why do some sport steering wheels have thumb bolsters, others don't?

ZZZZ · 12-19-2011, 08:00 AM

I have an 06 325i Sport + Premium. Manual Transmission.

According to the service history, in 2008 the steering wheel was replaced under warranty because the stitching was coming loose. Obviously because it's a MT car, there are no 'cut outs' on the side.

My steering wheel looks like this. Notice no thumb bolsters, and the steering wheel rim only has 'breaks' at the bottom. On the back, there are finger impressions all the way around the rim (except where the trim is)

My Questions:

Does anyone know if there are also differences in terms of overall diameter, or how thick the actual rim is?

Why does my 6MT have such an odd-ball sport steering wheel version? Is this normal, or did BMW screw up in 2008 when they replaced the steering wheel?

However, I see others that look like this. With thumb bolsters, a break at the top + bottom, and on the back there are only finger impressioins

I have also seen the paddle shifter version that does not have thumb bolsters either, but the leather has a break at the top + bottom, and thumb impressions same as the second version I shown.

ZZZZ · 12-19-2011, 08:18 PM

anyone? :/

NoMods · 12-19-2011, 08:52 PM

because you have the Canadian version

Yvette · 12-19-2011, 08:52 PM

Probably year from 2009, their steering wheel came out thumb rest.

rovensail · 12-19-2011, 10:26 PM

It's not a thumb rest, it's an ergonomics design so that where you rest your palm, does not press against the median nerve in your hand. When you have the capability of spreading the pressure across a wider area, you prevent the collapse of a little thing called the carpel tunnel...

Coolieman1220 · 12-19-2011, 11:18 PM

i thought it had to do with paddle shift vs. stick shift

Titanium3Series · 12-20-2011, 04:34 AM

I believe the 330i/335i have the thumb pieces, while the 325 doesn't

SGMe90 · 12-20-2011, 05:40 AM

I don't have thumb pieces. I wanted them but I don't know which option has that. I have sports package

ENINTY · 12-20-2011, 05:45 AM

I have a 2006 325i w/ Sport Package and manual transmission. My steering wheel has thumb bolsters (or carpal tunnel palm rests - whatever) in the steering wheel rim at the "10" and "2" positions. It looks exactly like the second picture except I don't have the faux carbon fiber trim (my trim looks like that of the wheel in the top picture). As I remember it, BMW advertized the sport package steering wheel being a thicker rimmed wheel than the non-sports steering wheel. It looks like they installed a stock wheel on your car when replacing it.

This is the P/N from realOEM.com

For vehicles with
Sports leather steering wheel
S255A=Yes
01 Sport steering wheel rim LEDER 1 02/2006 09/2009 32306777630 $383.97

Orion4 · 12-20-2011, 07:24 AM

Interesting> I have a 2008 335i Sport Sedan w- Steptronic/paddles and I have the identical to the last pic. Waiting for my M-Tech wheel to arrive viaSanta

AddictedToBavarian · 12-20-2011, 07:25 AM

I have that on a E92 328 w/ no sport package. Hmm I don't know bud.

ZZZZ · 12-20-2011, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ENINTY

I have a 2006 325i w/ Sport Package and manual transmission. My steering wheel has thumb bolsters (or carpal tunnel palm rests - whatever) in the steering wheel rim at the "10" and "2" positions. It looks exactly like the second picture except I don't have the faux carbon fiber trim (my trim looks like that of the wheel in the top picture). As I remember it, BMW advertized the sport package steering wheel being a thicker rimmed wheel than the non-sports steering wheel. It looks like they installed a stock wheel on your car when replacing it.

This is the P/N from realOEM.com

For vehicles with
Sports leather steering wheel
S255A=Yes
01 Sport steering wheel rim LEDER 1 02/2006 09/2009 32306777630 $383.97

Thanks. It's definitely not a stock wheel on my car since it is thicker than the stock wheel and has the sports airbag. It looks exactly like the first picture in this thread.

CJ421 · 12-20-2011, 08:17 AM

The overall diameter of all steering wheels available for the E9X are the same, I believe. The wheel has a wide enough opening at the top that you can see through to the gauges and not more.

That said, you have a sport steering wheel - see your airbag. This is what the non-sport one looks like:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=616134

Maybe your dealer just replaced the steering wheel rim? It looks really boring ..... like, the most basic one available. You could upgrade it to an M3 or M-Sport wheel rather easily for a few hundred bucks. Steering wheels are some of my favorite upgrades.

12-20-2011, 08:39 AM

For cars with Sports Package, it will have a thumbrest if you don't have the paddle shifters. If you have the paddle shifters, the thumbrest will be gone.

On cars with M Sports Package, it will have a thumbrest regardless of whether you have paddle shifters or not.

ZZZZ · 12-20-2011, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beemer3

For cars with Sports Package, it will have a thumbrest if you don't have the paddle shifters. If you have the paddle shifters, the thumbrest will be gone.

On cars with M Sports Package, it will have a thumbrest regardless of whether you have paddle shifters or not.

Look at the first picture---a photo from straight from BMW. No paddle shifters and no thumbrest either.

ZZZZ · 12-20-2011, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beemer3

For cars with Sports Package, it will have a thumbrest if you don't have the paddle shifters. If you have the paddle shifters, the thumbrest will be gone.

On cars with M Sports Package, it will have a thumbrest regardless of whether you have paddle shifters or not.

Thanks. That's one of the reasons I'm asking, I'm looking to upgrade... but I'd really like a smaller diameter rim too if I could get one that doesn't obstruct the gauges. The Z4 steering wheel is so much better to drive with than this e90 sport rim I'm using now. Feels like I'm driving a school bus.

NiVeDh · 12-20-2011, 09:39 AM

My 2008 (build date Sep. 2007) came with the wheel with thumbrests. I believe BMW switched to the wheel without thumbrests starting in mid-2008.

B-737 · 12-20-2011, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beemer3

For cars with Sports Package, it will have a thumbrest if you don't have the paddle shifters. If you have the paddle shifters, the thumbrest will be gone.

On cars with M Sports Package, it will have a thumbrest regardless of whether you have paddle shifters or not.

I dont think this is correct....
my 328 came with thumb rests and no sport package, no M trim. but its an E92, maybe thats why....

12-19-2011, 08:00 AM	#1
ZZZZ Captain 50 Rep 753 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0i winterbeater Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Toronto, Ontario iTrader: (1)	why do some sport steering wheels have thumb bolsters, others don't? I have an 06 325i Sport + Premium. Manual Transmission. According to the service history, in 2008 the steering wheel was replaced under warranty because the stitching was coming loose. Obviously because it's a MT car, there are no 'cut outs' on the side. My steering wheel looks like this. Notice no thumb bolsters, and the steering wheel rim only has 'breaks' at the bottom. On the back, there are finger impressions all the way around the rim (except where the trim is) My Questions: Does anyone know if there are also differences in terms of overall diameter, or how thick the actual rim is? Why does my 6MT have such an odd-ball sport steering wheel version? Is this normal, or did BMW screw up in 2008 when they replaced the steering wheel? However, I see others that look like this. With thumb bolsters, a break at the top + bottom, and on the back there are only finger impressioins I have also seen the paddle shifter version that does not have thumb bolsters either, but the leather has a break at the top + bottom, and thumb impressions same as the second version I shown. Last edited by ZZZZ; 12-19-2011 at 08:37 AM..
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

12-19-2011, 08:18 PM	#2
ZZZZ Captain 50 Rep 753 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0i winterbeater Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Toronto, Ontario iTrader: (1)	anyone? :/
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-19-2011, 08:52 PM	#3
NoMods Colonel 1108 Rep 2,326 Posts Drives: 2022 M5 Join Date: May 2006 Location: USA iTrader: (10) Garage List 2022 M5 [10.00]	because you have the Canadian version
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-19-2011, 08:52 PM	#4
Yvette Major General 761 Rep 7,408 Posts Drives: M Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (19)	Probably year from 2009, their steering wheel came out thumb rest.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-19-2011, 10:26 PM	#5
rovensail Skipper 5 Rep 118 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Coupe Join Date: May 2011 Location: Coast of Somewhere Beautiful... iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 BMW 335i [0.00]	It's not a thumb rest, it's an ergonomics design so that where you rest your palm, does not press against the median nerve in your hand. When you have the capability of spreading the pressure across a wider area, you prevent the collapse of a little thing called the carpel tunnel... __________________ Owning: 2007 335i Ext:Black Sapphire Metallic/ Int:Black Owned: 2006 325i Ext:Electric Red/Int:Black 1985 528e Ext:Baltic Blue/Int:Pacific Blue
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-19-2011, 11:18 PM	#6
Coolieman1220 Banned 73 Rep 1,770 Posts Drives: 2010 335d Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: New York City iTrader: (0)	i thought it had to do with paddle shift vs. stick shift
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-20-2011, 04:34 AM	#7
Titanium3Series Second Lieutenant 14 Rep 255 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (3)	I believe the 330i/335i have the thumb pieces, while the 325 doesn't __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-20-2011, 05:40 AM	#8
SGMe90 tuningtechfs tuned 19 Rep 292 Posts Drives: 08 SGM e90 M3, 6mt Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: MD iTrader: (4)	I don't have thumb pieces. I wanted them but I don't know which option has that. I have sports package
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-20-2011, 05:45 AM	#9
ENINTY Banned 173 Rep 3,415 Posts Drives: 2006 325i Sport Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	I have a 2006 325i w/ Sport Package and manual transmission. My steering wheel has thumb bolsters (or carpal tunnel palm rests - whatever) in the steering wheel rim at the "10" and "2" positions. It looks exactly like the second picture except I don't have the faux carbon fiber trim (my trim looks like that of the wheel in the top picture). As I remember it, BMW advertized the sport package steering wheel being a thicker rimmed wheel than the non-sports steering wheel. It looks like they installed a stock wheel on your car when replacing it. This is the P/N from realOEM.com For vehicles with Sports leather steering wheel S255A=Yes 01 Sport steering wheel rim LEDER 1 02/2006 09/2009 32306777630 $383.97 Last edited by ENINTY; 12-20-2011 at 05:53 AM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-20-2011, 07:24 AM	#10
Orion4 Lieutenant Colonel 481 Rep 1,572 Posts Drives: 2013 335i Sport Line Sedan Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Melbourne, FL iTrader: (0)	Interesting> I have a 2008 335i Sport Sedan w- Steptronic/paddles and I have the identical to the last pic. Waiting for my M-Tech wheel to arrive viaSanta
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-20-2011, 07:25 AM	#11
AddictedToBavarian My other ride is a Bianchi Infinito 96 Rep 2,767 Posts Drives: Miss my E92 but love my E46 M3 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: North Jersey iTrader: (2)	I have that on a E92 328 w/ no sport package. Hmm I don't know bud.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-20-2011, 08:17 AM	#13
CJ421 Brigadier General 1559 Rep 4,109 Posts Drives: BMW M3 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Blue Bell, PA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2024 BMW M3 Sedan [9.50]	The overall diameter of all steering wheels available for the E9X are the same, I believe. The wheel has a wide enough opening at the top that you can see through to the gauges and not more. That said, you have a sport steering wheel - see your airbag. This is what the non-sport one looks like: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=616134 Maybe your dealer just replaced the steering wheel rim? It looks really boring ..... like, the most basic one available. You could upgrade it to an M3 or M-Sport wheel rather easily for a few hundred bucks. Steering wheels are some of my favorite upgrades. __________________ 2024 BMW M3 Sedan Frozen Pure Grey II/Fjord Blue, 6MT Past: 2021 Z4 M40i Frozen Grey II/Black Alcantara \| 2017 F30 340i Mineral Gray/Coral Red, 6MT \| 2011 E92 335i Le Mans Blue/Black, 6MT
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-20-2011, 08:39 AM	#14
beemer3 Guest 0 Rep n/a Posts Drives:	For cars with Sports Package, it will have a thumbrest if you don't have the paddle shifters. If you have the paddle shifters, the thumbrest will be gone. On cars with M Sports Package, it will have a thumbrest regardless of whether you have paddle shifters or not.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-20-2011, 09:39 AM	#17
NiVeDh Major General 422 Rep 8,003 Posts Drives: '08 E90 335i, '99 E36 M3 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Houston, TX & Atlanta, GA iTrader: (132) Garage List 2008 BMW 335i Sedan [8.66]	My 2008 (build date Sep. 2007) came with the wheel with thumbrests. I believe BMW switched to the wheel without thumbrests starting in mid-2008.
	Appreciate 0 Quote