New steering wheel installed (pic)

[Johntee540]

I just picked one of these up off of Fleabay with Airbag for $250. I also got one from a 99 M Roadster with Airbag for $680. Wasnt sure it was going to fit. May have to re-auction that one. JT

[emw525E34]

John, the 99 M wheels will fit physically but its airbag cannot be used as thats dual stage firing compared to 540's single stage. Unless you wanted to use that like JonK did on his, without the airbag.

Mine was an E46 330i wheel but I re-used my original airbag. Looks slightly bigger with some polyurethene cutting inside the wheel base. Works for me with functional airbag. Does not look that great being a 4-spoke wheel but smaller diameter means it turns and feels great. Does the job for me.

[Paul in NZ]

those mtech 2 wheels look good even on rhd cars...planning on a new illuminated leather shift knob soon too.....

[zygoteer]

...planning on a new illuminated leather shift knob soon...

I am sure you already instinctively know the location of the gear stick both day & night, so I fail to understand why an illuminated item is worth adding on, isn't this just more bling, which is more at home on ricer-type cars than the E34 ?

[Interceptor]

I am sure you already instinctively know the location of the gear stick both day & night, so I fail to understand why an illuminated item is worth adding on, isn't this just more bling, which is more at home on ricer-type cars than the E34 ?

Well, you also probably know the position of the A/C dials instinctively, too - but I doubt you'll take the bulbs out of them because of that! Same goes for center console 4-way window switch, etc... You got my point...

[Jay 535i]

I am sure you already instinctively know the location of the gear stick both day & night, so I fail to understand why an illuminated item is worth adding on, isn't this just more bling, which is more at home on ricer-type cars than the E34 ?

It's not needless ricer bling, IMHO -- it's adding to the genuine BMW ambiance of the interior.

[Interceptor]

It's not needless ricer bling, IMHO -- it's adding to the genuine BMW ambiance of the interior.

Anyway, I think it's not possible to pimp your car by retrofitting genuine BMW parts - maybe cheap ass chinese plastic parts, but not OEM stuff.

[kyleN20]

looks great

[Paul in NZ]

in a way the dashboard is already bling isnt it...i mean how many buttons do we need?IMO a illuminated gearknob will be the period at th end of the sentence.

[casurfer911]

in a way the dashboard is already bling isnt it...i mean how many buttons do we need?IMO a illuminated gearknob will be the period at th end of the sentence.

with a little bit of work and about 3 dollars, you can make your own illuminated gear knob. Go to radioshack and buy a red superbright led, pop off the shift pattern and unscrew the plastic plate. with a thumbtack scratch out some of the silver paint inside the pattern. Then drill a hole down into the shaft and run two very thin wires and mount the led underneath. Hotglue the pattern back on, tap the wires along with a 600 ohm resistor into the hazard switch light and your good to go. It takes a little more work than that, but i looks just as good as the one you buy from the factory.