Best Leather steering wheel?

[Nicad]

If I become an E9 owner sometime soon, I am pretty sure I will be in the market for a steering wheel. I would guess from my Bavaria driving days that a large diameter is preferable with these cars. I like Leather, Suede or Alcantara. WHat is the most desirable one that combines great feel with aesthetics that compliment the E9 in your opinion? I like rummaging through Ebay, etc, so I don't mind if this becomes a search for the Grail.
A padded area where your head might hit might also be a good idea.


Tia.

 

[Stevehose]

My vote would be a leather 380mm Petri as used in the CSL. The 400mm's were rubber stamped to look like leather.

 

[decoupe]

Steering Wheels

I'm using an early 80's 320is wheel bought off of ebay - good ones come up frequently but keep an eye on the 2002faq as well. Newly recovered was $150 incl'd shipping from US. Not particularly a noteworthy collectable but I like the smaller diameter and simple tidy appearance. The Nardi I bought with the car is in the '02 - found too much reflection in the CS with all that glass.

If someone offered me a Petri in equal shape for $300 I would jump on it.

Doug

Edit:

Turns out it is the same diameter as the Nardi = 15" or 380mm. Measure twice...

 

[polaris68]

One more vote for the Petri. I currently have a 380mm Nardi, but have purchased a Petri and am waiting for it to arrive from the UK.

 

[HB Chris]

I swapped my Nardi for an original leather bus wheel and I love it! Steering is so delicate and light, like it was designed to be.

 

[pmansson]

Early 42cm leather wheel

Hi Chris,
are you using that very early one, which I had in our old 2800 CS?
Think it´s 42cm and very thin. I have a Nardi in exactly that size, or is it just 40? but the pattern is identical, but it has wood and polished alu of course. Bought it at Nardi when I visited them. Talk about NOS... It was very expensive. About 1.000 USD
Peder

 

[Nicad]

I'm using an early 80's 320is wheel bought off of ebay - good ones come up frequently but keep an eye on the 2002faq as well. Newly recovered was $150 incl'd shipping from US. Not particularly a noteworthy collectable but I like the smaller diameter and simple tidy appearance. The Nardi I bought with the car is in the '02 - found too much reflection in the CS with all that glass.

If someone offered me a Petri in equal shape for $300 I would jump on it.

Doug

Edit:

Turns out it is the same diameter as the Nardi = 15" or 380mm. Measure twice...

Doug, I just bought one of those this morning off a local guy for the 2002. Maybe I will get a speed hub, and use that on both for for theft prevention. I thought I saw some Petris that looked like rubber on Ebay. Do they all have finger indents like old school steering wheels or are some of them smooth Like a Momo?
Did Alpina make a 400MM wheel?

 

[Stevehose]

I have a 400mm Petri and it has finger indents.

Doug, I just bought one of those this morning off a local guy for the 2002. Maybe I will get a speed hub, and use that on both for for theft prevention. I thought I saw some Petris that looked like rubber on Ebay. Do they all have finger indents like old school steering wheels or are some of them smooth Like a Momo?
Did Alpina make a 400MM wheel?

 

[HB Chris]

Peder

My Nardi is 380 or 15" so not the bigger one. The bus wheel is 430 or 17".

Chris

 

[Orangener]

380mm Motorsport GmbH , fantastic handling!

 

[Nicad]

I have secured one of these too. WHile a little racier than I was expecting to go, the BMW racing heritage is something that is always desirable . It needs a little restoration work, but should look the same when done.

380mm Motorsport GmbH , fantastic handling!

 

[pamp]

Wheels

Same as Doug,
The 320i wheel at 380mm, I have a number of others in the stash. Like this one best. Has the back finger notches. One thing I did notice...the hubs vary. Seems to me the shorter hub i.e. original Nardi, puts the wheel closer to the dash and gives a better driving angle. My 2 cents.