobywheel.com/

[RPiM5]

Here are some pics of my damaged and worn OEM wheel. Check out how bad the top is. Also you can see the heating wire at the bottom going into the right tab.

[Scott@Radar-Mirror.com]

That's not so bad, you can probably fix it up with a fat Sharpy.

[E90potentialbuyer]

Originally Posted by RPiM5

Here are some pics of my damaged and worn OEM wheel. Check out how bad the top is. Also you can see the heating wire at the bottom going into the right tab.

Dave - isn't this your only car now? Presume it doesn't take too long to take the wheel off and put it back if you are doing all this?

[johntomferg]

Dave, are you going to have them do something custom? I can't remember if your interior is silverstone but it might be cool to mix up a little with some different colors. Maybe even some M tri-color leather just for fun!

Thanks for the pics.... I do see what you mean about the boo boo. Just too much pressure or the wrong cleaner?

[bake]

Originally Posted by RPiM5

Here are some pics of my damaged and worn OEM wheel. Check out how bad the top is. Also you can see the heating wire at the bottom going into the right tab.

My "boo-boo" wasn't that bad. Visually mine looks OK at a quick glance, but a grab with your bare hands reveals that the top, smooth layer of leather has been tarnished. It feels a little rough, but is is still black. My car is a non-M and I am interested in getting mine redone with Nappa leather with tri-color stitching. Do you know if Coby can redo the wheel in leather? Or do they only deal with alcantara?

[Hasser]

Maybe the heating is causing the premature wear?
Just a thought

[boots]

Yea that is pretty worn Dave. With all that damn power your gripping the wheel w a death grip. He he he.

I'd also looked into a new wheel but totally redone w carbon fibre/ alcantera but like you don't want to lose the heat element.

After your done can you send pics. I may go your route too. Mine has a few snags or tear marks in the middle.

[RPiM5]

Originally Posted by E90potentialbuyer

Dave - isn't this your only car now? Presume it doesn't take too long to take the wheel off and put it back if you are doing all this?

Yes it's my only car. I have the new steering wheel on the car currently. I'll be refurbishing my old wheel while the new wheel is on the car. I was either going to keep both wheels or sell one. I haven't decided yet.

[RPiM5]

Originally Posted by bake

My "boo-boo" wasn't that bad. Visually mine looks OK at a quick glance, but a grab with your bare hands reveals that the top, smooth layer of leather has been tarnished. It feels a little rough, but is is still black. My car is a non-M and I am interested in getting mine redone with Nappa leather with tri-color stitching. Do you know if Coby can redo the wheel in leather? Or do they only deal with alcantara?

I don't actually know if they can do leather, but by the looks of it, I am guessing not. But I'm sure that someone else out there in the world can do leather.

[RPiM5]

Originally Posted by boots

Yea that is pretty worn Dave. With all that damn power your gripping the wheel w a death grip. He he he.

I'd also looked into a new wheel but totally redone w carbon fibre/ alcantera but like you don't want to lose the heat element.

After your done can you send pics. I may go your route too. Mine has a few snags or tear marks in the middle.

Yeah Boots, I will definitely post up pics when I get my wheel back from Coby. He did already send me pics of another wheel he did on the same type of Pre-LCi 5-Series wheel in Alcantara and it did look pretty good. He told me he can also do custom stitching and put a stripe at the 12 o'clock position in any color you want. I'm not going to do anything crazy, I just want the ///M colors for the inside stitching with the Alcantara and no stripe at the top. I'm excited that I can do Alcantara and still keep the heating element as I don't think that there's anyone out there that has that.