Steering wheel upgrade worth it?

[SuperGreg]

Originally Posted by LeMansX5

He may need the airbag as well.

Exactly, that's why I asked him about 3 or 4 spoke

[Sudesh]

IF YOU HAVE THIS WHEEL:


YOU CAN UPGRADE TO THE ROUND TYPE WHEEL LIKE THIS:


OR YOU CAN UPGRADE TO THE E46 SMG OR STANDARD M3 WHEEL


OR YOU CAN UPGRADE TO THE NEW FACELIFTED WHEEL


Infact you can change the wheels on all the X's! The only thing to keep an eye out for is the heated option as not all the other types are available with heated. Also the airbag is the other part to take note on.

[Banana]

Thanks everyone, as Sudesh has so kindly posted the diagram, I have the stock 4 arm standard wheel now. So far, I was looking to go to the last diagram he has listed, believe its the latest 4.8 wheel. But the board seems to suggest going for the M wheel so I have some research to do. Is the airbag under my stock wheel different from that of the sport wheel? I know the casing is different, but can the airbag be transferred? I know it's probably a stupid question, but have to ask. TIA

[Sudesh]

No you cannot exchange the airbag. The actual airbag is the big square section on your wheel. Although the square section is a cover the airbag's on all wheels are sowen and glued into each cover. What ever wheel you choose you will need a new airbag. The last diagram is a retrofit kit

FOR VEHICLES WITHOUT
STEERING WHEEL HEATER AIRBAG SPORT ST. WHL. LTHR MULTIFUNCTION SCHWARZ Part Number:32306762958
Price: $485.46
AIRBAG 32306762961 $795.15

FOR VEHICLES WITH
STEERING WHEEL HEATER
AIRBAG SPORT ST. WHL. LTHR MULTIFUNCTION SCHWARZ.
Part Number:32306768833 $697.50
AIRBAG 32306762961 $795.15

[Tensor]

I have the "facelifted" wheel. Is there any way to add the SMG paddles ?

From the diagram the SMG wheel does not have the buttons on it and i like them.

[Dblock2151]

Originally Posted by Sudesh

but I dont think they will fit or should I say no one has achived this mod yet for any other vehicle other than the e60.

Might want to check this out.

http://e46.mit.edu/2006-02-06%20M5%2...+%20Airbag.htm
http://e46.mit.edu/2006-02-23%20M5%2...+%20Airbag.htm

[Banana]

Nice!

[Sudesh]

Originally Posted by Tensor

I have the "facelifted" wheel. Is there any way to add the SMG paddles ?

From the diagram the SMG wheel does not have the buttons on it and i like them.

No you cannot fit the SMG paddles to the facelifted wheel. The only mod I have seen on the facelifted wheel is the one mrpaddleshift.com can do. What he does is take the original facelifted wheel and mod it so that he can install SSG paddles. SSG is not the same as SMG.
Brief Introduction of SMG (sequential manual gearbox)
1. There was a SMG I and now a SMG II system. SMG I was introduced in European spec E36 M3 in 1998 or so. The US market never see this before.

2. The SMG II system was introduced in E46 M3 in 2001.

3. SMG II system is equipped with a +/- paddle-shift interface. Tap + and you up shift. Tap - and you downshift. Each paddle has one function only.

Brief Introduction of SSG (sport sequential gearbox)

1. The SSG system was built by Magneti Marrelli and introduced in 2001 in non-M E46s all around the world EXCEPT the US market.

2. SSG system is equipped a up and down-shift paddle-shift interface for EACH paddle. You can up and down shift with EACH paddle.

3. This SSG system was renamed to SMG in 2003 and introduced as a 2004 option for the US market. This SMG has nothing to do with SMG I or SMG II.

THIS IS A PIC OF THE FACELIFTED WHEEL WITH "SSG" PADDLES

[Tensor]

Thanks Sudesh, that was VERY clear

Anyway from the pics Dblock2151 posted i see that the M wheel does have the buttons.

Is this part you posted :
SPORT ST. WHL. LTHR MULTIFUNCTION SCHWARZ Part Number:32306762958
Price: $485.46
all that's needed or is the wire harness needed separately,

The retrofit at mrpaddleshift is around 1200 USD, so evidently there must be more to it than jut the wheel (all it says is wheel + kit)

[Sudesh]

That is just for the wheel! But it wont be an SMG OR SSG wheel. Its just the standard facelifted wheel.

Paddleshift.com will sell you a modified facelifted wheel with SSG paddles and wiring kit but not the airbag. Its quite expensive as the wiring can be put togeteher for a few dollors, with some know how. I made my own wiring kit and purchased the rest from BMW when I fitted the e46 SMG wheel to my 4.6

The only problem with the facelifted modified SSG wheel is that, paddlesshit.com actually cut and modify the original facelifted wheel to install the SSG paddles, this means that only they for now, sell that wheel, and they catch you out by not selling the wheel on its own. So you have to buy the complete kit! Which means they charge a wopping big $715 for the kit.
Now I know a little more is involved as they have to first fit the paddles to a wheel that is not made for paddles but, I also know from my experience that, I put a wiring kit together myself, that was made of almost all BMW parts for about $7 dollors!!
Personally if I think if you want to go for a wheel with paddle shift then I would recommend the e46 SMG wheel. It comes complete and is a manufactured original wheel. Its got a great feel to it, it's an original M wheel, and the SMG paddles are better than the SSG. Plus comes with the exclusive colored M stitching.
You can also find them for sale on ebay at very good value and the round airbag is cheaper to buy and probably easier to find than the facelifted airbag if you choose to look for one on ebay.