My wheel is very worn and I would like to give it a fresh look...do you think an upholstery shop can take the old leather off and install new leather or what is the most reasonable/cost concious option for doing this? Thanks!

instead of removing the old covering I would strongly recommend leaving it on and using italian leather steering cover over it. I used Wheel Skins, and it is seriously one of my favorite mods. it thickens the steering wheel nicely and it's great to touch, way better than the stock one. I can "feel" that mod literaly every second I drive my car. on a side note, it allowed me to keep steering wheel heating fully functional. sorry I don't have a better pic.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a139/PENER/e39-528iA053.jpg

SWEET! That's what I'm going to do then...I've heard of Wheel Skins, but didnt think it would look good, but after seeing the pic of your steering wheel it will look 100 times better than mine now! Yeah, I could also use a little thicker steering wheel....are there any tricks to the install or is it pretty straightforward?

I think this is also a good solution for someone that doesn't want their original factory wheel to get worn down. Why not put a cover on it to spare the original if it looks that good.

I too installed the "wheel skins" cover. I'm not crazy about how it looks (looks too added on) but the feel is amazing. It thickened the rim and made the car feel sportier :D! It feels almost as good as the "MOMO" steering wheel I have on my other car...well almost...hehehe :)!

PENER, do you recall which size you used? The application chart on the wheelskins website shows size AXX for the E39, but since I'm putting it over the original the wheelskins seller says it might fit differently...I'm just trying to keep from having to measure it...thanks!

not bad .. was it difficult to install .. does it just slip over the steering wheel?

not bad .. was it difficult to install .. does it just slip over the steering wheel?
+1...

want to get one for the dirty 30 as well.

just checked the website and it cost about $44 bucks not bad ..

just checked the website and it cost about $44 bucks not bad ..

They're cheaper on ebay, FYI...especially for the one piece...I think I'm going for the Euro two tone with both colors being black...because I like the look of four separate leather pieces instead of the one piece.

not bad .. was it difficult to install .. does it just slip over the steering wheel?

no, it wasn't. however it does not just slip over the wheel. the set contains the needle and nylon thread. the manual call for 30 or 45min of work but I think it took me closer to 1.5 or 2 hours to do it, partially because I broke the nylon thread twice by pulling too strong and had to back up a bit. 1 hour should be sufficient to do it right, but remember, you have to pull strong (use thick gloves) to make it right.

I too installed the "wheel skins" cover. I'm not crazy about how it looks (looks too added on) but the feel is amazing

I disagree. at least to me it looks way better than thin over sized stock wheel. increased thickness makes everything look much more in proportion.
the feel is amazing, that's true. thick soft leather, that's what it's supposed to be. can't imagine going back to stock now.

I also disagree that the wheel looks too much as an add on. it could have to do with the colors/material one used, read further on. if properly installed standard, black, one tone, nonperforated, and someone not familiar with bmw wouldn't even notice it's there beside the nicer feel.

it should be noted that the only part that makes it not 100% perfect is the fact that obviously the cover needs to wrap somehow around the wheel spokes. I was hesitant to put the cover on only for that reason (and the pics on ebay were throwing me off too). I thought it would feel really bad to touch in those places. however, after careful installation insuring proper (read: tight) thread pulling, including (important) places around the spokes, and choosing the method of threading on top of the spokes, I can honestly say it doesn't feel weird or awkward. even driving with my palms over the spokes, which I do quite often, everything feels great.

if it looks too much added on then I suspect couple issues:
1.improper installation. I took extra time to make sure it wraps nicely especially over the spokes
2.using non standard materials, that is anything else than black one color nonperforated cover. I'd say that any of those make it stand out, look more in your face. just look at the ebay pics to get the idea (make me throw up). all I can say is, just like you wouldn't put chrome or fancy rims on your car, just stick with an understated one tone black leather

do you recall which size you used?
sorry, I don't remember the size, but it can be easily found as many ebay sellers have the proper charts.

I use that on every car! You can get them at Pep Boys. It takes a while to install if you want it to fit right and look nice. You hafta kinda sew it on yourself. It goes on real snug and ffels good. Best of all, you can always cut if off and replace it if need be.

I use that on every car! You can get them at Pep Boys. It takes a while to install if you want it to fit right and look nice. You hafta kinda sew it on yourself. It goes on real snug and ffels good. Best of all, you can always cut if off and replace it if need be.

the sewing sucks!--it'll take atleast an hour. appearance wise it looks close to stock and the thick steering is money!...i recommend it. had it on my last car.

I disagree that the wheel looks too much as an add on. it could have to do with the colors/material one used, read further on. if properly installed standard, black, one tone, nonperforated, and someone not familiar with bmw wouldn't even notice it's there beside the nicer feel.

it should be noted that the only part that makes it not 100% perfect is the fact that obviously the cover needs to wrap somehow around the wheel spokes. I was hesitant to put the cover on only for that reason (and the pics on ebay were throwing me off too). I thought it would feel really bad to touch in those places. however, after careful installation insuring proper (read: tight) thread pulling, including (important) places around the spokes, and choosing the method of threading on top of the spokes, I can honestly say it doesn't feel weird or awkward. even driving with my palms over the spokes, which I do quite often, everything feels great.

if it looks too much added on then I suspect couple issues:
1.improper installation. I took extra time to make sure it wraps nicely especially over the spokes
2.using non standard materials, that is anything else than black one color nonperforated cover. I'd say that any of those make it stand out, look more in your face. just look at the ebay pics to get the idea (make me throw up). all I can say is, just like you wouldn't put chrome or fancy rims on your car, just stick with an understated one tone black leather

With all due respect; this mod looks like an END USER ADD-ON. I agree you did as good as you could with the wheel skin kit and it probably couldn't look much better but IMO and I am sure many others will agree with me; it looks pretty, well, average. I have a sport wheel and can only imagine what that would be like. There are people out there that can cut the leather to fit, soak it in water, sew it tightly around the wheel spokes etc and once dry it will look OEM. You might have to give your car up for a few hours and might cost an extra 50 bones but in the end you get what you pay for and this little "wheel skin kit" does nothing for me. Sorry, JMO.
Cc

or i can sell you my 4 spoke multifunction wheel if you're interested...

i also put a wheelskin on....very happy with it, just make sure you take your time....its a 3 beer job...http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j190/e39ner/interior.jpg

With all due respect; this mod looks like an END USER ADD-ON. I agree you did as good as you could with the wheel skin kit and it probably couldn't look much better but IMO and I am sure many others will agree with me; it looks pretty, well, average. I have a sport wheel and can only imagine what that would be like. There are people out there that can cut the leather to fit, soak it in water, sew it tightly around the wheel spokes etc and once dry it will look OEM. You might have to give your car up for a few hours and might cost an extra 50 bones but in the end you get what you pay for and this little "wheel skin kit" does nothing for me. Sorry, JMO.
Cc

you're talking out of your ass.

this thread is not about "wheelskins-yay or nay", but what are the options for a worn steering wheel leather. therefore nobody cares whether you like the product or not. you're entitled to your own opinion on the subject but it looks to me that you have never laid your hands on a properly installed kit, therefore you shouldn't comment here.

this kit is not about the looks (I don't recommend anything else than black standard leather),, it's about the function, and does the job perfectly. not only it blends in nicely, but thickened wheel looks and most importantly feels better.

read all the previous comments and you get the idea. besides, this kit, imo is the only reasonable solution to worn st.wheel leather, and for the min amount of $$$ and some time spent with the car you can actually "improve" the driving experience.

as the matter of the fact, I will take my wheel over your sport anytime of the day. not only mine is thicker and softer, but also allowed me to keep steering wheel heating fully functional.

another +1 for Wheelskins here

Sun and lack of care had all but destroyed my E36 steering wheel's leather by the time I bought it, so I bought a black leather wheelskin cover for it. The quality of the leather was great(better than OEM, IMO :rolleyes ), it wasn't too difficult or time-consuming to install, and it gave the wheel a much more beefy feel. The only aesthetic issue was the lip where the cover had to go across the steering wheel spokes, but that's something that would only bother an anal BMW owner.