Smaller Steering Wheel?
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- Joined: Sun 23 Apr, 2006 17:58
- Posts: 73
Smaller Steering Wheel?
Hi there Guys,
I have got myself a lovely knee injury now and the fact I have to twist my knee bringing the clutch up makes it worse.
Has anyone put a smaller aftermarket steering wheel in their car? Does anyone know where I can get this done. I wanted to sell it but I have spent so much its killing me!
I know I will probably loose the airbag but need to know who would do this for me?
Thanks Guys
Andrew
I have got myself a lovely knee injury now and the fact I have to twist my knee bringing the clutch up makes it worse.
Has anyone put a smaller aftermarket steering wheel in their car? Does anyone know where I can get this done. I wanted to sell it but I have spent so much its killing me!
I know I will probably loose the airbag but need to know who would do this for me?
Thanks Guys
Andrew
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- Joined: Sun 18 Jan, 2004 20:49
- Posts: 149
If you want to keep your airbag... and you do... the only option that I'm aware of is RAID. They're big in the Porsche world.
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/RaidPerformanc ... idZ2QQtZkm[/quote]
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/RaidPerformanc ... idZ2QQtZkm[/quote]
- Justin Time
- Joined: Thu 22 Jun, 2006 20:34
- Posts: 2183
- Location: Kent
i liked the look of the all black leather wheel, but when i go to http://www.raidhp.co.uk/ it says fitment is not for Z3's, only MR/MC or Z3 coupe (2.8)
i know i have an ///M steering wheel as part of the OEM kit on my car, is that compatable? There's a note saying:
i know i have an ///M steering wheel as part of the OEM kit on my car, is that compatable? There's a note saying:
not for cars with 2-steps-inflator (e.g. Z3, E39, M Coupé) modul with fixed 4-wire harness only visible after removal of the steering wheel.
BMW Z3 2.0L Velvet Blue Individual Edition
Do what your always preaching SEARCH and you will findJustin Time wrote:i liked the look of the all black leather wheel, but when i go to http://www.raidhp.co.uk/ it says fitment is not for Z3's, only MR/MC or Z3 coupe (2.8)
i know i have an ///M steering wheel as part of the OEM kit on my car, is that compatable? There's a note saying:
not for cars with 2-steps-inflator (e.g. Z3, E39, M Coupé) modul with fixed 4-wire harness only visible after removal of the steering wheel.
http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopi ... light=raid
and you will see Mick Fishwick has fitted one
- Justin Time
- Joined: Thu 22 Jun, 2006 20:34
- Posts: 2183
- Location: Kent
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- Joined: Sun 23 Apr, 2006 17:58
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- topfuelking
- Joined: Sat 26 Feb, 2005 15:13
- Posts: 674
- Location: Pays de la Loire
Mike Fishwick is your man
he has fitted the raid airbag wheel on his 2.8
he has fitted the raid airbag wheel on his 2.8
THANKS MARC
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SYMPTOMS OF A BOOST JUNKY
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2. You fill up every three days.
3. The size of your grin is directly proportional to the amount of boost you’re on.
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SYMPTOMS OF A BOOST JUNKY
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2. You fill up every three days.
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Airbags
I think you are mis-interpreting the RAID catalogue - remember that it is a translation! It means 'Not for a Z3 with 2-stage airbag' NOT that all Z3s have a 2-stage airbag, and so are unsuitable for this steering wheel.
The two-stage 'intelligent' airbag did not arrive until late 1999 I think, for the 2000 model year, so your 1998 car should be like mine (Oct '98 2.8) with a single-stage airbag. There should therefore be no problems if you follow my article (with pics) on fitting a smaller steering wheel - see the Z3 Knowledgebase.
I use a 340 mm RAID wheel, and find it just right. This reduces travel at the rim (compared to the standard wheel) by about 105 mm per turn, and 330 mm from lock to lock.
A further reduction in diameter from 340 to 320 mm does, however, equate to a reduction in travel at the rim of about 60 mm per turn, or 200 mm from lock to lock, which is quite a lot. Remember, though, that the steering will be a bit heavier.
I feel that a 320 mm is too extreme for a Z3, as it will obscure the instruments, and look rather odd - if not a little 'chavvy!'
It's up to you - but buy it from Chrom-Design of Troisdorf, rather than the UK importers, who don't seem to understand that one Euro is not worth one pound!
I find that after a long day's run of 400-600 miles my hands are still comfortable, whereas the original M type wheel made my fingers ache after only 200 or so. For that benefit I can live without the BMW logo, and with the stigma of 'non-originality' at BMWCC concours events.
The two-stage 'intelligent' airbag did not arrive until late 1999 I think, for the 2000 model year, so your 1998 car should be like mine (Oct '98 2.8) with a single-stage airbag. There should therefore be no problems if you follow my article (with pics) on fitting a smaller steering wheel - see the Z3 Knowledgebase.
I use a 340 mm RAID wheel, and find it just right. This reduces travel at the rim (compared to the standard wheel) by about 105 mm per turn, and 330 mm from lock to lock.
A further reduction in diameter from 340 to 320 mm does, however, equate to a reduction in travel at the rim of about 60 mm per turn, or 200 mm from lock to lock, which is quite a lot. Remember, though, that the steering will be a bit heavier.
I feel that a 320 mm is too extreme for a Z3, as it will obscure the instruments, and look rather odd - if not a little 'chavvy!'
It's up to you - but buy it from Chrom-Design of Troisdorf, rather than the UK importers, who don't seem to understand that one Euro is not worth one pound!
I find that after a long day's run of 400-600 miles my hands are still comfortable, whereas the original M type wheel made my fingers ache after only 200 or so. For that benefit I can live without the BMW logo, and with the stigma of 'non-originality' at BMWCC concours events.
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- RAID 340 mm steering wheel
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- Joined: Sun 18 Jan, 2004 20:49
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- Justin Time
- Joined: Thu 22 Jun, 2006 20:34
- Posts: 2183
- Location: Kent
Early cars came with single airbags, so it will be plug and play with a 98 S car.
Post 04/1999 cars (facelift) came with dual stage airbags, so it's quite easy to tell what you've got.
320mm is too small. Even 340mm borderline IMO (which is what mine is). It's amazing how much different just a small reduction makes, so going all the way down to 320mm you'll actually start losing feel and it will feel clumsy in your hands I reckon.
Raid UK are useless and don't know what the notes on the Raid catalog mean even if the note is written there referring to an article no. (ie "not suitable for dual stage cars"); I spoke with Raid Germany and eventually found out that they actually make a conversion loom to suit the later cars (F bei Fahrzeugen, die serienmäßig mit Mehrstufengasgeneratoren ausgerüstet sind, nur in Verbindung mit Airbagadapterkabel atiwe Art.Nr.1220-1) but it's expensive and not needed as you can make one DIY for the price of a resistor; but as already said you don't need it on an early single stage airbag car.
Post 04/1999 cars (facelift) came with dual stage airbags, so it's quite easy to tell what you've got.
320mm is too small. Even 340mm borderline IMO (which is what mine is). It's amazing how much different just a small reduction makes, so going all the way down to 320mm you'll actually start losing feel and it will feel clumsy in your hands I reckon.
Raid UK are useless and don't know what the notes on the Raid catalog mean even if the note is written there referring to an article no. (ie "not suitable for dual stage cars"); I spoke with Raid Germany and eventually found out that they actually make a conversion loom to suit the later cars (F bei Fahrzeugen, die serienmäßig mit Mehrstufengasgeneratoren ausgerüstet sind, nur in Verbindung mit Airbagadapterkabel atiwe Art.Nr.1220-1) but it's expensive and not needed as you can make one DIY for the price of a resistor; but as already said you don't need it on an early single stage airbag car.
Last edited by c_w on Thu 27 Dec, 2007 19:53, edited 1 time in total.
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- Joined: Sun 23 Apr, 2006 17:58
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