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
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
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That looks really nice Mike. Congrats.
I see the CD43 is in the car too. Great Mods.
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
Is that from Tainik? Thanks for the info.
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Yep, that’s the guy.
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Mike Barrett
94 850CSi, Hellrot over silbergrau dunkel/silbergrau hell
96 850Ci, Oxfordgrun over silbergrau hell
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
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
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.
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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
Mike Barrett
94 850CSi, Hellrot over silbergrau dunkel/silbergrau hell
96 850Ci, Oxfordgrun over silbergrau hell
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