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      01-20-2010, 07:56 AM   #1
Huz-Z
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Scratched Steering Wheel Spokes

The previous owner of my Z4 must have been a bling happy neanderthal, as he scratched the bejeepers out of the aluminum steering wheel spokes in a couple of spots. The car is a 2006 3.0 Si with a multi-function wheel and paddle shifters.

My question - Is it possible to get new spoke covers and are they expensive? Can they be installed by me, or should the shop do it?

Thanks Guys!
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      01-20-2010, 09:26 AM   #2
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Should be BMW Part #32346785705 . Try Tischer BMW @ getbmwparts.com for pricing. Not sure on difficulty in changing.
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      01-20-2010, 01:18 PM   #3
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As for a piece of plastic they're outrageously expensive... I think it's like $250. Money wise on the other hand, the price is ok.
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      01-20-2010, 06:01 PM   #4
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Metman - thanks for that! I emailed Tischer and got a reply in about an hour. They do have the spoke covers for the multi-function wheel on my 2006 Z4. And the price, while not cheap at $169 for the set, is not horribly expensive either. And the parts are metal, not plastic.

Does anyone know if this is simply a matter of removing the existing covers and installing the new ones? Do the switches and airbag make this a complex bit of work? Or can the Saturday morning amateur (Me!) handle the job?

Thanks in advance!!!
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      01-20-2010, 09:22 PM   #5
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This thread should help, should be a pretty easy job.


http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79735
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      01-20-2010, 10:37 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Huz-Z View Post
And the parts are metal, not plastic.
I am fairly sure you are incorrect about this as they are plastic in the M. The trim on the wheel looks just like the door handle inserts(which are also plastic). They have a "metal look" to them, but it is just a finish. I personally think it is strange BMW uses real aluminum on the dash and center console, but plastic on the doors and steering wheel...

My black wheel spokes are also scratched up from the PO.
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      01-21-2010, 06:07 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chickdr View Post
I am fairly sure you are incorrect about this as they are plastic in the M. The trim on the wheel looks just like the door handle inserts(which are also plastic). They have a "metal look" to them, but it is just a finish. I personally think it is strange BMW uses real aluminum on the dash and center console, but plastic on the doors and steering wheel...

My black wheel spokes are also scratched up from the PO.
The trim on the door handles is plastic; I've had the handle trim off the passenge door so I can confirm that. However, the finish on the steering wheel trim appears to me to be metal.

The scratches on the spokes of my steering wheel look like scratches in metal, not plastic, as I recall. The car is in storage so I can't go out and check to verify. However, the spoke material certainly seemed like metal in terms of hardness etc. Tell you what - I'll pop an email off to the folks at Tischer and ask them. I'll let you know what they say!

Could it be that this is one area where the Si tops the M? Dare I think it?
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      01-21-2010, 08:19 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Huz-Z View Post
Could it be that this is one area where the Si tops the M? Dare I think it?
It certainly could be the case as the si has the "chrome line" package which the M does not have. The steering wheel rim may be thicker but the trim is cheaper...
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      01-21-2010, 08:48 AM   #9
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If the steering wheel trim is metal then it can be polished. If you have the time, pull off your existing trim and have a look. Worse case scenario is you have to order/replace the trim.
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      01-21-2010, 11:49 AM   #10
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Leatherz do leather inserts in various colours.
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      01-21-2010, 12:11 PM   #11
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Leatherz do leather inserts in various colours.
I have never seen those before. Pretty cool but only for non MFW's. I also noticed it says this in their description: If your painted plastic wheel tabs have not started to peel, don't worry, they will.
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      01-21-2010, 01:32 PM   #12
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I've just taken a look at a picture I took of my car's interior, that shows the scratch on the steering wheel. If that is not metal, well its the best metal-looking plastic I've EVER seen in my life!

Can anyone with ready access to their car comment? Not that anyone's life depends on it - just want to know!

Huzz
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      01-21-2010, 01:51 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Huz-Z View Post
I've just taken a look at a picture I took of my car's interior, that shows the scratch on the steering wheel. If that is not metal, well its the best metal-looking plastic I've EVER seen in my life!

Can anyone with ready access to their car comment? Not that anyone's life depends on it - just want to know!

Huzz
It could be a US v. Canada thing.

The steering wheels tabs on US cars are most certainly plastic (unless the si is different).
I know the euro cars used metal in places where US cars had plastic (i.e. shift knob), so perhaps the cars differ...
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      01-22-2010, 09:04 PM   #14
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The spokes on my 03 Z4 2.5i steering wheel are definitely plastic.
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      02-16-2010, 06:41 AM   #15
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Can ANYONE here comment on what is involved in changing out the silver trim on the steering wheel?

I really don't want to pop the airbag or mess up the multi-function buttons, so I'm wary of attempting this without knowing first what needs to be done.
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      02-16-2010, 07:20 AM   #16
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Post some pictures!

I don't know all the details as I've been an owner for a whole 2 weeks but my 3.0i has what I believe to be the multi-function steering wheel. It definitely is metal. Mine has a few scratches as well.

Here's a picture of the same steering wheel on another car where I bought mine.

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      02-16-2010, 07:23 AM   #17
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plastic over here...
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      02-16-2010, 07:38 AM   #18
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Thanks Guys, but I'm really not concerned about what material the silver spoke covers are made of. That is the multi-function wheel, by the way.

I want to know how to replace the spoke covers, and if that involves difficult interaction with the multi-function switches and if it could potentially damage or trigger the airbag.
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      02-16-2010, 08:13 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Huz-Z View Post
Thanks Guys, but I'm really not concerned about what material the silver spoke covers are made of. That is the multi-function wheel, by the way.

I want to know how to replace the spoke covers, and if that involves difficult interaction with the multi-function switches and if it could potentially damage or trigger the airbag.
Hi, I think the covers have little screws in the back of the steering wheels and thats how you remove them but I am not 100% sure. By the way if these spokes fit the M steering wheel then I would like to buy the scratched ones from you so I can conduct a little experiment. I want to paint them by body color to see how they look on the steering wheel. let me know, thanks.
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      02-16-2010, 08:33 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BMWI6 View Post
Hi, I think the covers have little screws in the back of the steering wheels and thats how you remove them but I am not 100% sure. By the way if these spokes fit the M steering wheel then I would like to buy the scratched ones from you so I can conduct a little experiment. I want to paint them by body color to see how they look on the steering wheel. let me know, thanks.
Sure - but my car is in storage until May so I won't be able to attempt this until then.
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      02-16-2010, 08:15 PM   #21
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The spokes can be removed easily. They have screws in the back. The price for a new set is ridiculously high and you'll be better off buying a complete steering wheen for that matter.
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      02-16-2010, 09:00 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Spaceman Spiff View Post
The spokes can be removed easily. They have screws in the back. The price for a new set is ridiculously high and you'll be better off buying a complete steering wheen for that matter.
They are not really that bad. I think it was $172/set with the discounts available online. That is much less than a whole wheel.
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