Modernizing Your Car's Interior with a Custom Steering Wheel

Customizing your car to create a unique look is a fun way to make your vehicle feel more personal. One simple but impactful upgrade is swapping out the factory steering wheel for an aftermarket one. In this article, we'll walk through the process of removing an old OEM steering wheel and installing a custom wheel.

Although we'll be using a BMW as an example, the general steps can be applied to almost any vehicle. A custom steering wheel is a fairly easy upgrade that can completely transform the look and feel of your car's interior. Our goal is to change the beat-up stock wheel to a fresh modern one that matches the rest of the interior styling.

Safety Precautions

When working on any part of your vehicle that involves the airbag system, safety should always be the top priority. Airbags can still deploy even when the car is turned off, so it's critical to disconnect the battery before doing any work. This allows time for the reserve power in the system to dissipate.

Specifically, you'll need to disconnect the negative terminal of the battery and wait at least 20 minutes before even touching the airbag components. Airbags contain explosives that cause them to rapidly inflate upon collision, so you need to avoid any accidental deployment. Waiting 20 minutes helps ensure the system is completely deactivated.

Rushing into airbag removal risks serious injury. Follow proper precautions and be patient. It's better to err on the side of caution when dealing with airbag systems. Your safety is worth far more than any time savings.

Removing the Airbag

Before removing the steering wheel, the airbag must be detached first as a safety precaution. Begin by disconnecting the battery at least 20 minutes beforehand. This allows time for the reserve power in the airbag system to dissipate.

To detach the airbag, insert a screwdriver into the small slit on the backside. This releases the airbag so it can be partially pulled out. Do this on both sides until the airbag is loose.

Next, disconnect the electrical connector by popping up the tabs and pulling it out. Be sure to remove both the green and black connectors.

With the airbag fully disconnected, it can now be set aside while removing the steering wheel. Taking proper precautions with the airbag makes the steering wheel swap much safer.

Detaching the Steering Wheel

Next, it's time to detach the steering wheel from the steering column. This is an important step that requires care and precision.

First, locate and remove the main mounting bolt that attaches the wheel to the column. For this, an impact gun can be very useful to break the bolt free. Position the impact gun on the bolt head and trigger it to quickly loosen the bolt.

With the bolt removed, now the steering wheel can be pulled off the column. However, it's crucial to pay attention to the alignment marks. There is usually a mark on the wheel that must line up with a corresponding mark on the column. This ensures the new wheel can be reinstalled in the proper straight-ahead position.

Carefully wiggle the wheel free while taking note of the alignment. If the marks are aligned during removal, the wheel can simply be reinstalled and lined up the same way. Removing the wheel without noting the alignment could result in the new wheel being crooked or off-center.

Overall, with some care taken to remove the mounting bolt and note the alignment, the original steering wheel can be detached and prepared for replacement. The impact gun facilitates quick bolt removal, while the alignment marks are key to proper reinstallation.

Custom Steering Wheel

For this project, we're using a custom steering wheel from [Carblux Steering], a company that specializes in creating unique steering wheels. They have an impressive portfolio of custom wheels created for all types of vehicles, using materials like wood, carbon fiber, and leather.

I worked directly with Carblux Steering to design a custom wheel specifically for this BMW. I wanted to complement the blue and white color scheme of the car's interior, so we decided on a two-tone wheel using white leather and exposed carbon fiber.

Some of the custom options I chose include:

- White and black carbon fiber construction

- Blue accent leather in two areas

- Triple color stitching in BMW M colors (blue, light blue, red)

- Flattened bottom section for a sportier look

- BMW logo and classic 3-stripe design

The team at Carblux Steering was great to work with. They were able to take my vision and design ideas to create the perfect custom steering wheel for this build. The quality and attention to detail is exceptional. I'm excited to install the finished wheel and see how well it matches the rest of the interior.

Overall, this collaboration shows how a small company like Carblux Steering can create unique, custom features that personalize a build and take it to the next level. Their one-off steering wheels completely transform the look and feel of a car's interior.

Preparing the New Steering Wheel

Before installing the new custom steering wheel, it's important to properly prepare it for installation. This includes removing the airbag and aligning the wheel correctly on the steering column.

To remove the airbag from the new steering wheel, start by locating the small tabs on the back of the wheel near the airbag. Carefully lift these tabs one side at a time until the airbag is loose. You should feel a spring release action when properly lifting the tabs. Once both tabs are released, the airbag will detach from the wheel. Set it aside for later installation.

With the airbag removed, now it's time to align the wheel on the steering column. Look for indicator marks, often a small line or colored dot, both on the new wheel and the column. Line these marks up evenly to ensure the wheel sits straight on the column and the controls align properly. Rushing this step can lead to a crooked wheel or buttons and controls that don't function right. Taking the time to properly align the wheel makes the rest of the installation much smoother.

Once the wheel is prepped with the airbag out and marks aligned, it's ready to connect to the car. This preparation allows everything to hook up correctly and safely.

Reconnecting Electrical

Before we reinstall the steering wheel, we need to reconnect all of the electrical wiring harnesses and connectors. The steering wheel typically has several connectors that provide power and data signals for things like the horn, cruise control buttons, infotainment controls, and the airbag system.

When removing the original steering wheel, be sure to carefully disconnect each connector by pressing any locking tabs and pulling them apart. Do not cut or damage the wires. Also notice where each connector goes, often they are different sizes or colors which helps.

To reconnect the wiring on the new steering wheel, simply match up each harness connector to its paired connector from the vehicle side. Press them firmly together until they lock into place with an audible click. Double-check that every connector is securely latched.

One of the most important connections is for the airbag wiring. This provides power to deploy the airbag in a crash, so making sure it is properly connected is crucial for safety. The airbag wiring connector will be a different shape and size than the others.

If the new steering wheel comes with a new clockspring wiring assembly, you will need to gently rotate the wheel while connecting the harness to allow everything to match up without getting bound up.

Take your time reconnecting everything properly. Routing the harnesses cleanly and not pinching any wires will help prevent shorts or damaged wires down the road. Once all connections are made securely, we can bolt the steering wheel on and be ready for that first drive!

Reinstalling Hardware

Before fully securing the new steering wheel, it's crucial to first bolt it down to avoid any shifting while driving. Use an impact wrench to slowly tighten the main mounting bolt. Be sure not to overtighten, just get it snug.

With the wheel held firmly in place, the airbag can be reconnected. Line up the connectors and push firmly to lock them into position. The airbag should now be fully secured and ready for safe operation once again.

Take care when handling airbags as they can still deploy even while disconnected. Follow all precautions and never take risks with such sensitive components.

Overall, reinstalling the hardware is straightforward. Just securely bolt the wheel down first before reconnecting the airbag. Taking the proper precautions will ensure everything is hooked up safely.

Completed Look

After reassembling and reconnecting everything, the new custom steering wheel looks fantastic. The white and blue two-tone color scheme matches the interior styling of the vehicle perfectly. The hand-stitched detailing in the leatherwork, with its triple-color combination of red, blue, and light blue BMW M-style stitching, gives the steering wheel a high-end customized appearance.

The flat-bottom racing-inspired shaping gives the wheel a performance-focused look. Yet it retains the classic BMW three-stripe badge on the wheel center to maintain the authentic brand styling. Overall, the new custom steering wheel transforms the interior by creating a modern, personalized cockpit space. The owner now has a unique steering wheel tailored to their exact design wishes through thoughtful customization. This shows the dramatic improvements possible in refreshing old and worn factory steering wheels.

Conclusion

In this project, we walked through the full process of customizing a stock steering wheel to give it a modern, personalized look. The key steps included:

- Disconnecting the battery and allowing time for the airbag to deactivate

- Carefully removing the airbag, steering wheel wiring, and mounting bolt

- Preparing the custom steering wheel by removing the airbag and test fitting

- Reinstalling the new wheel, reconnecting wiring, and securing with hardware

- Confirming proper orientation and reinstalling the airbag

While a custom steering wheel can add style to your interior, this is an advanced project requiring specialized tools and skills. Attempting this without proper precautions could result in serious injury. Work slowly and cautiously especially when handling the airbag.

Beyond just the steering wheel, there are many options for customizing your interior to match your personality. Consider personalized floor mats, colored shift knobs, carbon fiber accents, and custom upholstery. Just take care to research proper installation techniques for interior mods.

This project demonstrated the process of fully customizing an integral part of the driver's environment. With some patience and the right tools, you can upgrade your steering wheel for a race-inspired look. Just be safe and smart throughout the project.