[BAMxi]

Hi! So I'm talking to Alex with BMWSteeringWheels.com, and I have the option to get alcantara on my wheel, but I'm not sure if I want to. I've seen some pretty gnarly e46 zsp alcantara wheels, so I'm wondering if I should just stick to the leathers. What say you?

[ncats07]

I have a BMW Performance wheel with alcantara, and I love it. I've had it for one year and it's still in great shape, but I can see a little wear on it now. It's totally acceptable at this point, and it doesn't look like its going to turn out like the ZSP wheels did, but I'll need to use it a couple more years to know how it's going to stand up. I definitely think they've made an improvement to the material they used on the ZSP wheel so hopefully it will last and wear well.

[Bob Shiftright]

Originally Posted by BAMxi

Hi! So I'm talking to Alex with BMWSteeringWheels.com, and I have the option to get alcantara on my wheel, but I'm not sure if I want to. I've seen some pretty gnarly e46 zsp alcantara wheels, so I'm wondering if I should just stick to the leathers. What say you?

For a DD, I'd like to have Alcantara seats but not a steering wheel or gearshift knob. I suppose wearing gloves it might work, but I think that would be defeating the entire purpose? If this was for a race car and not a DD, I'd prefer an Alcantara wheel.

[BAMxi]

Originally Posted by Bob Shiftright

For a DD, I'd like to have Alcantara seats but not a steering wheel or gearshift knob. I suppose wearing gloves it might work, but I think that would be defeating the entire purpose? If this was for a race car and not a DD, I'd prefer an Alcantara wheel.

That was kind of my thinking as well. Driving gloves in a 328 is begging for embarrassment. I'm just looking for that awesome feeling of gripping a fatter wheel. I plan on taking my car through a bunch of twisties in the CO mountains on a semi regular basis. Plus it's pretty much the last mod on my wish list, unless I decide to slap on an exhaust. Thanks for the feedback!

[m6pwr]

If you keep the steering wheel cleaned regularly, they are ok. BMW now has come out with an alcantara cleaner as part of their line of BMW care products. You can see it on p18 of the BMW Performance Parts catalog http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=658121.

[CJ421]

Yes - I have the Performance wheel, the alcantara has a nice feeling, as in, it's comfortable to hold and doesn't seem to get overly warm or cold. I like it.

Alcantara needs to be cared for more than leather; what I do is wipe it down with a damp microfiber cloth once a week. It's been seven months with several track days in between and so far it still looks new.

[DustinMN]

I've got the alcantara bmw wheel as well, and love it.

[Game]

Don't have one, but think they look great.

[E90Company]

No, not on BMW

[AddictedToBavarian]

Man, if I only had the balls for it I'd drop the $1,300 for the alcantara BMW Performance electronic steering wheel in a second.

[fenixxishot]

I bought a wheel from alex and it is about half alcantara, a piece on the bottom and top. So I don't use it all the time but it feels nice and looks great

[SilverII]

i just like the flat bottom.... not so much the alcantara

[BAMxi]

Originally Posted by fenixxishot

I bought a wheel from alex and it is about half alcantara, a piece on the bottom and top. So I don't use it all the time but it feels nice and looks great

Yeah, I am thinking I'll have Alex do the perforated leather on the sides like the m-tech wheel, and then do either nappa or alcantara on the top and bottom, with the tri color stitching. One other consideration is that I don't have the sport airbag and am not planning on upgrading to it, so I'm going with his non-sport wheel option so I can reuse my current airbag, trim, and buttons. I think I've pretty much decided against the alcantara on my wheel, only because my car is no race car, and I think without the sport wheel or a faster car, it's just not going to seem right to me. Fenixxishot, overall are you still happy with your wheel? I'm a little hesitant because he only does the non-sport wheels on core exchange, so I'm going to have to ship my old wheel to his shop in the UK (even though his profile says he's in PA????). But the pics of his work really do look like he does amazing work.

[CJ421]

Originally Posted by AddictedToBavarian

Man, if I only had the balls for it I'd drop the $1,300 for the alcantara BMW Performance electronic steering wheel in a second.

Grow a pair and stop being a pansy!

[Catalina Wine Mixer]

dont like it at all

[sammy_0559]

Originally Posted by CJ421

Grow a pair and stop being a pansy!

puree sex

[Spoolin335]

Love my BMW PW. The alcantara is holding up great after a few years. Just wipe it with a damp cloth once in a while to clean it.

[MCoupeInsanity]

Don't like it for steering wheels, because the oils in your skin are bound to F it up if you don't wear driving gloves.

People who have it: is that not the case, then? Because that's the conventional wisdom.

I like my M-sport wheel just fine. Better than fine, I think it's great.

[sammy_0559]

Originally Posted by Spoolin335

Love my BMW PW. The alcantara is holding up great after a few years. Just wipe it with a damp cloth once in a while to clean it.

OMGGG STOPPP I'm losing my minddd sooooo niceee

[BAMxi]

God...you guys make me wanna just say f having a 328 and go out and get a 6 MT 335i. That would dampen my goal for doing the ED on an F30 m3 down the line, though. I wish birds shat money on my car while it was parked at work.

[#Tee]

I eat to much extra crispy KFC with honey mustard and drive it everyday, soooOooo its not for me. and im not down with the playstation night club led look.

[MCoupeInsanity]

Originally Posted by Spoolin335

Love my BMW PW. The alcantara is holding up great after a few years. Just wipe it with a damp cloth once in a while to clean it.

Looks awesome, but it's BEGGING for an M-sport shifter. That thing looks longer than my ... nevermind.