my stock steering wheel is warn out in my R50 so I've been pondering replacement options.
First option is i could direct replace the stock wheel with a stock wheel
second option is i could replace it with a JCW, MCS or an upgraded MCB
third option is after market steering wheel (+hub adapter)
forth option is installing a BMW steering wheel on

I really like the look of bmw steering wheels plus they would cover up the openings of the steering column well. i'm wondering if the hub pattern would be the same or would it need to be modified to fit. I'm looking at wheels from around the E36 era M3 or M5

 

I do need to whip off my JCW wheel in the next couple of days to retighten the carbon fiber inserts and I still have a suede wheel from my E46 M3 sitting around. When I get around to do it I'll see if it will work.

 

Now this is an interesting thread!

I'm curious as to what the outcome is since I have an '06 MCS, my fiance and I have a 2002 BMW 325XiT SportWagen, and my fiance has a 2004 BMW 325Ci Coupe.

Would you be able to post some pics of the BMW wheel on the MINI? Actually, pics of the new steering wheel in general would be sweet!

 

I decided to try it out last night. I took my JCW wheel off to tighten the carbon inserts and just for fun tested it.

First off I have a custom OEM wrapped suede E46 M3 wheel. The M3 wheel is noticeably bigger than the JCW. Enough bigger that personally I would not consider running it myself.

The BMW wheel does slide on to the wheel hub in the car with not much of a problem. Seems they have the same. Yet trying to get it to sit all the way in was a problem. The back of the BMW steering wheel would hit the plastic on the steering column and would not sit all the way on. You'd basically be rubbing that everytime you moved the wheel.

Again, the wheel felt really big when it was sitting on the hub. I did not have a BMW airbag to check if the connections were the same but I had taken my M3 wheel off several times and the connections to the MINI airbag were near identical to the BMW's.

 

bigger may or may not bother me, as far as the flange goes I think i might be able to trims a little bit off. Thanks for doing the test fit