[BEM-S4]

After driving our E46 for a few days I really enjoyed the perforated leather sides on the wheel and started to think about custom options for my M235. I did not like any of the OEM options from BMW, alcantara does not work well with aggressive OCD and all of them lose heat (which I have).

There are DIY wheel cover options for $50 or Coby will do an alcantara one for you for around $200. After a lot of online digging and research I came across Dallas Custom Steering Wheel. I traded a few emails with Donald there and was confident that he'd be able to do what I wanted. They can do literally anything you want and the options are limitless. I opted for a modern version of the E46 ZHP wheel on my father's car, with the red stripe at top because why not. I sent Donald my wheel core and emergency brake handle to match the coral red.

Removing the wheel is very straight forward but learn from my waste of time and TAKE PICTURES as you go. Putting it back together is a jigsaw puzzle of wires. The torque spec for center bolt is 62nm.

I'm really happy with the result and can definitely recommend Dallas Custom. The materials and craftsmanship are top notch, much nicer than the stock upholstery I sent them to start with. They can't guarantee the heat will still work but mine does. Yours may or may not. For me it was ok being a variable. Pricing varies based on options, shipping etc but figure $400-500. I think less if you go alcantara but I'm not really sure since I didn't investigate that option.

[3rdcoast228i]

Certainly unique, I like it a lot. Good job

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by 3rdcoast228i

Certainly unique, I like it a lot. Good job

Thanks! I am really pleased with the way it turned out - took elements from various wheels (and eras of wheels) that were BMW OEM and they did a nice job of bringing it all together into something unique but at the same time maintains that OEM+ look.

I saw Callaway discussing this for the shooting brake they do, and it's a good way of putting it. My goal for the car is what BMW would have done if there was a little more room in the budget, nothing too crazy.

[K8_M235i]

Looks awesome! I really like the look and feel of alcantara, but I'm scared of the longterm condition with my car being a daily. This makes me lean towards a wheel like yours, I love the feel of perforated leather too.

How thick did you have them make it? Similar to stock f23 or e9x m3 thick?

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by K8_M235i

Looks awesome! I really like the look and feel of alcantara, but I'm scared of the longterm condition with my car being a daily. This makes me lean towards a wheel like yours, I love the feel of perforated leather too.

How thick did you have them make it? Similar to stock f23 or e9x m3 thick?

It's very similar to stock perhaps a tad thicker. I've been in the X5 with a pretty thin wheel for the last 10 days so my frame of reference may be a tad off.

Think the hide they used is better quality and probably thicker than the stock pleather feel stuff.

[K8_M235i]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

It's very similar to stock perhaps a tad thicker. I've been in the X5 with a pretty thin wheel for the last 10 days so my frame of reference may be a tad off.

Think the hide they used is better quality and probably thicker than the stock pleather feel stuff.

I will look into them when I decide to upgrade my wheel. I think I like the feel of thick wheels.

I'm sure they could do that.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by K8_M235i

I will look into them when I decide to upgrade my wheel. I think I like the feel of thick wheels.

I'm sure they could do that.

I was chatting with Cat at IND about another matter and they refer work out to Dallas when needed as well. Apparently I lucked out when the Google machine spit them out in the first place.

[CE750Jockey]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

I was chatting with Cat at IND about another matter and they refer work out to Dallas when needed as well. Apparently I lucked out when the Google machine spit them out in the first place.

The steering wheel looks great. I might do it myself. Now, admittedly I haven't searched the forum, but do you know anyone who's recovered their seat with some decent leather? Yes, I realize this would be pricey, but I'd consider replacing this thing they call Dakota "leather" with something nice, that looked, smelled and felt like something that once covered an animal.

[Maynard]

That really looks great. How hard is it to swap out the wheel? did you get a second-hand core?

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by Maynard

That really looks great. How hard is it to swap out the wheel? did you get a second-hand core?

No I sent him my core. It's not hard at all the nut is a little tough to loosen its on really tight. Otherwise it's just a lot of routing wires in the spaces they're meant to go and plugging them in.

That said if you get yourself in trouble trying to re-wire the whole thing you could take the mess to your dealer and have them fix it up for you in about 15 minutes.

[jkoral]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

After a lot of online digging and research I came across Dallas Custom Steering Wheel.

A couple years on, how is the wheel holding up?

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by jkoral

A couple years on, how is the wheel holding up?

Still looks brand new - but I do maybe 5K per year in that car so it's not getting abused. I also don't put any kind of lotion on my hands, and I use leather cleaner and conditioner on the wheel every few weeks. No complaints whatsoever, I just can't comment on how it would hold up under less than ideal circumstances since I haven't torture tested it.