Carbon Fiber Steering Wheel Trim Installed <<<diy inside>>>

[catch]

After going back and forth with different steering wheel options between the performance wheel and a custom wheel I ultimately decided I didn't want to loose the heat function. Realistically I do love the stock M wheel, just felt it needed something to dress it up a little bit.

In my research I saw pictures of the silver trim in carbon fiber. A small detail that I really liked, so I went ahead and ordered one thinking it was going to be a simple snap in snap out install. NOPE. Once it arrived I looked up instructions, all I really found was threads with people saying they had to pull the air bag and its a pain in the a$$. No real instructions, just cautions saying its not worth the efforts to install.

In my previous e92 335 I went through 3 different wheels until I landed on an M3 wheel. I loved the soft leather and thickness, as well as the tri-stitch. So I am no stranger to a steering wheel swap.

Half way through this install I decided to take some pictures and write a quick DIY for anyone contemplating doing this but scared of the difficulty level.

Total time: about 30 min (most spent on the mental fasteners on the back of the trim)

The final outcome:


DIY

Its recommended that before removing the airbag you disconnect the battery. I let my car go to sleep (leave the doors open for 20 or so minutes with the key far away so everything powers down) and jump into it



Removal of airbag. there is a small cut out on each side of the wheel. insert a straight object in. I used a screwdriver with a round head on it. You will feel when you need to press a little harder. Repeat for both sides


Hold the air bag assembly so its not resting its weight on the wires and clips. unclip the wire harness and place air back assembly aside


There will be two torx screws to remove at the top (pictured) and one behind the ///M logo at the bottom of the steering wheel. With these removed unclip the black trim piece


Trim Removed


Flip it over. This is the annoying part. Each one of these clips needs to be carefully removed. I used a flat head screw driver, I'm sure theres a better way to do it, but this is what I used. I bent them back to their original shape and re-used them after


All clipped up


The final outcome




All said and done, a half hour well spent in my opinion! I really like the look, adds what I was looking for on the wheel with keeping the soft leather, tri-stitch and most importantly heated steering wheel function.

Hope this helps out a few people worried that this is too big of a job for them

[bayareas1krr]

great walkthrough!

[N54MPower]

Nice write up!

I am currently thinking about getting the non electric M Performance wheel but I also don't want to lose the heat function.

[vonmayr]

Nice write up. Thanks!

[JHY310]

Is this the iND piece?

[MCanadaE46]

Nice! Compliments the interior very well. It's the small touches like this that make the interior pop.

[stressdoc]

Fantastic! Should have come stock this way.

I wish there were CF replacements for the little alu pieces on the side toggle controls -- for that matter, for all the little alu trim pieces in the interior.

Where did you get the CF piece?

[jcote258]

Sub'd Great DIY! I actually backed out of getting one of these because of the horror stories but it doesn't look that bad now and looks great!

[dmk08]

Originally Posted by catch

After going back and forth with different steering wheel options between the performance wheel and a custom wheel I ultimately decided I didn't want to loose the heat function. Realistically I do love the stock M wheel, just felt it needed something to dress it up a little bit.

In my research I saw pictures of the silver trim in carbon fiber. A small detail that I really liked, so I went ahead and ordered one thinking it was going to be a simple snap in snap out install. NOPE. Once it arrived I looked up instructions, all I really found was threads with people saying they had to pull the air bag and its a pain in the a$$. No real instructions, just cautions saying its not worth the efforts to install.

In my previous e92 335 I went through 3 different wheels until I landed on an M3 wheel. I loved the soft leather and thickness, as well as the tri-stitch. So I am no stranger to a steering wheel swap.

Half way through this install I decided to take some pictures and write a quick DIY for anyone contemplating doing this but scared of the difficulty level.

Total time: about 30 min (most spent on the mental fasteners on the back of the trim)

The final outcome:


DIY

Its recommended that before removing the airbag you disconnect the battery. I let my car go to sleep (leave the doors open for 20 or so minutes with the key far away so everything powers down) and jump into it



Removal of airbag. there is a small cut out on each side of the wheel. insert a straight object in. I used a screwdriver with a round head on it. You will feel when you need to press a little harder. Repeat for both sides


Hold the air bag assembly so its not resting its weight on the wires and clips. unclip the wire harness and place air back assembly aside


There will be two torx screws to remove at the top (pictured) and one behind the ///M logo at the bottom of the steering wheel. With these removed unclip the black trim piece


Trim Removed


Flip it over. This is the annoying part. Each one of these clips needs to be carefully removed. I used a flat head screw driver, I'm sure theres a better way to do it, but this is what I used. I bent them back to their original shape and re-used them after


All clipped up


The final outcome




All said and done, a half hour well spent in my opinion! I really like the look, adds what I was looking for on the wheel with keeping the soft leather, tri-stitch and most importantly heated steering wheel function.

Hope this helps out a few people worried that this is too big of a job for them

Looks great I may do this. Who did you get the part from?

[mrrm3]

sells the part. It is very nicely made and reasonably priced. $200 I think.

It took me a lot more than 30 minutes to do this. But, well worth it.

The little washers on the back side are a bitch. I decided to put a dab of silicone glue on them to make sure they wouldn't come loose.

[catch]

I don't know who manufactured the part, I bought it in the classifieds here.

I agree that it should have come like this, or as an option, from the factory!

I'm loving the look. Only thing that would make it pop a lot more would be natural light from a sunroof!!

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by catch

I don't know who manufactured the part, I bought it in the classifieds here.

I agree that it should have come like this, or as an option, from the factory!

I'm loving the look. Only thing that would make it pop a lot more would be natural light from a sunroof!!

Almost certain it's from iND.

[catch]

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

Almost certain it's from iND.

Id say theres a good chance of that.

Its a solid piece for sure. Feels like an OEM piece wrapped

[RussianPete]

weight reduction

[catch]

Originally Posted by F80 Transporter

weight reduction

lol exactly why I did this. Been slacking at the gym lately, the wheel was getting harder to move. Now, no problem at all

[RussianPete]

Originally Posted by catch

lol exactly why I did this. Been slacking at the gym lately, the wheel was getting harder to move. Now, no problem at all

haha, looks good!!

Was the install hard? Buying my M4 in January and i might do this. Only thing thats stopping me is fucking with the electronics in the wheel. Might cause some permanent damage.