A couple more goodies yet to be installed:
I think the hue of this suede will match the alcantara on this steering wheel, which I did go ahead and purchase:
Last edited by freethrowdunk; 03-08-2016 at 02:27 AM.
Steering wheel came in the mail today. I am thoroughly pleased and cannot wait to have it installed! The workmanship that went into it is truly superb:
Last edited by freethrowdunk; 03-08-2016 at 02:31 AM.
Nice!
A couple of day shots: some HDR and fish eye respectively.
Last edited by freethrowdunk; 03-08-2016 at 02:43 AM.
Sexy interior mang, how much that wheel set you back?
Thanks.
About $500.
I have my previous one for sale, so that will hopefully offset some of the costs of this one.
Is that shift knob the stainless steel one? If so, how do you like it? I've been trying to find one that's heavy
It is stainless and quite robust. I just went for a drive to ascertain its ergonomic qualities and like it a lot already. Obviously my car isn't manual, but I always drive in steptronic mode, so I'm always using the knob.
P.S. You can get it cheaper here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/UUC-RK2-Brus...2eca43&vxp=mtr
Can you please share how you bypass/workaround the shift release?
For some time I was stumped by this myself, then I recalled a post I had a made a while ago here in another member's thread--who had a manual boot/shifter but an automatic transmission--asking him the same question.
After perusing that thread again, I found that he never really provided an adequate response, so I decided to test things out.
The base of the automatic shifter I previously had--you can see it in post #84--broke one day while driving to school (cheap, aftermarket, Chinese-made shifter) and the entire thing started to come up and out of its holder very freely. When I reached my parking lot at school, I took the shift knob off and tested to see if the metal underneath that holds the knob would disengage freely without any buttoned-knob engaging it. And sure enough, it did.
So, a buttoned shifter is not necessary to select gears in these cars. I suppose it's just designed that way with safety in mind. You'll see that such is the case for the e46s as well--I did some Googling around the time of the previous knob breaking and came across this information on the e46fanatics forum.
If you wish to retain the steptronic feature however, you must also retain the electronic bits that are screwed into the auto shift selector frame. Keeping these is easy: just remove them from the frame, tape them together with electrical tape and find a secure spot underneath the manual boot area where they can rest.
Awesome!
Thanks!
Installed chrome Hamann door pins. I feel as though they complement the rest of my interior very well:
Last edited by freethrowdunk; 03-08-2016 at 02:47 AM.
Hi FTD!
Imola highlights in all black leather interiors;
A few pics I've collected! the M5 individual interior looks fantastic, I don't think it's imola though but perhaps another colour of leather from the 'individual' choices.
The rhd example was an enthusiast here in the UK and I saw the car in the metal a few times and it's just sublime. Those are M5 seats too, the car was an Imola 530i Sport. I have a full black interior in my car with the very rare high gloss black trims, and I'm thinking of a 2 stage interior update. The first stage being perhaps doing the trims in red and later, doing a full interior re-trim.
Cheers, Dennis!
Dennis, thanks. That M5 is something else. That is more or less what I want to achieve with mine.
I like the black with the red subtleties but red leather just doesn't get me. I can admire it, but owning it isn't an option. FTD your car is really coming along. I am not huge on the chrome lock pins, but since you have the chrome trim it actually looks ok. Against shadowline or high gloss it'd look bad, but it matches on your car. Also I haven't mentioned yet but the steering wheel is bangin. It would suck to spill coffee in your car cause the interior is so nice. I have a couple extra sets of the gauge overlays if you want them. I am waiting on a Sooper Dooper cluster from Paul.
How are you liking that steering wheel? Flat part on the bottom looks cool, just wondered what you thought after a few months.
Was that from an M3?
2000 Silverstone/Silverstone M5 1/34
The trim is actually brushed aluminum, or titanium as BMW calls it, but it still works out. Also, I already have gauge overlays in there, but thanks for the offer
And there is nothing to be consumed inside the car by anyone, so I never have to worry about spilling anything on anything. (I realize this sentence can be interpreted a number of ways. )
Edit: I realize now that by "chrome trim" you were likely referring to the window moldings. So yes, they complement each other well in that sense as well.
I love it. It's holding up just fine.
I bought it in new condition from a seller on eBay who re-manufactures all sorts of wheels in Latvia.
Last edited by freethrowdunk; 07-17-2015 at 04:11 PM.
Yeah I was referring to the window trim. Were they simple unscrew and screw the new ones back in?
Car looks great....It's making me really want that steering wheel. I may take the plunge if I can find one for SMG.
Albo's Official Upgrade Thread:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=532572
2003 530i (Alpine White/Sand Beige w/ Retrofitted Black Plug Sport Seats) - 18x8.5 & 18x9.5 AC Schnitzer Type II Wheels w/ 245/40/18 Tires - BC Racing Coilovers - Eibach Front & Rear Sway Bars - Beastpower Rear Sway Bar Brackets - M-Technic Replica Bumpers - Slimmbones CSL-Style Spltters - Magnaflow 14816 Muffler - Dinan Cold Air Intake - TopSpeed Performance Strut Brace - Carbon Fiber Valve Cover Fascias - Zionsville Autosport Radiator/Fan Kit - EMP Stewart Water Pump - ECS Tuning Aluminum Water Pump Pulley - Revmax Stage II Torque Converter - AMG Paddle Shifters - E90 Shift Knob + More to Come!!
Last edited by freethrowdunk; 03-08-2016 at 02:53 AM.
Hi,
FTD - Automatic transmission E39's can be fitted with the E46 SMG steering wheels and have the paddles working. I did this upgrade with a genuine E46 M3 CSL Alcantara steering wheel about 6 years ago! I like the flat bottom style and will get it as well, I've asked the question to the specialists if they can make it so that the 'protrusions' at the 4 and 8 o clock positions aren't there and they've said yes.
Senoralbo - I have an SMG steering wheel just sitting here gathering dust ! you could easily persuade me to package it up and it'd be on your doorstep a few days later !
Cheers, Dennis!
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