Hey Guys, my 550 will be here in a couple weeks--way too long. I took another 550 out for a test drive with my wife this week and I noticed that the steering wheel was different than the car I originally tried out. My current car is 2003 M3, and I'm used to the nice thick sport wheel, and I'd like the same feel in the new 550i.

So my question is, what steering wheels are available in the 550? Does the heated steering wheel option come with a thicker (more sporty) wheel? Thanks all

-dsi
2003 Carbon Black M3
2006 Titanium Gray 550 (awaiting transport)

 

While I like the standard steering wheel in my 545 (assume it will be the same in the 550) some have complained it is too thin. If you got the cold weather package, the steering wheel will be thicker for the heated steering wheel option...

 

This is your wheel (thick) minus SMG paddles:

 

Again, be careful. katheikia's car has the Cold Weather Package (CWP) so his steering wheel is thicker than a non-CWP car. If you have ordered the CWP, yes, your steering wheel will be like katheikia's.

 

OK silly question, can I retrofit my car (to arrive this week!) with the thicker wheel, or perhaps the M wheel? I know I should have ordered the heated wheel option, but this wasn't explained to me until my car was already through production. Thanks all.

-d
550 soon!

 

If you have sport round airbag, you can retrofit with thichk M-tech steering wheel which, I believe, has two bump at 10 and 2 o'clock positions.

 

I enquired at my dealer for a retrofit M-sport wheel (on my SE, its the thin one and I miss the M-sport one that I had in my E39) but was told that it would cost around ?1000! This is too much and I will have to get used to the thinner wheel. The astronomical cost is due to the Air Bag needing to be removed and refitted.