New owner at last

[Tierfreund]

Yes, the stock wheels were huge - about 425mm. It's puzzling why BMW would have specified such a large diameter wheel in a car with power steering.

Probably simply habbit. Only the E9 came with power steering as standard at the time. The E3 and all smaller cars came with manual steering racks as standard and (in Europe at least), ps was considered quite a luxury. So at the time most BMWs would have had a huge wheel for a reason.

By the way, these days, since I rarely have to drive a modern / different car, thus driving the bus wheel most of the time, I´ve so gotten used to it, I really actually prefere it. Somehow it feels like you can actually do more "precise" driving.
I believe, like many things considered "sporty" these days, steering wheel size is a misconception. (as are huge wheels, low ride hights etc.). Steering wheels in racing cars became smaller because of limited ****pit space and the need to get in/out quickly. That doesn´t make them the better choice as long as space considerations don´t apply...

Sorry for the OT rant, I sometimes can´t help myself... :mrgreen:

 

[Tierfreund]

Ah, auto-censorship .
****pit: I mean the space within the tub or cabin of the racecar wherin the driver sits and controls the car.

 

[Stevehose]

Petri's for the e9 came in 38cm and 40cm

I'm not familiar with the sizes of Petri wheels - something 380-400mm would also fill out the volume without seeming too huge.

 

[decampos]

All good info chaps.

I'm starting to get a bit lenient with my original no-exception 'all-original' manifesto – seeing as I'm going to be keeping the light coloured interior (it really is an excellent job that somebody must have paid a lot of money for).

I'm not crazy on those 4 spoke steering wheels that appears likely to be correct for my car, I'm also finding the snug fit in the gap 'twixt my legs and the bottom of the Bakelite wheel somewhat restrictive feeling. I'll persevere and see if I get used to it but I'm keeping an eye out for a Nardi somewhat similar to this one:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcolton/3495243643/sizes/l/in/faves-7977458@N08/

Ah, auto-censorship .
****pit: I mean the space within the tub or cabin of the racecar wherin the driver sits and controls the car.

Can't say ****pit? So I guess we can't say ****erel, Bro**** (British made air rifles) or Tony Han**** either.

 

[HB Chris]

Hmmm, that ****pit looks vaguely familiar!

 

[decampos]

Hmmm, that ****pit looks vaguely familiar!

Is that your ****pit? It's the pic that convinced me that a Nardi is sympathetic to an E9. Good show for not replacing the bluedot for a modern unit with billions of tiny buttons.

 

[Tierfreund]

If you want a little smaller than the original, but still classy and period correct:

my vote goes for the Petri.

And a pair of open backed driving gloves.

Very 70s glamorous. Think Agnelli
:mrgreen:

heres one for sale:

http://cgi.ebay.de/PETRI-Sport-Lenk...721573611?pt=DE_Autoteile&hash=item19c78522eb