[djarchow]

I just placed my order for an m235i today. One thing I was disappointed in was the msport steering wheel compared to the msport wheel in my 335is. The leather seemed really cheap compared to the one in my current car. It didn't even seem like real leather. Is it real leather?

Since I have a production number but it hasn't started production yet, is it possible to have another msport wheel put on the car at the factory?

Thanks!

[vexingv]

i've had seat time in the current F80/F82 M3/4's and feel that the steering wheel leather are the same as that on my M235. Of course those other cars had the nice red/blue contrast stitching, additional mode buttons, and the cut out in the lower center spoke.

[NEUE02]

Originally Posted by djarchow

I just placed my order for an m235i today. One thing I was disappointed in was the msport steering wheel compared to the msport wheel in my 335is. The leather seemed really cheap compared to the one in my current car. It didn't even seem like real leather. Is it real leather?

I agree, it does seem cheap. I disliked it from the start. Did you ever notice how "noisy" it is when sliding your hand across it? That, and the fact that it is so hard makes it seem cheap to me. I got used to it, but it was a disappointment.

Just one of the little things BMW could have fixed to really raise the calibre of the car.

[simoneves]

If you do swap it out, I'd consider taking your stock one to put in my 228i in place of the even-thinner-and-plasticky-er one (which strangely *does* have red stitching, even though it's the only thing in the interior which does... whoever specced this car [not me] only picked plain black leather and not black-with-red-stitching).

[pjohns21]

Originally Posted by djarchow

I just placed my order for an m235i today. One thing I was disappointed in was the msport steering wheel compared to the msport wheel in my 335is. The leather seemed really cheap compared to the one in my current car. It didn't even seem like real leather. Is it real leather?

Since I have a production number but it hasn't started production yet, is it possible to have another msport wheel put on the car at the factory?

Thanks!

The current M Sport steering wheel is one of the best ones on the market, period. I have never read/heard a negative review of it except that a few think it's rim is too thick and even fewer think that the diameter of the wheel is too large in general. How were you expecting the leather to look/feel? Are you mistaking the smooth texture of the leather as a sign of lower quality compared to other BMW wheels where the leather is much more grainy? The finishing texture of leather is not the ultimate determining factor of it's quality.

[MrBucket]

Originally Posted by pjohns21

The current M Sport steering wheel is one of the best ones on the market, period. I have never read/heard a negative review of it except that a few think it's rim is too thick and even fewer think that the diameter of the wheel is too large in general. How were you expecting the leather to look/feel? Are you mistaking the smooth texture of the leather as a sign of lower quality compared to other BMW wheels where the leather is much more grainy? The finishing texture of leather is not the ultimate determining factor of it's quality.

Yeah I'm not sure how he thinks the wheel is hard either, it has the softest padding of any wheel I know of in a sports car. All Audi ones are rock hard, no padding at all.

[BEM-S4]

I actually like the wheel quite a bit, more than many cars I have driven recently and even better than the Macan with the 918 Spyder wheel in it.

[NEUE02]

Originally Posted by MrBucket

Yeah I'm not sure how he thinks the wheel is hard either, it has the softest padding of any wheel I know of in a sports car. All Audi ones are rock hard, no padding at all.

You're right, hardness isn't an accurate description, but something about the tactile experience is just off for me. Of all my current cars I like the feel of the M235 wheel the least. It's personal preference, of course.

[midlifecrisis]

I think the leather on a new steering wheel needs to "break in" like the rest of the car. When my last few BMWs were new, the leather on the wheel had a dry and slippery feeling to me. This feeling goes away after a while. This could be caused either by wearing some of the finish off with use or the leather picking up oils from your skin - or a combination of both. I first noticed this with my '08 M3, and has also been a characteristic in 3 other cars since then.

I think it will develop a "patina" in time. I wonder if using a leather treatment would help. I also really like the recent BMW steering wheels.

[bimmerfile]

One and one in our family.
I like the size, look, feel and texture of the M235i steering wheel; my wife prefers the feel of the skinnier, grainy leather steering wheels we had in the in the X1 and 1-series..

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by djarchow

I just placed my order for an m235i today. One thing I was disappointed in was the msport steering wheel compared to the msport wheel in my 335is. The leather seemed really cheap compared to the one in my current car. It didn't even seem like real leather. Is it real leather?

Since I have a production number but it hasn't started production yet, is it possible to have another msport wheel put on the car at the factory?

Thanks!

Both the 228i and M235i wheels are real leather. Some prefer the look of one over the other...totally subjective. If the rim section of the 228i non-MSport wheel is adequate for the size of your hand, I actually (again subjectively, of course) prefer the feel of the more grained leather on that wheel to the shiny leather on the MSport wheel. It feels more "finished", although none of them are highly padded.

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by djarchow

I just placed my order for an m235i today. One thing I was disappointed in was the msport steering wheel compared to the msport wheel in my 335is. The leather seemed really cheap compared to the one in my current car. It didn't even seem like real leather. Is it real leather?

Since I have a production number but it hasn't started production yet, is it possible to have another msport wheel put on the car at the factory?

Thanks!

Point 1: Not only is it real leather, it's a fairly high quality of real leather.

Point 2: A myriad of textures can be created in leather. The "grainy" texture described earlier is artificial -- it's almost always a type of embossing -- and it's usually used on leather that is relatively low quality to mask breakdown over time. It's also almost always combined with a semigloss coating that prevents breakdown. This is the case with the stock steering wheel, which I find to be absolutely horrible -- it reminds me of the steering wheel on my third car: a Geo Storm.

Point 3: A previous poster described how steering wheel leather "breaks in". The leather on the M Sport steering wheel is relatively lightly treated and retains some nascent tackiness; because of its quality, it will wear better than most. For those reasons, it's a good type to use on a steering wheel rim.

Point 4: Sure: shape, feel, etc. is partially subjective. Some prefer grainy, glossy leather to smoother, semimatte leather (actual quality be damned); some prefer manmade alcantara to leather; some prefer a thinner rim to a thicker one; some prefer a round cross-section to an oval or squared one. All that said -- with design, materials quality, functionality, etc. also taken into account -- the M Sport steering wheel is one of the best wheels available in a car. Bar none. It's only glaring flaws in my mind are reversed spoke controls (radio should be on the left; cruise should be on the right) and the integrated shift paddles (auto only; paddles should ideally be fixed in position, not turn with the wheel).

[Tpeterson]

Originally Posted by djarchow

I just placed my order for an m235i today. One thing I was disappointed in was the msport steering wheel compared to the msport wheel in my 335is. The leather seemed really cheap compared to the one in my current car. It didn't even seem like real leather. Is it real leather?

Since I have a production number but it hasn't started production yet, is it possible to have another msport wheel put on the car at the factory?

Thanks!

It is the only M Sport wheel. Personally, I like the soft,smooth leather. It's easy to get a firm grip on without strangling the wheel.

[djarchow]

Boy, I didn't realize people were that passionate about their steering wheels.

I am pretty familiar with good quality leather and how leather is tanned, embossed, etc. from jobs I had in college as well as a friend that works at one of the oldest tanneries in the US. The leather on this wheel just felt/looked cheap to me compared to my previous BMWs with M wheels.

I agree this is all just preference, and I am sure it will break in nicely and more importantly steer my new Bimmer just fine. Thanks for all the responses.

[pjohns21]

Originally Posted by MrBucket

Yeah I'm not sure how he thinks the wheel is hard either, it has the softest padding of any wheel I know of in a sports car. All Audi ones are rock hard, no padding at all.

I have a 2013 320i, it has the (ex) base steering wheel. It was so bad that the following MY they made the next best one standard in the 320i. The wheel is leather but it has no padding at all. However, I actually have a lot of steering feel, which is what everyone critical of the F30 is after. When I drive the F30 Sport steering wheel or M Sport steering wheel, there is so much padding and the texture of the leather finish is so smooth that I feel like I have a lesser grip on the wheel. However, the M Sport steering wheel is so good I will have to deal with this fault and grip it just a bit harder to get what I want out of the car. Alas, I'm still convinced steering feel is lost with these vehicles through the steering wheel because there is so much excessive padding... Cheap leather? Poor quality steering wheel?... Not so much...

[pjohns21]

Originally Posted by Viffermike

Point 1: Not only is it real leather, it's a fairly high quality of real leather.

Point 2: A myriad of textures can be created in leather. The "grainy" texture described earlier is artificial -- it's almost always a type of embossing -- and it's usually used on leather that is relatively low quality to mask breakdown over time. It's also almost always combined with a semigloss coating that prevents breakdown. This is the case with the stock steering wheel, which I find to be absolutely horrible -- it reminds me of the steering wheel on my third car: a Geo Storm.

Point 3: A previous poster described how steering wheel leather "breaks in". The leather on the M Sport steering wheel is relatively lightly treated and retains some nascent tackiness; because of its quality, it will wear better than most. For those reasons, it's a good type to use on a steering wheel rim.

Point 4: Sure: shape, feel, etc. is partially subjective. Some prefer grainy, glossy leather to smoother, semimatte leather (actual quality be damned); some prefer manmade alcantara to leather; some prefer a thinner rim to a thicker one; some prefer a round cross-section to an oval or squared one. All that said -- with design, materials quality, functionality, etc. also taken into account -- the M Sport steering wheel is one of the best wheels available in a car. Bar none. It's only glaring flaws in my mind are reversed spoke controls (radio should be on the left; cruise should be on the right) and the integrated shift paddles (auto only; paddles should ideally be fixed in position, not turn with the wheel).

Yes, the consensus remains that the M Sport steering wheel is one of the best on the market today, along with the ZF 8AT found in most new Bimmers. This is no comparison for the price. People need to do their research before they claim that something feels cheap/plasticky or that their tranny shifts too softly or too abruptly.

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by pjohns21

Yes, but the consensus remains that the M Sport steering wheel is one of the best on the market today, along with the ZF 8AT found in most new Bimmers. This is no comparison for the price. People need to do their research before they claim that something feels cheap/plasticky or that their tranny shifts too soft or too abruptly.

And I say just that in my post:
"All that said -- with design, materials quality, functionality, etc. also taken into account -- the M Sport steering wheel is one of the best wheels available in a car. Bar none. "