How To Install an Aftermarket Steering Wheel on a BMW E36

In this episode, the BMW gets its first aftermarket part. How to install an aftermarket steering wheel on the E36? We'll tell you all about it the video.
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[@qers]

Gotta love the high rise LTW-spoiler on a sedan! I've been fighting the steering wheel on my E36 a lot, but I now see that I got the wrong instructions, I had no idea the logo would reveal a single bolt. My car had the exact same steering wheel yours has. EDIT: Funny, I got mine as a manual but I also have a ZF 5-speed ready to go in.
For others who are also taking off one of these steering wheels, the bolt is a 17mm. Oh and behind the logo there are three indents to make it easier to pry the logo out. They're on the 0/360 degree, 90-130 degree and 230-270 degree positions. You can pry at the 90-130 or the 230-270 degree positions, the top cutout(0/360) is for the logo to pivot, the logo has some extra material there to make sure it's installed straight. I of course didn't know any of this beforehand and pried from the bottom (180 degree) which luckily didn't damage anything but made it harder than it should be.

[@Retroschaft]

Yeah it's fantastic! Really excited for that to go on the car, which will happen next 🙌 Yeah I guessed there was no other option then taking off the logo 😅 sometimes it's just that easy

[@SERP92_]

the original E36 touring cars were very low and because of that they remade the whole suspension design aswell as the wheel housings to accommodate huge 19" inch wheels, are you guys going to do a similar setup?

[@Retroschaft]

Would love to! However, we want this car to still be street legal as our plans are to do some crazy roadtrips with this thing. So we want to land somewhere between comfort and purebread race car if that makes sense. If all goes well its first real trip should be straight to the BMW museum in 2024! So taking out the entire wheel wells will not be for us (as of our current plans) but the suspension will get a full redo. We're planning on having a set of 17" wheels for regular road use, and then 18" to have more of a touring car look.

[@mini9457]

Would this be the same process for a 1997 BMW 318i? The steering wheel is in terrible condition and i want to change it. Also, by any chance can you tell me if a Standard 6-Bolt Racing Hub Adaptors would fit my BMW?

[@famus801]

It should fit as long as its an E36

[@kidgamer1659]

What size is the wheel and how did you get the horn to work? Did you have to swap the clock spring?

[@Retroschaft]

So there is a kind of copper strip (or something like that) on the back of the MoMo spacer which connects to a similar strip on the car's steering system. I think the horn works through that. The spacer itself has 2 wires inside that you simply connect to the horn button. It's very easy! Takes no electrical knowledge at all. I didn't run into any clock spring (also don't really know what that is 😅). I think the wheel is about 30cm in diameter, maybe a little less. It's pretty small but feels good!

[@HeathyRoidz]

I believe this steering wheel is the r383 from sparco, and it should be 330mm and a 39mm dish.

[@HeathyRoidz]

@@Retroschaftthe clockspring is the little white/yellow plastic ring/spring inside your wheel hub, that allows your blinkers to turn off automatically when the steering wheel reaches its normal position

[@JG-ib7xk]

Do how to use the indicators on a BMW next

[@Retroschaft]

Oof, that'll take more research than I can handle

[@blake11111]

What e36 is this? Is it a m3 or something else

[@Retroschaft]

It's a 318IS. We specifically wanted this model because the M42 basically formed the base for the S42.