[IraHayes]

I have Lexol leather cleaner, conditioner, and also Lexol’s vinylex vinyl cleaner/protectant. My issue is that I don’t know what the hell the steering wheel covering is made of. Looks like leather, to me feels like pleather. I have a 2015 328i, my options list says it has the “sports leather steering wheel,” not to be confused with the M Sport wheel. Just trying to figure out if this is real leather, or the fake stuff so I can figure out what cleaners to use on it.

[Billfitz]

Mine is the same wheel, and it's leather now, but only because I put a leather cover on it. Look closely and you can see it's molded.

[IraHayes]

I took a good look at on the drive home tonight, and it does indeed appear to be a plastic of some kind. I didn’t get a close look, but I want to say that even the stitching is part of the molding. Looks like vinylex will be the stuff to use.

[upsidedownfunnel]

Generally, I've found the best way to clean steering wheels, whether leather or vinyl, is to take a microfiber towel, dampen it slightly, then gently rub it around the wheel. This will remove the oily sheen from your hands and return it to a nice new looking finish.

The BMW Nappa leather on the M Sport wheel (I know this is not your wheel) has a very light clear polyurethane coating, so as long as you're not too aggressive, you pretty much take care of it the same way you would vinyl wheels or wheels with lower grade leather.

There's no need to use fancy cleaners or conditioners.

[goj]

My wife noticed lotion on you hand can gunk up the wheel too. So maybe apply after driving if that's something that may affect you.

[tex2670]

Originally Posted by IraHayes

I have Lexol leather cleaner, conditioner, and also Lexol’s vinylex vinyl cleaner/protectant. My issue is that I don’t know what the hell the steering wheel covering is made of. Looks like leather, to me feels like pleather. I have a 2015 328i, my options list says it has the “sports leather steering wheel,” not to be confused with the M Sport wheel. Just trying to figure out if this is real leather, or the fake stuff so I can figure out what cleaners to use on it.

Given that BMW brands its fake leather "Sensatec", I don't know why they wouldn't say "Sensatec covered steering wheel" to promote their brand. It says "leather"--I don't know why we should think it's not.

BMW leather isn't as supple as the leather was in my Lexus I had before this car; but the trade off is that it holds up to wear much much better than my Lexus, or my Acura before that, did.

I have a '14, and here's the description in the 3-Series brochure (328/335) for the steering wheel among the standard features:

3-spoke leather-wrapped multi-function Sport steering wheel with controls for
audio system, cruise control, and Bluetooth® wireless communication for
hands-free mobile phone

And for M-Sport ('14):

3-spoke leather-wrapped multi-function M Sport steering wheel with controls
for audio system, cruise control, and Bluetooth wireless communication for
hands-free mobile phone

[Billfitz]

If my Sport wheel came wrapped in leather the cow it came from spent its life grazing on AstroTurf.