[speeddeacon]

Sorry about the quality of iPhone pix but hopefully you can see the details well enough.

Here is the airbag module removed.




Here are the vibration actuator (silver cylinder) and what i call the relay (lifted up by screwdriver).




Here is the T25 torx nut holding on the paddle shifter.


And the finished product.

[focal]

Originally Posted by speeddeacon

Sorry about the quality of iPhone pix but hopefully you can see the details well enough.

fixed for you. awesome upgrade. One of my last mods planned once I'm ready to loose the heated wheel

(updated without the pics again)

[speeddeacon]

Thanks!

[PrazVT]

Originally Posted by speeddeacon

Thanks!

Great work!! The last time I visited my dealer, the parts guy said they'd install it for me, if I bought the wheel. After seeing a couple of you guys install it I may just go ahead and order one as well.

Looks awesome

[speeddeacon]

Originally Posted by PrazVT

Great work!! The last time I visited my dealer, the parts guy said they'd install it for me, if I bought the wheel. After seeing a couple of you guys install it I may just go ahead and order one as well.

Looks awesome

It really is easy to do so wouldn't pay to have it done if you are up to giving it a try. If they will install it for you for free with the purchase of the part , then why not. I took my time and had it done in less than an hour, including the test drive to check the function. I'm a tinkerer at best and not a mechanic by any stretch of the imagination.

Don't forget to disconnect the battery as the only thing you could mess up really, unless you are brutish with the wires or tabs, is setting off a fault with the airbag which won't happen if the batter is disconnected.

I'm intrigued that a U.S. dealer is able to get the part for you. My dealer couldn't get the part number when I gave it to them, which is why I ordered it online from overseas. Maybe there has been enough demand, or you are going with a different wheel that is available in the US.

Good luck and PM me if you have any quesions.

[PrazVT]

Originally Posted by speeddeacon

It really is easy to do so wouldn't pay to have it done if you are up to giving it a try. If they will install it for you for free with the purchase of the part , then why not. I took my time and had it done in less than an hour, including the test drive to check the function. I'm a tinkerer at best and not a mechanic by any stretch of the imagination.

Don't forget to disconnect the battery as the only thing you could mess up really, unless you are brutish with the wires or tabs, is setting off a fault with the airbag which won't happen if the batter is disconnected.

I'm intrigued that a U.S. dealer is able to get the part for you. My dealer couldn't get the part number when I gave it to them, which is why I ordered it online from overseas. Maybe there has been enough demand, or you are going with a different wheel that is available in the US.

Good luck and PM me if you have any quesions.

Hey speeddeacon - yah, the more I look at it, it seems doable. I'm not mechanic either - the most I've done is open the right side of the dash to get to the cabin air filter I just don't want to screw it up lol.

Actually the dealer wasn't able to order the wheel; they found it in their system, but that was about it. The parts guy, however, did say that they would do it for me since it was an oem part. I'm going to the dealership today to just get my alignment & tires checked, so I'll confirm w/ them before I do anything.

[speeddeacon]

Originally Posted by PrazVT

Hey speeddeacon - yah, the more I look at it, it seems doable. I'm not mechanic either - the most I've done is open the right side of the dash to get to the cabin air filter I just don't want to screw it up lol.

Actually the dealer wasn't able to order the wheel; they found it in their system, but that was about it. The parts guy, however, did say that they would do it for me since it was an oem part. I'm going to the dealership today to just get my alignment & tires checked, so I'll confirm w/ them before I do anything.

What did you decide?

[PrazVT]

Originally Posted by speeddeacon

What did you decide?

Well unfortunately I've been temporarily sidetracked; I felt something was up w/ the ride quality and lo and behold my rear tires are almost bald after 15k miles. So a new pair of S001s will run me $600+ and that was my steering wheel money I'll see. I'm waiting to get a quote on the M Performance suspension as well. If that ends up being too pricey, I'll put it off and go w/ the steering wheel.

[speeddeacon]

Originally Posted by PrazVT

Well unfortunately I've been temporarily sidetracked; I felt something was up w/ the ride quality and lo and behold my rear tires are almost bald after 15k miles.

Wow, that was fast!

[PrazVT]

Originally Posted by speeddeacon

Wow, that was fast!

Yeah I have a 38 mile commute and I've been taking the scenic / twisty route the last several months So I suspect that may have accelerated the wear. So the steering wheel may need to wait for a little bit.

[hans007]

great thread. quite helpful

[focal]

in the middle of a deep freeze and cannot live without heated wheel so this mod will have to be crossed off the list. Besides, I've gotten used to the Sport line wheel. it's not that thin. Especially compared to the no-line wheel in my folks' car.

[kimchee411]

Just installed my F20 M sport wheel on my sport line and WOW I 1000% recommend doing this! Feels soooo much better, more than I expected. And I know this sounds crazy but I swear it feels like there's more feedback and it's a little more taut and responsive too. I know it's probably in my head but overall it just enhances the driving experience that much more. I was unable to find the wheel online so I had to but a slightly used but mint condition one on eBay for about $475 shipped. It was a full wheel with paddles minus airbag so the upside is I got the little ///M badge, heh.

Getting the airbag off was indeed a chore. I had to go the "other" route by removing the steering column cover, and just prying apart those pieces wasn't exactly straightforward either. Also, I had some trouble getting the new wheel on. A word of advice: if it doesn't go on fairly easily don't try to force it in or you may start stripping teeth. Just take it off completely and try again, wiggling gently.

Anyway very happy with the new wheel!

[Tim@codemybimmer]

Also got my F20 M-Sport Wheel installed. Got the paddles working too. Feels like I'm driving a different car! Do not miss the thin old Sport Wheel, which i'll list soon once I get a chance



It's just too bad it doesn't come in white or red stitching (I would have dyed the white to red), since the old wheel had it and well the entire interior has the red highlight stitching.

[DeeKay]

Originally Posted by Timbits93

Also got my F20 M-Sport Wheel installed. Got the paddles working too. Feels like I'm driving a different car! Do not miss the thin old Sport Wheel, which i'll list soon once I get a chance



It's just too bad it doesn't come in white or red stitching (I would have dyed the white to red), since the old wheel had it and well the entire interior has the red highlight stitching.

So you had an F30 with Sports Steering Wheel and the automatic transmission, but didn't have the paddles before?

I'm looking to switch to another F30 than the one I'm driving and it has the Sports steering, ZF8 but no paddles. Possible to switch to your setup?

[daniz]

Just bought this wheel second hand of someone who upgraded to the m performance wheel. Price only ~153$ It came of a 2014 1-series. I will be getting it later this week. Hope it is in mint condition as described. Thanks for this thread!

One question: Is it only possible to mount the wheel in one way on the splines? Is it possible to put it back "wrong" - slighty to the right or left so the wheels wont center when i have the steering wheel centered?

[HFW003]

Originally Posted by daniz

One question: Is it only possible to mount the wheel in one way on the splines? Is it possible to put it back "wrong" - slighty to the right or left so the wheels wont center when i have the steering wheel centered?

Not without immediately noticing. Each of the splines is about 5mm wide so you'll notice straight away.

[daniz]

Do you guys put any threadlocking compound on the bolt when re-assembling? Wouldnt want the wheel to come of

[HFW003]

Originally Posted by daniz

Do you guys put any threadlocking compound on the bolt when re-assembling? Wouldnt want the wheel to come of

I didn't, it is pretty well torqued down.

From memory it wasn't used by the factory either.

[daniz]

Got it mounted on friday, feels like i am driving a different car. Really nice

I did not have that much problems removing the airbag but i used a bit of force while pulling it having read your experiences i this tread. Would problably not have been able to get it loose otherwise.

[Eat.Sleep.Race]

DAMN! this is just what I need! Thanks for sharing

[Tim@codemybimmer]

Originally Posted by DeeKay

So you had an F30 with Sports Steering Wheel and the automatic transmission, but didn't have the paddles before?

I'm looking to switch to another F30 than the one I'm driving and it has the Sports steering, ZF8 but no paddles. Possible to switch to your setup?

Car came equipped with the 205 Automatic. Coded the car with 2TB for Sport Automatic. Had to wire the paddles though, however in some cases the paddles are pre-wired. Also replaced the shifter with the Sport Automatic shifter since it felt nicer, being wrapped in leather