Well, after taking a break Ive decided to just get this over with... First, my car: 325i Sport/Premium packages and non-iDrive. These instructions should be pretty much the same for all sport E90's, but I cant guarantee that it is. The only new part that I needed was the wheel itself. ...

I want to express my thanks to bavarian19 for compiling this DIY. I installed my M3 steering wheel yesterday and I am in love. I have posted my comments here:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...&postcount=126

In summary...great feel/comfort, awesome thickness, comfortable thumb rests, and decent looks (when matched to the E46 ZHP shift knob)

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I received my M Wheel a couple of days ago.
I had installed another for my previous E46 and this time around it was much quicker, even with the swap of the controls, which the E46 didn't need.
I bought it from Qalbeli and it took 4 days from Poland to Philly!

I do have one question for Bavarian19 or whoever can check this for me.
When I took of the negative battery terminal I noticed that there is this two-wire cable coming from the Positive cable that ends in a connector, but not connected to anything. You can see the cable in the attached picture from Bavarian19's original post and another picture of the connector I took today.
My guess, this is for the tilt sensor for the alarm? (at least that's where it was in the E46)
Anyone can check for me? Maybe it is just a superfluous part that is not needed
Thanks!

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It's not the tilt sensor. I have the factory alarm installed and mine also has that spare prong.

I suspect it's for a) satellite radio module or b) power for CD changer.

Thanks, I just searched and there used to be a tilt sensor for the E46 when I installed my alarm, but not for the E90.

Thanks again, I was worried I might have pulled that connector off of somewhere.

I believe the E90 has a tilt sensor as well. I was jacking my car up when I switched between my winter to summer setup and I forgot I had my doors locked. The alarm went off...

Finally got the M- front cover. It fits nicely on the M Wheel. Installed them just now. Easy job, it was fun. Took a little while to find the hidden slots for the airbag clip. It really does help to feel for the soft spot. You can find it on your new M-wheel first, and see the tiny slits for a screwdriver. Otherwise you would never find them. They are about 1 inch from the inner circle (where the wheel attaches to the column) or 2 inches back from the front cover, and about at 4 o'clock and 8 o'clock. Everything else is a snap. Or at least I think so -- i have not connected the battery and gone for a test drive yet...

Yeah it's a relatively simple mod...I was surprised how easy it was...you just need to have the right tools...and follow the directions one at a time.

Where did you get the M trim?
And if you don't mind, how much?
Got any pics?

I'll try some pics in a minute. Got my front cover piece from Morristown -- not cheap, I think about $90. But it looks much better IMO. In a beige & wood trim E9x the alu trim does not mesh that well. With the M cover the wheel looks much better, bigger holes, and the whole red/blue M color scheme is consistent throughout the interior (I have the knob & ebrake handle, and the red & blue is the same as the heater control knobs). The M cover seemed like a lot of money for a trivial aesthetic piece, but I am happy I did it. And the wheel itself is awesome. Hats off to Bavarian for the great DIY, and to Qabeli for providing the part at an affordable price. If Bavarian would give us some hints as to how he figured this DIY out that would be cool. I think I could have worked everything out except figuring out the airbag release.

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I'm joining in on the fun, bought an M-sport wheel perforated leather (# 32 30 7 906 846) from Qabeli on ebay. I searched this thread up and down and I did not see one 328i or 328xi owner do this mod, so I guess I am the ginea pig for all you 328ers. Hope I got the right part#. I have ZSP. Its gonna take a while before I find out since the car probably won't be delivered for another month.

Looking for anyone who did this mod, that bought the M-cover and has a plain old black cover(with holes for the buttons) as a leftover. Mine will be black with some aluminum on it. I want a plain black one that I'd make a reasonable offer on. I think 325's had plain black ones.

Stressdoc, what did you do with the silver trimmed wheel cover???? If you still have it, ill take it.

I did mine soon after I got my car, though I didn't have ZSP so the removal procedure is a little different. Eitherway, it's a simple plug-and play.

Stressdoc, I ordered the m-cover based the part number you mentioned (32 30 7 906 847) to go with the wheel (32 30 7 906 846). But now another member shows his part number for the cover as 32 30 7 906 848. Can you confirm that its 847 not 848. there must be differences, I have 847 on order but I think I have time to change it to 848 if need be.

This is for a 07 328xi sedan with ZSP and I bought the 846 wheel from Qabeli (ebay).

Thanks,
Mike

I ordered through Crown BMW and I just got off the phone with JD. He looked up part numbers 847 and 848. 847 is NOT the part you want for any USA model as all USA models have multifunction buttons. 848 has the holes for the multifunction buttons to pass through. 847 is solid where the 848 has the holes.

Again, the part number you want for M-sport steering wheel cover is 32 30 7 906 848 this pairs with M-sport steering wheel part# 32 30 7 906 846.

Luckily I was able to change my order before it was sent out.

Thanks to Realoem.com:

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Just completed the installation. Awesome DYI guide. Made the install process easy. Thanks!

Did you have to replace additional parts with the new wheel, such as the airbag? I understand that the M wheel doesn't replace the stock, non-ZSP wheel without certain mods. I really want to replace mine, so any input is appreciated.

For a non sport package steering wheel, you need a new airbag/bracket.

I'm obviously not stressdoc, but I just swapped out my standard sport package wheel with the tri-stitched smooth one and the M cover and I love it! Pictures to come when the weather clears up a bit.

Anyway, I have my old sport wheel and wheel cover. If you want it, PM me with what you think is a fair value. Although, I might also like to sell wheel+cover as one unit.

The install actually went extremely smoothly, until I was ready to re-attach the negative battery terminal, and the little threaded post that you use to tighten the nut down onto to secure the negative lead to the battery fell out and into the battery tray. After about 30 minutes of figuring out how to actually remove the battery, I was able to button everything up and it looks and feels incredible.

-MrB

hehe. the same almost happened to me.
I was able to catch it before it went down.
I did not want to remove the battery.

Yeah, I have pretty big hands and just couldn't catch it in time. It was like slow motion hearing it play "Plinko" as it dribbled down into the compartment.

I then tried to use one of those magnetic probes, since I could actually see it, but the probe was more attracted to the car's body than anything else and I wound up kicking the post deeper under the battery. Getting the battery disconnected was a cast iron biotch.

The moral of the story is that you only have to loosen that hex-nut on the negative terminal in order to get it to come off the battery, not completely remove it.

-MrB

bmw of towson wants to charge $120 for the steering swap.. actually not too bad of a deal for someone afraid of doing this mod themselves (atleast im wimpin out and seriously considering this option).