Steering wheel re-cover

BarryM · Post by **BarryM** » Tue Feb 23, 2016 2:06 pm

The wheel's back and I'm delighted to say it's as good as I'd hoped

Standard thickness (Jack said he'd cover over my existing leather which seems fine), and the lower cover has been alcantara'ed too.

I'll add a photo once it's fitted but as I'm waiting on brakes it's not top of my to do list. I know the actual stitching isn't 'Alpina' but I can live with that and I do still have my original wheel as a back up.

Metrics · Post by **Metrics** » Wed Feb 24, 2016 12:01 am

Very nice indeed Barry, heard good things about Jack and the quality looks great.
Interesting that you had the lower section done also, look forward to seeing the pics in situ.

BarryM · Post by **BarryM** » Sun Feb 28, 2016 5:40 pm

Here it is fitted:

It looks and feels good but I seem to have a bigger gap than before around the centre air bag boss and the top half of the cover with the buttons. I've tried fitting the air bag once or twice and it seems to be in properly. The re-covered wheel is not the same as the one I removed but they look identical so I need to try and see if this can be adjusted as I'm not happy with the gap around the top half.

greenelekta · Post by **greenelekta** » Sun Feb 28, 2016 6:59 pm

Could it just be the extra thickness of the alcantara fabric on the bottom trim that is causing the unequal gap?

BarryM · Post by **BarryM** » Sun Feb 28, 2016 7:55 pm

greenelekta wrote:Could it just be the extra thickness of the alcantara fabric on the bottom trim that is causing the unequal gap?

I looked at that but don't think so as my original wheel had a leather trimmed bottom piece from Alpina so very similar, I'm going to pop the airbag off and try it back in the original wheel and assuming it fits properly I'll then try the old wheel with the alcantara trim and if it still fits properly I'll compare the 2 metal backing plates that the airbag clips into. The backing plate has 3 biggish bolts holding it in place but there might be some scope for a small adjustment I guess.

BarryM · Post by **BarryM** » Tue Mar 08, 2016 8:39 pm

It turns out you have to make sure all the wiring is pushed around the edge of the sprung bracket under the airbag otherwise due to the bracket/airbag having some movement so the horn press works the wiring can push the airbag into a slightly wrong position! All sorted now

BarryM · Post by **BarryM** » Sun Apr 10, 2016 10:01 am

Here's the final updated interior with wheel, gearknob & handbrake bits in alcantara, have stored all the original bits in case I decide to revert back but not sure I will. The alcantara does have a really nice feel to it although it's not as flexible as leather so the gaiters don't seem to fold quite so nicely as the leather variety.

Metrics · Post by **Metrics** » Sun Apr 10, 2016 9:23 pm

Very nice Barry, subtle and nicely done. Must feel good to use too?

Like the lining you've added to the tray in front of the cup holders - stop things rattling around when placed there?