[spucktacular]

Hi all,

So I have a steering wheel fetish, i'm sorry it's the part I touch most when driving my car and I just HATEEE dirty shinny leather. I've had my X4M for 2 years now, not even 10,000 miles on it (weekend toy really).. but well past the honeymoon phase.

I'm thinking to wrap my steering wheel in an Mewant Alcantara cover. Am I being hasty?

I previously owned a 2016 F26 X4, on which I did the wrap with a perforated (proper) leather. It was honestly tedious as hell, but I'm an OCD personality and I enjoy loosing myself in granular details. I would REALLY not recommend this to ANYONE faint of heart, but it can be executed with amazing quality if you really take your time. Its a natural material, you can bend, stretch, release and readjust. I have to say, I really enjoyed the process... it was very satisfying. Even more when I realized refurbished wheels on ebay go for 2-3k.

I don't care that its a chinese vendor, the materials I received were insanely high quality, and the rest is how you execute.

Here's my previous work from the F26, which turned out surprisingly well, except some creases around the 6'oclock mark and the outline of the stitching on the OEM wheel. Also a pic of what I'm hoping to achieve this time around.

And yes, the stitching is done with a real needle, one loop at a time.. be warned, it really is a labour of love that won't look anywhere close to OEM quality for 95%+ of attempts, but if you do it perfectly right.. it looks MUCH better than anything BMW offers OEM.

Any thoughts?

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[joebie3]

If you don't wanna do the work again, I can't blame you there. I don't have an X3M yet, but I love my suede wheel in the car I do have.

That being said, I've been pilfering links for things such as this and AZA has one Hellllll of a beautiful steering wheel. Pricey, but sometimes the price is worth it IMO.

https://azaautowheel.com/product/cus...stripe-heated/

Also, amazing job on the wrap that you did. Looks pretty damn good.

[Golf_GL]

I feel exactly the same as you! I hate shiny leather as well and I ordered the Mewant Alcantara with red stripe last week. I had alcantara on my RS3 and I loved it, it felt like it was wrapped in mouse fur lol.

The benefits to me are that it'll preserve the stock steering wheel and can always revert back.

I saw the leaked M3 CS pics last night and hopefully the completed look will be similar with the CF trim and paddles!

[danniexi]

just buy an M5 CS steering wheel.

[Golf_GL]

Originally Posted by danniexi

just buy an M5 CS steering wheel.

For $1400, you get a wheel without the trim and heated steering function.

Per the link at IND-
"Heated steering wheel and driving assistant functionality are not supported; steering trims not included."

I guess we could just buy the M5 CS or M3 CS, even easier :-)

[danniexi]

Originally Posted by Golf_GL

For $1400, you get a wheel without the trim and heated steering function.

Per the link at IND-
"Heated steering wheel and driving assistant functionality are not supported; steering trims not included."

I know that. however OP never mentioned that as a priority.

and I agree. if heating or DAP was that big of an important feature than the OEM M-Perf or CS wheel won't be an option.

[YolkyPalky]

Is Alcantara like a suede fabric? Looks like it in pics. Seems like it would get all sweaty and grimey from using it, no?

[Golf_GL]

Originally Posted by YolkyPalky

Is Alcantara like a suede fabric? Looks like it in pics. Seems like it would get all sweaty and grimey from using it, no?

Yeah Alcantara is the branded version of synthetic suede. I always use driving gloves. If you use it like a leather steering wheel, it can get nasty, flat and oily. I've seen instructions using a brush and detergent to restore the suede though.

[joebie3]

Originally Posted by YolkyPalky

Is Alcantara like a suede fabric? Looks like it in pics. Seems like it would get all sweaty and grimey from using it, no?

I have an alcantara wheel in my daily for the last 3 years and it has no issues. It's a pretty resilient fabric. I clean it from time to time, but it still looks and feels as good as when I first got it.

Most of the time just brushing it off with a shoe brush does the job, but Sonax makes an alcantara cleaner as well.

[spucktacular]

works!

[Stlnation]

will this wheel and trim fit a 2020 x3mc

Steering Wheel

Steering Wheel Trim

[JCOLON]

Originally Posted by Golf_GL

I feel exactly the same as you! I hate shiny leather as well and I ord,ered the Mewant Alcantara with red stripe last week. I had alcantara on my RS3 and I loved it, it felt like it was wrapped in mouse fur lol.

The benefits to me are that it'll preserve the stock steering wheel and can always revert back.

I saw the leaked M3 CS pics last night and hopefully the completed look will be similar with the CF trim and paddles!

Did you wheels retain the heating and active driver functions?

[Golf_GL]

Originally Posted by JCOLON

Did you wheels retain the heating and active driver functions?

Yes, after installing the cover, heating and hands-on-detection worked, if not slightly less sensitive. I loved the feel, I really find the stock wheel slippery for such a heavy vehicle with sport steering. Unfortunately I no longer have it on as I wasn't happy with the finished job even after multiple stitching re-dos :-D

Some areas, especially around the fat 3 and 9'o clock positions doesn't wrap around the contour. Same with the top where there are finger indentations on the back of the wheel. I don't want to go overboard with the double sided tape as it does leave slight marks on the original leather when removed.

I may give it another shot later this month. I was thinking of putting double-sided tape right on the original stitching so the new seam will sit flush with the wheel. Even if it looks really good immediately after, it tends to bunch up over time.