It's the same style wheel but with a thicker rim, more prominent thumb holds. It's covered in a nappa like quality leather compared to the hard wearing leather on the standard rim. The rim is slightly rectangular/oblong in cross-section rather than the rounded OEM wheel. The stem (where the //M badge is mounted) is smoother and feels cooler and more metallic than on the OEM wheel. It just feels much nicer to hold and more in keeping with the leather items in the rest of the car, particularly if like me you have Nappa Leather seats and facings.

And unlike the M3 wheel you can re-use your airbag (on post 2004 cars) and therefore the cost to change is much lower.

I had the M3 wheel on my 4.6is but when I got my 4.8is I didn't want to go back to the old style of wheel and therefore make my 4.8is feel like my 4.6is. This is the first BMW wheel (as far as I know) that gives you an option to improve the look and feel of your X5.

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