[Alanine]

I'd like to get an alcantara-covered wheel for my OG M2, but want the lowest reasonable rim thickness. Are there differences in thickness between OG, Comp and CS? I've heard the CS is the thickest? Alternatively, are there ways for upholstery shops to actually take down the thickness a little before recovering? Thanks.

[David.m]

I sent my oem wheel to Royal Steering Wheels in UK (I'm in Australia), they can re-trim it slightly thinner than oem (around 1mm) and a 1st class job as well. I had used the M Performance v2 wheel for a couple years but never liked it's bigger thickness, the retrimmed wheel is just so much better. Cost is around 50% of what an M Perf wheel costs and if you don't have a 'spare' wheel to send them you can pay an additional deposit, they will send you a finished wheel and refund the deposit when you later send them your wheel.

My retrimmed wheel

[///MPhatic]

Originally Posted by Alanine

I'd like to get an alcantara-covered wheel for my OG M2, but want the lowest reasonable rim thickness. Are there differences in thickness between OG, Comp and CS? I've heard the CS is the thickest? Alternatively, are there ways for upholstery shops to actually take down the thickness a little before recovering? Thanks.

The Comp wheel is a little thinner than the OG wheel (there is a thread here about it somewhere). The CS is massive enough that only apes like it.

The core of the OG and Comp are identical, as is the leather type, it's the leather trim thickness and padding that's different, and to that end you can have any custom steering wheel shop trim it with a thinner pad.

[Alanine]

Great info - thank you! I've had a wheel trimmed by Royal in the UK for another car and was very happy with it, so will ask them for their thinnest configuration.

Bonus question: is "black alcantara" a good match for the OEM BMW alcantara in the M2? For example, the shift boot and the door card upholstery.

[///MPhatic]

Originally Posted by Alanine

Great info - thank you! I've had a wheel trimmed by Royal in the UK for another car and was very happy with it, so will ask them for their thinnest configuration.

Bonus question: is "black alcantara" a good match for the OEM BMW alcantara in the M2? For example, the shift boot and the door card upholstery.

I'm pretty sure BMW doesn't use actual alcantara, which is a brand name of synthetic suede, and originally made for use with GLOVES ONLY (although the current alcantara works well with hands). BMW's suede is super soft, wears well, and is literally made to be handled with your hands. I wouldn't worry about matching these different suedes, and absolutely choose the best hand-use suede available.

[varooshgog]

Originally Posted by ///MPhatic

The Comp wheel is a little thinner than the OG wheel (there is a thread here about it somewhere). The CS is massive enough that only apes like it.

The core of the OG and Comp are identical, as is the leather type, it's the leather trim thickness and padding that's different, and to that end you can have any custom steering wheel shop trim it with a thinner pad.

As a man with ape hands, you are not wrong

Alanine
Any custom shop (like AZA auto wheel or similar) should be able to shave down the foam core a bit to get it a bit thinner.

Alcantara color I believe is Black or Anthracite (it will vary a bit depending on source, but it should all look really close). I love me some alcantara, but cleaning it so frequently gets annoying, so depending on your care routine you may actually prefer leather.

[Alanine]

Thanks - I'm a big fan of Alcantara over leather - hence this post!

Another bonus question: how many variations of the OG M2 steering wheel are there? I want to keep my original leather wheel and buy a matching 2nd wheel, to have recovered. Mine is a 6MT, with heated wheel. Will there be a part number under the airbag which identifies the spec, so I can shop for a used one?

[David.m]

Originally Posted by Alanine

Great info - thank you! I've had a wheel trimmed by Royal in the UK for another car and was very happy with it, so will ask them for their thinnest configuration.

Bonus question: is "black alcantara" a good match for the OEM BMW alcantara in the M2? For example, the shift boot and the door card upholstery.

the oem shift boot etc might be very slightly darker, I'd not noticed a difference till I just now compared, unless you sit there trying to compare I don't think you'd ever notice. Here's a pic but with light reflection the variation looks greater in the pic than with naked eye.

re different wheel diameters I don't think there are different part #'s across the F8X cars for the stock wheel, from memory I think it was guessed there may have been a change with oem supplier. My wheel isn't heated so not sure if that affects what Royal can do with your wheel.

[M2Debt]

@David.m did you notice an increase in roadfeel/feedback after going thinner?

[Damage Inc]

I bought an M2 performance knock off from ebay, but returned it since it was too thin for me. You may actually like it.

[David.m]

Originally Posted by M2Debt

@David.m did you notice an increase in roadfeel/feedback after going thinner?

going from the thick M Perf v2 wheel I got a sense of more feel/feedback but it's one benefit I was hoping for so could be placebo. Compared to that V2 wheel there are 2 definite improvements (for track/spirited twisty roads): on corners where you're turning the wheel a little more than 45deg it's much easier maintaining a descent hold of the wheel at the 9&3 (straight ahead) positions and for tighter corners/hairpins when you simply have to move your hands the top/bottom of the wheel is the same diameter & round like the 9/3 positions. I didn't like that with the V2 wheel the grip diameters were different around the wheel & also the non-round/squarish grip profile of the top.

[///M TOWN]

Interesting you’ve got your Volkswagen golf R shift knob on your BMW. That’s some funny shit.

[F87source]

Originally Posted by ///M TOWN

Interesting you’ve got your Volkswagen golf R shift knob on your BMW. That’s some funny shit.

That's not a VW R badge, that's the Raceeng logo

https://raceseng.com/search?type=pro...5D=show&page=2

[///M TOWN]

Originally Posted by F87source

That's not a VW R badge, that's the Raceeng logo

https://raceseng.com/search?type=pro...5D=show&page=2

Good to know

Looks just like the VW R Logo… 🤣

[F87source]

Originally Posted by ///M TOWN

Good to know

Looks just like the VW R Logo… 🤣

Yeah it does haha.

[///MPhatic]

I've pretty much always been against the wonky, non-circular wheels, but a drive in a new '24 E-Ray sort of changed that for me here recently. Maybe it was the size, or the overboosted feel, but I liked it a lot.

Still, for me, on the M2, it's V1 for sure.