General 385mm steering wheel question

[Braymond141]

I can't understand how you guys cannot see your cluster sitting in a proper upright position regardless of what original wheel you are using. Some garbage 340mm, sure, but I have zero issues with my 370mm @6'1.

Not a good enough reason to continue using a 385mm when there are better OE wheels.

[Westopher]

I can’t see the top of my cluster all that well with wheel in the lowest position at 5’10ish. I could tilt it up but doesn’t feel as good arm wise up there. Seat is in lowest position with very minimal hotboi lean.

[jayjaya29]

Later US cars won't have the tilt, but I was never able to get an answer what the non-tilting position is in relation to the tilting wheel. Is it the same as 'our' lowest position, our highest, or somwehere in between? I would hate it if it's the highest as that is not a good seating position (for me).

I currently have a 1995 320i touring with tilt, a 1995 328i touring w/o tilt, and a 1995 USDM M3. Based on my eyeballs, the fixed wheel is about at the highest setting on the tilt wheel.

I got the measuring tape out and measured from the floor to the turn signal stalk. But both my fixed wheel measurements don't agree (they differ by about 1/2 an inch) so I'm not really sure what to believe. Maybe the foam in the carpet is not a good reference point to do the measurement.

[Bimma360]

I can't understand how you guys cannot see your cluster sitting in a proper upright position regardless of what original wheel you are using. Some garbage 340mm, sure, but I have zero issues with my 370mm @6'1.

Not a good enough reason to continue using a 385mm when there are better OE wheels.

I am 5’11, and sit pretty upright too. I can’t see the whole bottom of the cluster haha. I have the seat lowered all the way down, and that’s where it feels best for my legs. If I had an extra 2 inches of height, or could tilt the wheel down an inch or so it would be perfect. It’s my biggest gripe with the car. It doesn’t feel right haha. Mr. 6’1 over here haha.

[MParallel]

Just for reference: I'm 6'4", seat at bottom (no surprise there), slight tilt (relative long legs) and steering wheel at lowest position. Even with my size, having the wheel tilted all the way up, is not a nice driving position.

[jayson]

Respect. This was me during my r3vlimited and e30tech days before I started appreciating e36s (regrettably moved on from e30s in 2013 after getting engaged)

Oh man, I was on e30tech back in the day. I totally forgot about that site, I liked it much more than r3vlimited. Looks like yet another forum that was lost.

[Jim E.]

Just for reference: I'm 6'4", seat at bottom (no surprise there), slight tilt (relative long legs) and steering wheel at lowest position. Even with my size, having the wheel tilted all the way up, is not a nice driving position.

Don’t worry. When you get old and start to shrink the car will eventually fit you just right. Just don’t get rid of it.

[MParallel]

Haha, as of now, it fits me like a glove!

[J!m]

I'd often wondered, but never investigated, the possibility of somehow shimming the fixed column down a bit.

Has anyone done this?

[MParallel]

I'd often wondered, but never investigated, the possibility of somehow shimming the fixed column down a bit.

Has anyone done this?

I have never worked on an E36 without tilt so I have no idea how the mounting of the column is.

Keep in mind you maybe need to modify the lower panel. Don't know how much 'play' the non-tilt panel has.

[jayjaya29]

I'd often wondered, but never investigated, the possibility of somehow shimming the fixed column down a bit.

Has anyone done this?

Yes, I've seen plenty of E36 racecars that use a bunch of washers and a longer bolt to bring the steering wheel down. You need to remove the 2 crash bolts then you can put whatever bolt/washer/nut combo you want.

[Braymond141]

This is the my view in a proper upright position and a 370mm wheel.

97 318ti with base model seats.


99 M3 with Vaders.