1968-1973 STEERING WHEEL ID

[Slavs]

The smooth horn pad 3 spoke wheel of 1968 is of much higher quality as the horn actuation buttons in the spokes are metal, vs. plastic as in later years. The polished bezel surrounding the smooth horn pad is a part of the steering wheel structure vs. being just a piece of plastic and part of the pad itself as on later years. The difference in quality is very noticeable even in the pics above. The 68 wheel is also the largest of all the wheels I've seen on 02s, but it makes for effortless steering.

 

I’ve also had a factory wood wheel that was otherwise identical to the 68 wheel. I removed it from a BMW 2.800 Sedan at a wrecking yard. I believe it was fitted to some 02s in Great Britain.

 

The 1966-67 1600s were fitted with the smaller and more elegant single spoke steering wheel. Horn actuation is a little awkward, but  instrument visibility is unsurpassed. It mates well with the 66-67 trim and interior.

 

 

Edited May 11, 2020 by Slavs

[davidhunternyc]

... still, would the sports wheel pass muster with concours judges or would points be deducted?

[Conserv]

5 hours ago, davidhunternyc said:

... still, would the sports wheel pass muster with concours judges or would points be deducted?

 

I wouldn’t worry much about it, David. If you’re concerned about it, it would take all of five minutes to swap steering wheels... 

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

[_Markos_]

4 hours ago, Conserv said:

 

I wouldn’t worry much about it, David. If you’re concerned about it, it would take all of five minutes to swap steering wheels... 

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

 

one problem with swapping the factory wheels is that the inserts start to fail on the horn pads. The inserts hold the ribbed nylon plugs that connect the horn pad to the wheel. After a while, the plastic inserts that secure the horn pad to the plugs start to crack

 

Also, don’t pry up on the horn pad. There is a small access hole on the wheel to push on the pad from the backside with a small screwdriver.

[Flunder]

There were lots of different steering wheels offered by BMW during the 68 to 73 timeframe for the 02. It seems that most of them have been pictured and discussed previously in this thread. For some of us the factory bus wheels look right for an 02 and there are certainly lots of good OEM choices. One of my favorites is the wood rim Sport Wheel variant that came standard on the 1600 ti.

It has the Bauhaus good looks of the slotted steel three spoke pleather rim 2002 ti wheel with the big center horn pad combined with the old school charm of a pretty wood rim that makes this bus wheel a good choice for a short-bumper 02

Edited November 17, 2019 by Flunder

[maharaja]

US 1972 tii, November 71 production

[JohnP_02]

Great discussion, I love details! Another interesting side note about the sport wheel, the 2002 version was 40cm and had a vinyl wrap, the e9 version that looks identical was 42cm and had a leather wrap. It’s very hard to tell them apart visually especially in crappy eBay ads with people that don’t take the time measure the diameter. The thing I look for is the whether it has the horn contact pin for an 02 or the ring for an e9 as it’s a dead giveaway and It’s highly unlikely anyone ever separated the wheel from the hub except wackos like Markos ?. Here is a minty tii sport wheel I have. The vinyl is so nice it’s really hard to tell it’s not leather, but it’s not. 
 

 

Edited November 28, 2023 by JohnP_02

[Conserv]

3 hours ago, JohnP_02 said:

Great discussion, I love details! Another interesting side note about the sport wheel, the 2002 tii version was 40cm and had a vinyl wrap, the e9 version that looks identical was 42cm and had a leather wrap. It’s very hard to tell them apart visually especially in crappy eBay ads with people that don’t take the time measure the diameter. The thing I look for is the whether it has the horn contact pin for an 02 or the ring for an e9 as it’s a dead giveaway and It’s highly unlikely anyone ever separated the wheel from the hub except wackos like Markos ?. Here is a minty tii sport wheel I have. The vinyl is so nice it’s really hard to tell it’s not leather, but it’s not. 
 

 

 

Gorgeous example, John!

 

And thanks for your explanation of the two nearly-identical wheels.

 

What’s the date on the example above — it’s two digits on the hub but I can’t recall whether they’re on the front or rear?

 

Below are brochures from April 1968 (“IV/68”) and August 1968 (“VIII/68”), showing examples of the sport wheel. In the earlier brochure, it’s been installed on the new 2002, or at least that is implied. In the later brochure, I can’t tell whether it’s been installed on a 1600, 1600ti, or a 2002. Regardless, the pleather-rimmed sport wheel has been with us for quite some time!

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

Edited November 22, 2019 by Conserv

[JohnP_02]

Steve, I don’t recall seeing a date on it. I’ll have to dig it out and check sometime. Thanks for the old brochure pics, it is a great way, and sometimes the only way to confirm timelines. Never thought being a steering wheel nerd would take so much time and research! ?

[Conserv]

On 11/22/2019 at 6:55 PM, JohnP_02 said:

Steve, I don’t recall seeing a date on it. I’ll have to dig it out and check sometime. Thanks for the old brochure pics, it is a great way, and sometimes the only way to confirm timelines. Never thought being a steering wheel nerd would take so much time and research! ?

Agreed, John: nerdiness has its costs... ?

 

Here’s a U.S. version of the sport wheel, showing a 1972 (“72”) manufacturing date on the front of the hub. Between the April 1968 brochure and this wheel dated 1972, the life of the sport wheel is, at minimum, 5 years. Does anyone have evidence of examples produced before 1968 or after 1972?

 

Best regards,

 

Steve

 

 

 

Edited November 24, 2019 by Conserv

[mbausa2001]

How much sport steering wheel in good condition go for these days? I got one and on the fence about selling it. Thanks 

[BritshIron]

I just took my VDM Sports Steering Wheel apart, and thought I'd add to the discussions. The manufacturing date is 1975. It is a pleather covered wheel, with indented spokes, as the one above.

 

Just thought this would be an interesting data point. Note the little hole in the hub that's present so you can push a tool against the back side of the horn button (big center cap) to remove. By the way, the three white threaded nylon studs that hold the center cap to the hub can be contrary to work with. What I did was fasten them down fairly tightly into the center cap, then positioned two of the studs over the receivers in the horn center plate, then sort of forced the center cap sideways to literally bend those two nylon studs a bit in order to line up the third hole/stud. Then pressed for "snap!" Harder than it should be. Aloha, Robert