POLL What to do with your steering wheel

[Gundun]

Hello Folks!
In anticipation to the day I will finally get my beloved Z3 back, I am planning to address a topic.

My 70.000km Z3 has an Individual ///M steering wheel, with the lower insert in smooth leather Mexico green. To date I haven't found anybody that can re-trim it using leather grain similar to OEM and guarantee a color match with the handbrake and shift boots to that Mexico Green.

I am very much in favor to keep the car as OEM as possible and I'd like to preserve the steering wheel without putting on it too much wear: it's already slightly polished on the crown and it has few minor scuffs, besides I very much like that smooth leathered fat wheels of more modern cars.
So here's my options:

1. Keep it on, do nothing or use a removable cover (taxi driver style)
2. Re-trim it completely black (lose the Individual trim)
3. Find another wheel, have it re-trimmed and put that on, save the original wheel (car will not look as nice)
4. Order a similar wheel to BMW (at an insane price, I reckon)
5. Hey, wait a minute! I know somebody who can re-trim it with the Mexico Green, it's [insert name here]
6. Restore it with a leather dye kit (on the German bay there's a seller that says he has Mexico Green...but the color match is still a big question mark and I've never done this before)

Thanks in advance for the tips!

yours, Gun

 

[hard top]

3. Find another wheel, have it re-trimmed and put that on, save the original wheel

 

[5harp3y]

i agree, do 3

or speak to Jack at Royal Wheels and see if he can retrim yours

 

[Mint]

Mine is an individual too. I got Jack @ Royal Steering wheels to re-trim mine with the same colour at the bottom of the wheel like the original. He made an excellent job

 

[5harp3y]

Mine is an individual too. I got Jack @ Royal Steering wheels to re-trim mine with the same colour at the bottom of the wheel like the original. He made an excellent job
View attachment 48317

that looks bloody gorgeous!

 

[Low Rider]

i agree, do 3

or speak to Jack at Royal Wheels and see if he can retrim yours

I agree number 3.

 

[Shelly]

I agree number 3 too

 

[Shelly]

Your wheel is lovely @Mint

 

[Gundun]

I will start looking for a cheap replacement to send to Royal Steering. I contacted them for a quote and I'm awaiting for a feedback.
Big THANK YOU all for your opinion!

 

[Grumps]

I agree number 3, ooh does that rhyme!
I have that wheel as well.

 

[Grumps]

Bugger lol! You can't see the bottom middle bit but I do honest gov!

 

[Nodzed]

#5 Speak to Jack at Royal I love mine

 

[S54addict]

I agree number 3, ooh does that rhyme!
I have that wheel as well.
View attachment 48326

I don't know about a no 3... I will give my verdict soon, I'm going for a no 2!!!!

 

[Sean d]

Do it yourself, its so easy and mine looks like new again, if you speak to furniture clinic they will match the green, does the green part need doing,
Mine

 

[Stevo7682]

b***** lol! You can't see the bottom middle bit but I do honest gov!

Dave see for your birthday this year i think you should heavily hint that you would really like some photography lessons

 

[hard top]

photography lessons

Ain't going to help I am afraid, he is special needs....

 

[Grumps]

Ain't going to help I am afraid, he is special needs....

K***

 

[Gundun]

Do it yourself, its so easy and mine looks like new again, if you speak to furniture clinic they will match the green, does the green part need doing,
Mine
View attachment 48331

That's also very nice indeed. Did you use an airbrush to apply the coat on the crown or did you dab it with the sponge?

 

[Sean d]

That's also very nice indeed. Did you use an airbrush to apply the coat on the crown or did you dab it with the sponge?

It was sprayed with a mini gun as thats what I do, the wheel is stripped back using solvent, dyed and a clear top coat added called "super seal"

 

[Gundun]

So a few days ago I got a reply from Jack from Royal, very kind and quick indeed.

Unfortunately he doesn't have the Mexico green leather available to re-trim the lower portion of my wheel, so I looked up a bit and that kind of leather is extremely rare (apparently, aside some individual interior from 7 series, the only other BMW that had it was no less than a limited Edition Individual E36 M3 GT in British Racing Green ), I cannot find it anywhere, not even a sample patch, as it's discontinued.

I am starting to think I'd better take steering wheel, and gaiters off, put them is a safe and switch over to black or tan trims.

Otherwise the other option would be using leather dye (some company still sells BMW Mexico green dye) same as @Sean d did but I don't have a spray gun and I am totally not familiar with the process.