The BMW i8 steering wheel is glossy and devoid of tactile grip.

[allmightyASTON]

Greetings,

Have any BMW i8 owners experienced issues with their steering wheel becoming excessively glossy and slippery?


I enquire because I have attempted to clean it with numerous leather cleaning agents, but to no effect. The leather appears to possess a glossy finish throughout. The former owner was a woman, leading me to presume that the surface was coated in hand cream; nonetheless, nothing seems to remove what appears to be present, rendering it increasingly hazardous to drive due to its slipperiness. Since 1975, I have had numerous vehicles, yet I have never encountered a steering wheel as slick as this one. Assistance would be greatly appreciated.

[SD1too]

Utilise a steam cleaner to effectively penetrate the leather, which should eliminate most, if not all, contaminants. If this is unsuccessful, consider using a steering wheel cover, as leather steering wheels tend to get fairly slippery with time.

[allmightyASTON]

Thank you, however I have already utilised a steam cleaner, and it has not removed any stains. The vehicle was acquired two years ago with 15,000 miles and is currently eight years old, having been utilised infrequently. However, I am aware that the former owner was a sophisticated, older woman who likely used considerable amounts of hand lotion, which I suspect is the cause of the issue.

[nickoyster4]

Re-trimming would be a more economical and aesthetically pleasing alternative, superior to a slip-on cover, and may be executed independently if one possesses sewing skills. I re-trimmed my E90 wheel, which incurred a cost of £8 and required several hours, resulting in aching fingers due to the absence of a thimble. The outcome is an aesthetically pleasing wheel devoid of glossy leather.

[allmightyASTON]

I had contemplated that; however, the i8 wheel features a metal insert at its centre, rendering this alternative unfeasible. By the way, the image is not of my steering wheel, but rather one from a new i8.

[nickoyster4]

Indeed, that is considerably more intricate than a conventional wheel. It remains valuable to investigate trim companies, as they possess the necessary equipment and expertise to address the issue. Clearly beyond my capabilities.

[nickoyster4]

https://www.dclass.co.uk/bmw-i8-wheel-retrim