crazy epic retrofit! is it e90 or e46?!?!

[LegitPenguin]

so, not sure but think i may be the first to complete this retrofit cause i've never seen anyone else post that this has been done. so, we start with taking off the crappy sport air bag and steering wheel that has years and years of wear and end up with this:
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll29/Neil1138/Steering%20Wheel/DSC_0437.jpg
then we move on to this:
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll29/Neil1138/Steering%20Wheel/DSC_0422.jpg
then this: we had to test fit it numerous time because the line up pins on the clockspring is different. the pin that pushes down the blinker return is also different so we had to cut alot of it off and shave it to fit.
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll29/Neil1138/Steering%20Wheel/DSC_0433.jpg
then we got the line up pins to fit but, the connector on my clock spring wasnt lining up and was hitting too so we had to do this: ( i didn't have a dremel so we drilled alot of holes and punched out the top portion to fit the connector)
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll29/Neil1138/Steering%20Wheel/DSC_0446.jpg
taking a break:
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll29/Neil1138/Steering%20Wheel/DSC_0436.jpg
test fitting again:
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll29/Neil1138/Steering%20Wheel/DSC_0460.jpg
grant getting serious with the filing since the connector still didn't fit. does the pose remind you of something? :eeps:
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll29/Neil1138/Steering%20Wheel/DSC_0463.jpg
tons of filings on the floor:
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll29/Neil1138/Steering%20Wheel/DSC_0423.jpg
e90 sport airbag
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll29/Neil1138/Steering%20Wheel/DSC_0470.jpg
final install:
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll29/Neil1138/Steering%20Wheel/DSC_0471.jpg
and the final picture of e90 sport steering and e90 sport shift knob retrofit!
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll29/Neil1138/Steering%20Wheel/DSC_0474.jpg

i'm very very happy with the result! the steering wheel feels sooooooo much better than the older crappy small sport steering wheel. the horn works and all. i'm in the process of wiring the multifunction buttons :4ngie:
here are a few more pics of my more recent mods:
alpina b7 black floor mats, the fronts actually fit somehow!
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll29/Neil1138/Steering%20Wheel/DSC_0451.jpg
covered all the pillars and headliner is suede
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll29/Neil1138/Steering%20Wheel/DSC_0452.jpg

[mpower5266]

I need info on the fabric used for the headliner.

[LegitPenguin]

bought it from hancock fabrics for $5.99 a yard i believe...did it all myself...

[mpower5266]

Is it real suede or fake? I need to redo the liner in my 7 and I think that might look good.

[Dmyerzzz]

bought it from hancock fabrics for $5.99 a yard i believe...did it all myself...

Thats cheap for suade. When I was looking at fabric over at Joans, they wanted $20/yard! :eyecrazy

[ilya1585]

Pretty sick...Why not the Alcanatara competition wheel??

[Travis C]

Would you be willing to explain or point somebody such as myself into the direction of how you went about installing that headliner?

The steering wheel looks great btw, as does the shift knob.

[2000mkoop]

Nice!

I checked out hancock fabric's website, some of their suede (fake) is only like 2.99/yd haha awesome

[LegitPenguin]

Is it real suede or fake? I need to redo the liner in my 7 and I think that might look good.

i think its real. i dunno, its really really soft and you can draw on it with your finger haha.


Thats cheap for suade. When I was looking at fabric over at Joans, they wanted $20/yard! :eyecrazy
yeah we saw the $20/yd stuff there and moved on haha


Pretty sick...Why not the Alcanatara competition wheel??

cause this steering wheel was pretty much free :shifty

Would you be willing to explain or point somebody such as myself into the direction of how you went about installing that headliner?

The steering wheel looks great btw, as does the shift knob.

i removed headliner, then rewrapped it and put it back in.

[Boris1111]

I love how nobody gives a crap about the steering wheel but go crazy for the headliner :lol

And this is a bit less epic then the guy retrofitting a 5-series steering wheel into an e36 with volume controls, etc.

[LegitPenguin]

^ that was javi i believe, one of my friends. i'm working on the buttons ;)

[PSangavaramM3]

why did u have to drill the steering wheel?

i am planning on putting a bmw alcantara e90 wheel on my e46 m3 - and just using a e90 steering wheel cover i found on ebay and the non-functional trim plate that tischer bmw sells. what did u need to drill for???

[BavarianMW94]

no care. more pics of girl in sig!

[LegitPenguin]

why did u have to drill the steering wheel?

i am planning on putting a bmw alcantara e90 wheel on my e46 m3 - and just using a e90 steering wheel cover i found on ebay and the non-functional trim plate that tischer bmw sells. what did u need to drill for???

i thought about using the plate with no buttons but i'm gonna try and get them to work. the steering wheel doesn't fit at all without some modification, it takes some cutting to get it to work. ALSO the centering spline is wayy different than an e46 wheel, we had to file it wayyy down

[HOLES]

I love how nobody gives a crap about the steering wheel but go crazy for the headliner :lol

And this is a bit less epic then the guy retrofitting a 5-series steering wheel into an e36 with volume controls, etc.

scuse me, link please

[Boris1111]

scuse me, link please

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1162150



So your buddy Javi lives in the Netherlands? :D

Gunna do that retrofit when I find a nice steering wheel

[PSangavaramM3]

i thought about using the plate with no buttons but i'm gonna try and get them to work. the steering wheel doesn't fit at all without some modification, it takes some cutting to get it to work. ALSO the centering spline is wayy different than an e46 wheel, we had to file it wayyy down

yes i can see that u drilled out the area on the steering wheel that will allow you to connect the airbag - which is good - luckily i am running no airbags on my car.

so if you don't need to take airbags into account, all you have to do is drill holes for guide pins as well as file down the centering spline a lot?

[bryan3091]

Do you remember how much fabric you used for the headliner? I've been mulling over replacing the headliner or painting. I've seen good results with paint...but for $2.99 a yard you can't go wrong.

[LegitPenguin]

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1162150



So your buddy Javi lives in the Netherlands? :D

Gunna do that retrofit when I find a nice steering wheel

sorry, no, my friend put an e60 m5 wheel on his e36 with everything working.


yes i can see that u drilled out the area on the steering wheel that will allow you to connect the airbag - which is good - luckily i am running no airbags on my car.

so if you don't need to take airbags into account, all you have to do is drill holes for guide pins as well as file down the centering spline a lot?

that and cut out some of the top so the connector for the clockspring can fit IF you have a clockspring. and you have to shave the pin that turns off the blinker cause its not the same


Do you remember how much fabric you used for the headliner? I've been mulling over replacing the headliner or painting. I've seen good results with paint...but for $2.99 a yard you can't go wrong.

ummm i think i bought 3 yards to do the headliner and all the pillars

[336motorsports]

nice wheel, thanks for the info on the headliner.

[2000mkoop]

I'm assuming it's all synthetic suede. The most expensive "suede" on Hancock Fabric's website is 100% polyester, and it's like $45/yd

seems like when i find real leather suede for sale it's for sale per hide

synthetic suede is great stuff though, and the price is awesome :buttrock

I'll probably be picking some up next spring for some custom seats

[bimmerseth54]

wow that is some sick interior.

[jhstealth]

1 thanks for helping me find that website, ive been looking for cheap suede, fake suede for a long time and 2 pics of girl in sig :shifty

[LegitPenguin]

those that asked...see this thread

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1345894

but thanks for the compliments everyone! i love my new wheel and suede.

[Baoser]

no care. more pics of girl in sig!

hahaha my thoughts

<--prefer brunettes though, tell her to go back! hahaha :D

[LegitPenguin]

hahaha my thoughts

<--prefer brunettes though, tell her to go back! hahaha :D

see above post.....

[Asmod3us]

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll29/Neil1138/Steering%20Wheel/DSC_0436.jpg


Where's the rest of the 997 Turbo?! :eek:

[luke318is]

awesome! love threads like these

[LegitPenguin]

Where's the rest of the 997 Turbo?! :eek:

lol... :stickoutt

my garage is lined with porsche posters too as you can see lol.

i only have a few bmw posters but i have like 30 porsche ones

[TehPandaShow]

I just thought about that halloween costume. :la

[BavarianMW94]

thats not that girl!!! haha but i guess she will have to do.

[carreraboy911]

all that work and it's still - autotragic...

:D

I forgive you 'cause you have hot wife and hot headliner

[Baoser]

see above post.....

haha i did see it, girl in new thread is blond, not brunette, thus comment


thats not that girl!!! haha but i guess she will have to do.

might have to agree...but not sure :shifty

[WeiBCoupeE36]

very clean install....well the finished product atleast. and yay for makeshift dremel work. Grant cracks me up....thats an epic photo haha