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Thread: Can't help myself . . . new mod

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
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    Harrisburg, PA, USA
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    x5, 640i, 850Ci, 850CSi

    Can't help myself . . . new mod

    It's like a disease (or more accurately, an addiction). While part of me wants to keep the CSi as close to stock as possible, I was already thinking about possible mods during the drive home. Here's my first one: a new sport steering wheel, covered in nappa and perforated leather. I have this same style wheel (but with plain leather) in my other 8er. My son had a 128i with sport package that had a similar wheel and matching shift knob, and it was the nicest steering wheel I've ever experienced in a BMW. This one comes pretty close.

    new steering wheel.jpg
    Mike Barrett
    94 850CSi, Hellrot over silbergrau dunkel/silbergrau hell
    96 850Ci, Oxfordgrun over silbergrau hell

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
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    Las Vegas, NV
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    95 840ci 6sp,00 750iLV12
    Did you have to do any modifications since the original was 4 spoke steering wheel? Looks very nice and very complementary to the CSI in my opinion

    Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2010
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    Los Angeles
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    817
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    94 Euro BMW 850CSi 892
    That looks really nice Mike. Congrats.
    I see the CD43 is in the car too. Great Mods.

  4. #4
    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by uinvyme View Post
    Did you have to do any modifications since the original was 4 spoke steering wheel? Looks very nice and very complementary to the CSI in my opinion

    Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk
    The modifications to the wheel (the wiring, actually) were very minor. Timm's fantastic guide (here: http://www.meeknet.co.uk/E31/wheel/E...Wheel_Swap.htm) explains how to do it, and it's even easier than he makes it sound. Plus, I cheated and didn't disconnect the batteries. As long as you don't turn the car on with the airbag disconnected, you won't get an SRS error code (and I have an SRS reset tool, just in case I did something stupid, but didn't need it).

    I think it looks good, with the same M-stitching and thumb rests as the original. The fellow I bought it from (on ebay, from Russia) does really good work.
    Mike Barrett
    94 850CSi, Hellrot over silbergrau dunkel/silbergrau hell
    96 850Ci, Oxfordgrun over silbergrau hell

  5. #5
    Join Date
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    95 840ci 6sp,00 750iLV12
    Is that from Tainik? Thanks for the info.

    Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

  6. #6
    Join Date
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    Harrisburg, PA, USA
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    x5, 640i, 850Ci, 850CSi
    Yep, that’s the guy.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Mike Barrett
    94 850CSi, Hellrot over silbergrau dunkel/silbergrau hell
    96 850Ci, Oxfordgrun over silbergrau hell

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
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    West Chester, PA
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    BMWs:74 3.0 CS, 97 840Ci
    uinvyme,

    It may actually be a plug and play. It was on my '97 840Ci, as the clock spring on the later cars are the same as used with the cars this was originally in. I bought mine from eBay - I think the restorer/seller was in Ukraine.

    I think Frankie's site has more info about a similar mod and the clock springs: http://www.frankies-bmw.com/index.php

    Gary
    Last edited by Gary Knox; 08-20-2018 at 11:43 PM.
    Gary Knox

    '97 BMW 840 Ci
    '03 MB SL55 AMG
    '07 Mini Cooper S hatchback
    '09 Aston Martin DB9 Volante
    '13 Audi A8
    '90 MB 560 SEC and '94 Porsche 928 GTS recently departed but long enjoyed
    50 or so others over the past 70 years of driving

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
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    x5, 640i, 850Ci, 850CSi
    Quote Originally Posted by Gary Knox View Post
    uinvyme,

    It may actually be a plug and play. It was on my '97 840Ci, as the clock spring on the later cars are the same as used with the cars this was originally in. I bought mine from eBay - I think the restorer/seller was in Ukraine.

    I think Frankie's site has more info about a similar mod and the clock springs: http://www.frankies-bmw.com/index.php

    Gary
    Gary, you are right. I didn't look to see the year of uinvyme's 8er; but Tainik explains on his ebay site that only pre-9/94 production 8ers require modification (mine is an 11/93 build). For post-9/94 cars, it is plug and play. I just ordered a second one for my 1996 850Ci.
    Mike Barrett
    94 850CSi, Hellrot over silbergrau dunkel/silbergrau hell
    96 850Ci, Oxfordgrun over silbergrau hell

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
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    Las Vegas, NV
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    95 840ci 6sp,00 750iLV12
    OK guys, thanks for all of the great research and very useful information. I bought a used e36 wheel with audio controls, but I think I'm gonna sell that to whoever and just buy one from Tainik and pray that it's plug and play. My e38 has been draining a lot of my attention for the past few months. 750iL are no joke. I know some of you 850s can relate, hopefully not. Don't wish some of my challenges on my worst enemy.

    Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Ellicott City, MD
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    302
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    1994 e31, Porsche Macan
    Mike....Beautiful car!! Following your lead on the s/wheel -- just ordered one from Tainik for my 850 and it's been shipped, so will be looking to you for guidance on installation.
    Life's too short to drive boring cars --
    • 1988 M6 (e24) - Zinnoberrot/Pearl Beige (sold )
    • 1994 850 Ci (e31) - Orient Blue Metallic/LtSilverGray
    • 2017 Porsche Macan - Night Blue Metallic


  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
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    Harrisburg, PA, USA
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    x5, 640i, 850Ci, 850CSi
    Quote Originally Posted by M6ermike View Post
    Mike....Beautiful car!! Following your lead on the s/wheel -- just ordered one from Tainik for my 850 and it's been shipped, so will be looking to you for guidance on installation.
    I’m happy to help, but Timm’s tutorial is spot on, and if you’re anything like me, pictures are always helpful. But anything I can do to help, I’d gladly do.
    Mike Barrett
    94 850CSi, Hellrot over silbergrau dunkel/silbergrau hell
    96 850Ci, Oxfordgrun over silbergrau hell

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