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View Full Version : Hey guys, has anyone tried this method from Bruno's site?



Keith
02-26-2004, 01:28 PM
My OEM steering wheel is looking pretty ragged, so I need to do something, so I was wondering if anyones tried this method, or know of a better one.

Thanks, Keith

Procedure courtesy of Johnny T. on Bruno's site.
Some of the BMW E34/E32/E28 were fitted with sport steering wheel, if yours isn't in the best shape, it is time to renew it.
I bought my products from Leatherique.



Procedure
I just bought an M sport steering wheel from ebay to replace my foam one.
The leather, though fully intact had lost all of it's shine and parts of the outer dye.
I completed this project this weekend and it looks great. I have Natur seats in good condition and didn't need a large amount of black dye. So I tried an old military finishing trick.

Simple leather wheel refinish: 1 coin, 1 wrench

Rags/towels
Leather cleaner
Leather conditioner
Kiwi leather boot and shoe sole dressing
Fine sand paper

First smooth the wheel with fine sand paper.
Then clean thoroughly. It's amazing how dirty the steering wheel gets.
I used Lexol cleaner and about 3 cleaning towels. (If I would have had the oil rejuvenator from Letherique, I would have used that. Lexol cleaner worked fine.)

Wait for it to dry.

Now the trick part.
Use Kiwi black leather shoe and boot sole dressing for the finish, about $1.50 from any drugstore (You won't use all of it, but it's soooo cheap). Foam applicator works great.
Get something to press the tip of the dressing applicator on, I used a paint can lid, anything, just not the steering wheel. A plastic tip in the foam releases the dye, saturate the foam and then apply evenly to the wheel. As the tip dries, press down again on the paint lid.

Let it dry between coats. 2-3 coats.

After your final coat, let it dry and finish it off with Lexol Conditioner.

Now, you have a smooth, soft, shiny steering wheel. For $1.50 + some cleaner and conditioner.

MikeV
02-26-2004, 02:39 PM
I used leatherique restore and black dye from reconproducts.com, they suggested an epoxy additive for the steering wheel to make it hold up better.

The key is in the prep, good prep of the existing wheel will make for a professional-looking job...