DIY: e46 Steering wheel recover

Thanks to Rick for all the tips.

I decided it was time to redo my steering wheel as it is shiny and very worn at the top and sides.

To remove the Steering wheel:

Disconnect the battery and wait 15 min. I only waited 2 min and felt like Mission Impossible tinkering with the airbag.

Starighten steering wheel. Use a T30 Torx bit to loosen screws behind steering wheel.
Remove "traingle" airbag and disconnect the plug on the wheel. Not the airbag itself.

Use a No. 16 to remove centre nut. Notice the marks on the steering wheel and "gear". Make sure they line up when replacing.



I bought two colours. Black and grey. Black for stitching and then decided the cross stitching will be grey to compliment the interior and be unique.

This is how the steering wheel looked before.







Get a blade and start cutting the stitching. Be careful not to cut the leather.



I found it easiest to start at the back







Remove from steering wheel and seperate the T-shape connected at the bottom from the rest of the steering wheel leather.



Now you have your template

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Grab a roller cutter, your leather, and a marker (not permanent) and some weights and trace out the two templates.





Stitch the New Leather exactly like the old one. Remember to attach the "T" section at the bottom just like it was. I have tothank my girlfriend here. She insisted she also contribute and she has much more experience than i have with stitching so i happily obliged. She did a great job!

You should now have a Round shape with "mickey mouse" ears and a T shape at the bottom.

Test the shape over the steering wheel and when happy lightly coat the edge of the steering wheel with this stuff:



Wrap cover around steering hweel and position as you see fit. Remember to wait for the glue to become sticky before applying.

PATIENCE is the key here. Coat the steering wheel and stick the remaing leather as it was. For the tricky parts on the inside of the wheel where the two sides of the leather meet, use both thumbs to press them as close as you can to each other.

TIP: I started with the T shape at the bottom. Found it easier.







And then on the car.



The Grey cross stitching is not done yet as i needed the car today but should have it done this weekend.