Steering Wheel Upgrade
 

My OE four spoke wheel is pretty trashed after 22 years so I'm contemplating an upgrade to a sport style. The easiest would be to find a sport wheel from the 2002-ish E53 (with the two spokes at 6-o'clock), but those seem to be few and far between, especially when looking for one that has been redone in Alcantara, which I would like.

I've read the threads I can find on it, but would like to verify some details with the brain trust as I'm still fuzzy on a few. Thanks in advance all.

From what I've read, it seem that the multi-function sport wheel from the E39/E46 M Sport wheel should work, but I will definitely need the round airbag that goes with that wheel. Very expensive new, so I'll need to find a refurbed wheel that comes with it. Can anyone confirm that this wheel is a plug/play upgrade for the 2002 E53?

What about the "clockspring"? I read a post which said a new one was needed for this wheel to work, and another that said the OE sensor would work. RealOEM lists only one Steering Angle Sensor for the 2002 E53, which also is found on t he E46, E39, and several other X and non-X cars. Based on this I'm inclined to say that a different clockspring isn't needed.

Plug and play. This a refurbished steering wheel originally from E39.

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1Q...9rMEFCQkpqRFFn

Thanks Clavurion. Sounds like the way to go. Guy in Lithuania selling nice looking refurbished wheels…what could go wrong! Hopefully he can ship the airbag module with it, since they are really expensive for that wheel. He said he could do a full Alcantara wheel for me.

Are you sure you want alcantara?

With those round airbags you have to make sure it's not from the faulty Takata patch which were renewed under recall. Those have a sticker with marking "BAM PT1 - 1085"

Thanks for the heads up on the recall bags to avoid. I’ll make sure to check before buying. Regarding the alcantara, I have always wanted an alcantara interior, but that may have to wait until I get that Aston Martin I drool over. After some more reading, it seems that Alcantara isn’t good for daily driving on surfaces like steering wheels. Leather it is!

Why are the airbags so expensive?

Surely these should be dirt cheap after mass producing them by the millions?

One would think. New is just over a grand. I need a new right front door airbag and it’s only $245ish from getbmeparts.com so who knows why the sport steering wheel bag is so expensive.

Massive massive price gouging :dunno:

Yep, absurd stuff. Verifying that I"m getting a post-recall airbag too could be a struggle without the VIN that the thing came out of or a pic of the back of the bag to verify the sticker noted by Clavurion. The BMW recall website uses VIN number. I wonder if a dealership would/could cross reference part number?

The only definite way is check the sticker on the backside. This is what the faulty patch looks like. Other than 1085 BAM numbers are OK. There are many sellers which are not aware of this recall or is taking chances that buyer doesn't know.

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/8zcAA...UF/s-l1600.jpg