Steering wheel ID please.

[penth2o]

10 or 12 years ago I bought this wheel on here. Was told it was the stock wheel for my Tii. Bought it, shot pics of it, logged it on my spreadsheet n packed it away. 

I had just seen a member post one for sale on here a few hours ago. I looked at it and somehow my failed memory took a break as I remembered the one I bought years ago had a molded horn pad and this one today had a removable one.  Dug it up in the bin and sure enough it's different. 

 

Anyways I bought the one today but do any of you guys know what I bought 12 years ago?  

And does it fit the 02?

Thanks guy n gals. 

Edited March 20, 2018 by penth2o

[jrhone]

To me it looks like a 70s era bmw e12 5 series steering wheel.  Don’t quote me but I think it should fit.  

 

[penth2o]

Thanks Jr.  I'll go hunting in the E12 series and snoop around. 

[Brandon]

That’s an E21 3-series steering wheel most likely from a 320i.  That wheel will fit a 2002.  It looks similar to the ‘74-‘76 stock 2002 steering wheel except it’s smaller in diameter and the center horn pad is part of the wheel, no longer a separate removable piece.

['76mintgrün'02]

I agree with Brandon.  I pulled one of those at the junkyard and used it up until a month ago, when I finally found a stock wheel for my 76.  (thanks again James!).

 

The e21 wheel is an inch smaller in diameter than the stock wheel (and an inch larger than the MoMo I removed).

 

If you were to run the e21 wheel, you would need to add a spacer to the column, to space it back about 3/16". 

The horn ring/button needs some diddling too, since it is on the column in an e21 and on the wheel on the 2002.  I bridged that gap with a piece of doubled up brass shim stock and it worked fine.  It did require a little grease though, or it squeeeeeeked.

 

[penth2o]

Thank you guys for letting me pick yer brains and offering the soulution to use it on our cars. Thanks. 

[John_in_VA]

Here's another approach to make the horn & turn signals work, from the Bay Area '02 group page:
http://www.bayarea02.com/2000/05/01/get-off-the-bus-upgrade-your-02s-steering-wheel/

[penth2o]

Thanks john. Great write up.