STEERING A SPORTIER COURSE
Charlie fits a three-spoke wheel to his BMW 318Ti
I was firm in my conviction to buy on condition, not spec, when I bought my 318Ti because I needed it to be a reliable commuter. It’s for that reason that I was willing to overlook its ugly four-spoke steering wheel when I took delivery. I haven’t actually seen many E36s with this wheel, so I can only assume that it was a base model-only item or something, because my car is pretty boggo save for its optional air conditioning. Nonetheless, it’s too large and dish-like for my taste; a three-spoke wheel is more fitting for a BMW, so I quickly ordered a used one for £30 delivered, from a broken E36.
Those who in cry in displeasure at seeing BMW M Sport bars attached to non-M cars need not worry, though; I’ve gone for just the standard model’s three-spoke job, as I actually think it’s much better-looking than the E36 ‘M Technic’ wheel – which was fitted to airbag-equipped M3s.
A quick Google search showed me that the centre of both my current and replacement wheels are held in place by just a pair of T30 Torx screws on the rear of the wheel. Simple enough, I thought. It never is though, of course; the screws were so deeply sunk into the back of the four-spoker that my socket screwdriver couldn’t reach the screws, being too wide to fit into the hole. I had to buy a screwdriver specifically for the job (thanks BMW), but once I did that, it was all simple enough. Just disconnect the battery, whip off the wheel centre, unplug the wires, undo the centre bolt and then the reverse with the new wheel.
I will admit that started the car at arm’s length once I’d reconnected the battery, just in case I’d somehow messed up the wiring enough for the airbag to instantly detonate, but everything was fine.
Being from a broken car, my wheel could use a bit of tidying up but I’m very pleased with the results. Although the same diameter as the four-spoke, the three-spoke has much less mass in its centre, so it feels much smaller. This not only feels a bit sportier, but it actually gives the impression of the cabin being slightly larger. It’s funny how the simple jobs can often have such a large impact, even if only on your impression of the car.