OE Steering Wheel Leather Wrap and Exhaust Sound Advice

E9Wayne

E9Wayne

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Hi all, I've got a mechanically restored 3.0CS that will hopefully be getting a full repaint and interior restoration within the next few years. For now, I'm really enjoying driving it and getting more familiar with the wonderful aspects of this beautiful car, along with its odd traits (power window speed, noisy clock, etc.)

1) Anyway, before I restore this beauty, I'd like to make the original bus- diameter plastic steering wheel more useful by making it a little thicker and wrapping it in black leather. I've browsed various steering wheel wrap kits out there, such as Wheelskins, but they don't seem well suited to my car.

Can anyone recommend a good DIY kit for the original steering wheel, preferably with some padding underneath to make the rim fill my hands a little more?

2) I've read elsewhere in this forum that simply removing the center resonator in my original 3 piece exhaust system will provide more exhaust sound without going overboard in the decibles? (It does seem overboard to have that large forward muffler, center resonator and rear muffler, but I'm sure it was well thought out originally by BMW with respect to back pressure, sound quality, etc. so I'm somewhat uncertain about making any changes.)

Thanks in advance.

Wayne
 
an option

years ago I wanted my then-orginal 2002 wheel a little larger. I measured the rim diameter and circumference, then went to a place that did leather work and got a long strip of latigo. Used a nail to punch tiny holes every 1/2" or so along both edges, and stitched it together with some nylon(?) 135-pound fishing line. We catch big ones here, you see.

It looked okay or better. Could have used a dye or sealer, cause my hands then, as now, are not always clean.

Removal of the center resonator is not uncommon, but it sounds (no pun intended) that you want more noise, which you'll get. But keep it tasteful. The coupe is no hot-rod by the standards of today, and a noisy coupe that gets dusted by every odd Honda, Acura, Subaru or what-have-you would be an embarrassment. To us all.
 
Exhaust sound musings

Thanks, Honolulu, for the sage advice. Yes, I'm painfully aware that the old girl still looks beautiful, but she doesn't move on the dance floor as well as her younger peers. Then again, she's not bad on the freeways in 4th gear.

In my view a good straight six sounds as nice as anything from Italy, but this factory set up is too restrictive. CoupeKing's exhaust system sound improvement is proof of that.

I'd love some more proof -- anyone out there willing to post a video on YouTube with their 2800 or 3.0CS showing off the exhaust sound without that center resonator? It would help a lot of us make this decision.

P.S. I got a good referral on a leather steering wheel kit provided by aglausa.com. He's checking his inventory as I write this.
 
When I got my coupe I also acquired a smaller diameter leather wheel that fits the coupe hub center, I believe it is a MOMO wheel. Now I have the beautiful wood bus-sized wheel hanging on the wall for occasional installation for shows while driving with the great feel of the thick leather wheel. I can make the change with a big socket wrench (21 mm) in about five minutes.

I submit that this is a better solution as it preserves the original wheel as original and gets a really well designed and fitting wheel to use for general driving fun.

Perhaps Bluemax can identify the wheel I got from him in greater detail. It is wonderful :lol: :lol:
 
Center resonator gone, what next? (looking for advice)

Well, I had the center resonator removed today and replaced it with straight 2.5" pipe, per advice on this forum. She's got a little more sound and she even seems a little livelier on acceleration! But I'd like that wonderful straight six sound to come through even more.

My muffler guy now recommends either replacing the exhaust with a Magnaflow unit or keeping the stock exhaust and replacing the forward (long) resonator with straight pipe.

What would you guys suggest? I want more sound, but not too much* and it needs to be refined; and I'm concerned about any negative effects to backpressure that might result in loss of power if I remove too much of the original plumbing.
From this forum, it looks like folks have done both ways. Thanks so much your perspective.

Wayne

* after removing center resonator, my muffler guy had me listen to the system before he hooked the straight pipe up to the rear exhaust -- so I just had the forward resonator and open exhaust. This was too attention getting for me.
 
exhaust

You can try removing the front resonater and straight piping that instead. Oh, it will be louder. :shock:
 
I just discovered this thread and listened to Wayne's muffler on Youtube. It sounded great. I posted my questions here: http://e9coupe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13373. Can I do Wayne's set up with an original 3.0 engine? Wayne, did you use the Magnaflow after all? It is hard to tell. In sum: I am considering doing some work on my 74 3.0cs. It runs great now, but I really don't care for the sound from the exhaust. I prefer a throaty, deep, growl . Any suggestions on how to accomplish this. I don't care if it increases performance so much as sounds good and sporty. I don't mind it slightly loud either. If someone has addressed this question before, please point me to the best thread. I plan to do some searching now.
 
I don’t believe the stock exhaust is that restrictive unless you feel the tubing is just too small. I also remember Murray mentioning speaking to someone from BMW whom proclaimed the same. When I dropped the bad exhaust on my coupe I plasma cut the skins off to see what made her tick, so to speak. As you can see the front muffler is just a straight thru pipe with a few holes bleeding off into side chambers and the center resonator is just a glass pack. Sorry, the rear muffler was good so I can’t show you a cut away on that. ~ John Buchtenkirch

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rear muffler diagram

I took my stock rear muffler off a few weeks ago and did this sketch based on looking into the open pipes. The length is 30" and the inlet/outlet pipe diameters are 2-3/8" (60 mm). The stock muffler is definitely more restrictive of the airflow than the open pipe Magnaflow, or the front and center stock resonators. There is lots of air having to move through the holes in the sides of perforated pipe.

You could potentially use either the 2-1/4 or 2-1/2" diameter Magnaflows (to slip inside, or outside, of the existing 2-3/8" tubing).

One difficulty you may have is finding someone to bend up 2-3/8" exhaust tubing for you. You will need some of this done since the inlet position will be into the end of the muffler and not the side.
 

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My 2 cents

Hi Scott, a while since I've posted here, but I'd like to help since I was in almost your same shoes not long ago.

First, the Coupe King set up is really designed for the larger 3.5 liter engine and need for larger diameter piping; it uses a Magniflow center and rear can. I also used larger exhaust manifolds from the stock 3.5L engine even though mine is a 3.4L Euro high compression to get more exhaust out of the head more efficiently.

If you've already removed the center can, which I did but it was not enough improvement for me either, you could consider different rear mufflers or you could try headers with your stock rear muffler but that might be too loud and you bring into play higher heat issues in the engine bay.

SF Don knows a lot about this stuff (my engine guy) and he may have some advice.

If you'd like to chat more, send me a PM. Cheers
 
I re-did my steering wheel cover with an AGLA kit several years ago. He is highly recommended--sent me the wrong kit first off but exchanged it for the right one without any hassles.
His kits come with pre-piunched sewing holes in the leather which are very tiny and at most an 1/8" apart (so there are a lot of holes.) It takes a while (I would say 24 hours minimum) to re-do a wheel if you do it yourself and use the cross-stitch (not the baseball stitch) as I did. You will need two curved needles to do the work (forgot if he supplies them.) But the results are very good and it has held up very well. Good luck.
 
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