Now that it's cold out, I'm revisiting this thought. My 528iA sport has the sport wheel. Unfortunately there was no heated version of this wheel available. I could retrofit the 4 spoke heated wheel, but it's not as nice as the sport one.
What would you do?
2001 Z3 3.0i -Oxford Green/Sandbeige
2016 428xi -Estoril Blue II/Black
2018 430iC- Estoril Blue II/Black
2018 330it - Melbourne Red/Venetian Beige/Black
Where gloves....
Set the controls for the heart of the sun
Choose what's important to you,
If a heated wheel provides you comfort-go for it.
Btw, comfort is more important to me,
since you're asking-I would choose the heated one.
And drive with the Grampa steering wheel???? Whaaaat??!!?? How about retrofit a heat element into a sport wheel, use the clock spring for a car with heated steering wheel and still be sporty! Now go do some legwork, figure it all out, then do a proper write up so that I can think about doing it to my cars....
Set the controls for the heart of the sun
Move to the Southwest. Should be low 50's tomorrow.
Solution
start car 5 mins before leaving. Drive with heater ducts aimed at hands on wheel, turn down heat after 22 mins.
On a personal note, I have the heated sport wheel on my X5. Yes it is nice. Since you can put a M5 wheel on X why can't you put the heated sport wheel on the E39 column?
Last edited by StephenVA; 01-15-2019 at 07:55 PM.
Current Garage Highlights
2003 525iT TiSilver
2002 M5 TiSilver
1998 528i KASCHMIRBEIGE METALLIC (301) (Goldie)
Former Garage Highlights
2005 X5 4.8is
2004 325iTs (2x)
1973 Pantera L
1971 Dodge Dart Swinger "Lite Package"
1970 Dodge Challenger T/A 340 Six Pack Alpine White
1970 Dodge Challenger T/A 340 Six Pack GoManGo Green
1969 Road Runner 383
1968 Barracuda Formula S 340 Sea Foam Green
I have both wheels. I like the sport wheel but love the heated wheel in the winter. My leather was a little crappy at the 12:00 position, so I installed a wheels skins cover. I can still feel plenty of heat and it's just a little thicker (feels sportier).
So my vote: seasonal swapping of the wheels- just like snow tire/wheel combos.
LOL.
I had an A6 BITD that was supposed to have a heated wheel but you never really noticed it so it either broke or was so weak that it was a waste of wires.
Wife's 'new' X1 has heated wheel however. Have to say, having driven it the other day in 17F temp, it doesn't suck. She's in LOVE with it (#chixarealwayscold).
But I wouldn't bust my nuts to swap wheels or retrofit the feature and certainly wouldn't go back to the bus-wheel for it. Where its cold I'll wear gloves (SWIDT).
2003 M3CicM6 TiAg
2002 540iT Sport Vortech S/C 6MT LSD TiAg
2008 Audi A3 2.0T DSG (the daily beater)
2014 BMW X1 xDrive28i (wifemobile)
Former:
1985 MB Euro graymarket 300SL
1995.5 Audi S6 Avant (utility/winter billetturbobattlewagen)
Bus wheel...love that one. I have that wheel OE on the 528 (Wife's car). She thinks the sport wheels are too thick. I don't have a clue what she means as they feel PERFECT to me....
Last edited by StephenVA; 01-16-2019 at 09:53 AM.
Current Garage Highlights
2003 525iT TiSilver
2002 M5 TiSilver
1998 528i KASCHMIRBEIGE METALLIC (301) (Goldie)
Former Garage Highlights
2005 X5 4.8is
2004 325iTs (2x)
1973 Pantera L
1971 Dodge Dart Swinger "Lite Package"
1970 Dodge Challenger T/A 340 Six Pack Alpine White
1970 Dodge Challenger T/A 340 Six Pack GoManGo Green
1969 Road Runner 383
1968 Barracuda Formula S 340 Sea Foam Green
Nice options for those who are seeking a replacement steering wheel
https://www.ebay.com/str/AZA-AUTO-LLC
Current Garage Highlights
2003 525iT TiSilver
2002 M5 TiSilver
1998 528i KASCHMIRBEIGE METALLIC (301) (Goldie)
Former Garage Highlights
2005 X5 4.8is
2004 325iTs (2x)
1973 Pantera L
1971 Dodge Dart Swinger "Lite Package"
1970 Dodge Challenger T/A 340 Six Pack Alpine White
1970 Dodge Challenger T/A 340 Six Pack GoManGo Green
1969 Road Runner 383
1968 Barracuda Formula S 340 Sea Foam Green
Yeah i'm not down with the poofy overstuffed thing tho'.
2003 M3CicM6 TiAg
2002 540iT Sport Vortech S/C 6MT LSD TiAg
2008 Audi A3 2.0T DSG (the daily beater)
2014 BMW X1 xDrive28i (wifemobile)
Former:
1985 MB Euro graymarket 300SL
1995.5 Audi S6 Avant (utility/winter billetturbobattlewagen)
Looks like marshmallows stuffed in it.
I am still on the heated bus wheel! A smaller sport wheel with heat would be the bomb. Be awesome if someone figure out how on the e39!
98 540i 6, 525 whp, 120 mph 1/4, V3 Si S/C'er @16 psi, W/A I/C, Water/Meth, Supersprint Headers, HJS Cats, 3" Custom Exhaust, UUC Twin Disc, Wavetrac LSD, GC Coil Overs, Monoball TA, AEM FP, Aeromotive FPR, AEM Failsafe AFR/Boost, Style 65's w/275's, M5 Steering Box, Eibach Sways, M3 Shifter, Evans Coolant, 85 Deg Stat, PWM Fan, 10" Subs, B.A. speakers, Grom Aux/BT, Still Rolling as my DD!
Last edited by StephenVA; 01-16-2019 at 01:19 PM.
Current Garage Highlights
2003 525iT TiSilver
2002 M5 TiSilver
1998 528i KASCHMIRBEIGE METALLIC (301) (Goldie)
Former Garage Highlights
2005 X5 4.8is
2004 325iTs (2x)
1973 Pantera L
1971 Dodge Dart Swinger "Lite Package"
1970 Dodge Challenger T/A 340 Six Pack Alpine White
1970 Dodge Challenger T/A 340 Six Pack GoManGo Green
1969 Road Runner 383
1968 Barracuda Formula S 340 Sea Foam Green
Ahaha! Yep, ya gots me. That day I posted that was a where brain day....
I’d rather wear gloves, rather than be comfortable driving a car with Grampa’s steering wheel.
Take a heated wheel apart, save the element and the button, use the telephone button to activate it, dissect the wires, use the clockspring from a car with heated steering wheels, wouldn’t be too hard to figure out, graft it all into a sport wheel.
Set the controls for the heart of the sun
I am going with this option
Last edited by StephenVA; 01-16-2019 at 01:23 PM.
Current Garage Highlights
2003 525iT TiSilver
2002 M5 TiSilver
1998 528i KASCHMIRBEIGE METALLIC (301) (Goldie)
Former Garage Highlights
2005 X5 4.8is
2004 325iTs (2x)
1973 Pantera L
1971 Dodge Dart Swinger "Lite Package"
1970 Dodge Challenger T/A 340 Six Pack Alpine White
1970 Dodge Challenger T/A 340 Six Pack GoManGo Green
1969 Road Runner 383
1968 Barracuda Formula S 340 Sea Foam Green
Is that a heated 8 ball?
Set the controls for the heart of the sun
Ha ha....Just a stone cold one.
Current Garage Highlights
2003 525iT TiSilver
2002 M5 TiSilver
1998 528i KASCHMIRBEIGE METALLIC (301) (Goldie)
Former Garage Highlights
2005 X5 4.8is
2004 325iTs (2x)
1973 Pantera L
1971 Dodge Dart Swinger "Lite Package"
1970 Dodge Challenger T/A 340 Six Pack Alpine White
1970 Dodge Challenger T/A 340 Six Pack GoManGo Green
1969 Road Runner 383
1968 Barracuda Formula S 340 Sea Foam Green
Wheels, gloves, and nuts: now this is my kinda thread.
The perfect half solution... get the E53/83 Heated Four spoke wheel. It is the same 15" diameter as the M wheels so you get the sportier ratio of a smaller wheel but offered in the heated variety.
Wade
I drive a 1999 M-Tech 528i 5 speed and its put away for the winter ( Northern Ohio) so no worries about a heated steering wheel. LOL --no winters ever on my baby. --111,000 k- Black on Black. NO Salt on this one ever --its a no a no --plus I can't afford a newer nice summer car. Best date night car for nice weather cruising. The Xterra takes all the abuse all winter .. Just saying.-- But I do understand the need for creature comforts. BUT- Its really not that important in the scheme of things. Just enjoy you ride .
I just drive the Range Rover if it's a really cold morning, but my standard for cold is like 40ºF, lol. The joys of living in the Southwest, where "winter" means wearing a hoodie instead of just a t-shirt.
1995 525i 5-speed - Thread
It was 28 degrees the other day, I was oompaloomping around in a hoodie.
Set the controls for the heart of the sun
52º here today, humidity was pretty high at 50%.
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