Steering Wheel Upgrade

[Hujan]

Trying to upgrade the steering wheel situation on our Z. I'm looking to do an M Sport wheel and, ideally, go with 2012-style shifters that are single function (downshift on left, upshift on right).

So the questions:

1. Is it possible to retrofit 2012-style shifters on a pre-2012 wheel?
2. What parts do you need to make the swap?
3. Is it possible to get a heated steering wheel to work if I don't currently have a heated steering wheel on the car? (I found this wheel on eBay but I don't believe we currently have a heated wheel, though we do have heated seats.)

[jparnes1]

Originally Posted by Hujan

Trying to upgrade the steering wheel situation on our Z. I'm looking to do an M Sport wheel and, ideally, go with 2012-style shifters that are single function (downshift on left, upshift on right).

So the questions:

1. Is it possible to retrofit 2012-style shifters on a pre-2012 wheel?
2. What parts do you need to make the swap?
3. Is it possible to get a heated steering wheel to work if I don't currently have a heated steering wheel on the car? (I found this wheel on eBay but I don't believe we currently have a heated wheel, though we do have heated seats.)

The wiring is there for the heated wheel, but obviously not hooked up. You would just need to figure that one out.

[Hujan]

Originally Posted by jparnes1

The wiring is there for the heated wheel, but obviously not hooked up. You would just need to figure that one out.

Thanks. Interesting. I'm better at wiring than plumbing, but that's not saying a ton.

When does the heated aspect of steering wheel turn on? Same time you do the driver's side seat warmer?

[rodsmith123]

This is the link to the paddle shifter upgrade:

http://e89.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=825480

The heated steering wheel is controlled by a button on the right side of the steering column.

[jparnes1]

Originally Posted by Hujan

Thanks. Interesting. I'm better at wiring than plumbing, but that's not saying a ton.

When does the heated aspect of steering wheel turn on? Same time you do the driver's side seat warmer?

Yes. If you had the cold weather package, that's exactly how it would work. Also, the side view mirrors get heated at the same time to melt off ice.

[Hujan]

Originally Posted by rodsmith123

This is the link to the paddle shifter upgrade:

http://e89.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=825480

Thanks for the link. That's EXACTLY what I was looking for.

Originally Posted by rodsmith123

The heated steering wheel is controlled by a button on the right side of the steering column.

Now I'm confused . . . If I don't have that button does that mean a heated steering wheel won't function on my car? Because . . .

Originally Posted by jparnes1

Yes. If you had the cold weather package, that's exactly how it would work. Also, the side view mirrors get heated at the same time to melt off ice.

[Rafale]

Retrofitting the heated steering wheel might not be possible. I am not so sure the wiring harness is there and you will be missing the buttons too so you you will need to make a cutout to accommodate the button.

I installed the new paddle shifter on my 5GT and actually like the ones on my old Z4 better (ability to downshift/upshift with the same hand). I even bought the parts to replace the shifters but can't find the motivation to change it anymore... I don't know, to each his own.