JCW JCW Alcantara Steering Wheel INSTALLED!
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 672
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From: Salt Lake City, Utah
JCW Alcantara Steering Wheel INSTALLED!
I just installed my JCW wheel today. After I figured out a couple of things, it took me about 20 minutes to do the entire swap. I love it!! Here is the one pic I have so far. I have another goodie to add to it, it just isn't here yet!!
5th Gear
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: NH
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It is schweeeeet!
I must say it really looks great. I saw one in person on JCW at the dealer last week and it looks and feels very nice.
And i don't mean to be negative here but i had this material on a custom wheel i had in a VW. After about a year (8000 miles) it was very badly worn, I don't think i ever cleaned it though. I think if i had done a better job of keeping it clean then it probably would have been better. The sweaty palms really messed it up.
Find out what is best to keep it clean and clean it regularly and then you will probably be much happier than i was with mine.
And i don't mean to be negative here but i had this material on a custom wheel i had in a VW. After about a year (8000 miles) it was very badly worn, I don't think i ever cleaned it though. I think if i had done a better job of keeping it clean then it probably would have been better. The sweaty palms really messed it up.
Find out what is best to keep it clean and clean it regularly and then you will probably be much happier than i was with mine.
2nd Gear
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 85
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Alcantara is quite hard to maintain it's original good looks but it may depend on the quality of it. I'm not sure if all alcantara is the same or if there's are levels of quality. I had a Sparco wheel and it looked like *** in about 6 months.
The JCW wheel looks fantastic though
The JCW wheel looks fantastic though
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 672
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From: Salt Lake City, Utah
I had a MOMO wheel and it looked good still after a year of driving. I am a stickler about keeping my car clean. If it wears out, it wears out. That's the way life goes, but for the feel and look I won't complain. I love the Alacantra, and I would've just kept my stock wheel if I wanted leather.
2nd Gear
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 109
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I got mine on too! And a question about leather care
Got it from Morristown Mini.
It does look great and it feels great too. But I have one question if folks have opinions. The leather on the hand grips is super-dry. Like it had been stored out in the desert dry. As such, it is very slick. I used some Tanner's Preserve leather lotion I had avail to try to get some moisture in it, but it didn't seem to make much difference. I've never seen leather with a texture like this.
I'm thinking of trying some mink oil on it tomorrow to see if I can get some deeper penetration to moisturize it better.
Any other good ideas that people have had luck with?
Thx
Fig
It does look great and it feels great too. But I have one question if folks have opinions. The leather on the hand grips is super-dry. Like it had been stored out in the desert dry. As such, it is very slick. I used some Tanner's Preserve leather lotion I had avail to try to get some moisture in it, but it didn't seem to make much difference. I've never seen leather with a texture like this.
I'm thinking of trying some mink oil on it tomorrow to see if I can get some deeper penetration to moisturize it better.
Any other good ideas that people have had luck with?
Thx
Fig
2nd Gear
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 109
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piece of cake. Alta has a good set of instructions. Have to be careful prying the multifunction things slowly out of the stock wheel, but they're a press fit. Slot in the splined steering shaft and in the wheel makes alignment foolproof.
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 672
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From: Salt Lake City, Utah
SIMPLE! Under the steering wheel is a little hole. I pushed a hex key up in there and that pops the airbag off. Undo the wiring, undo the bolt that holds the wheel on, and swap them. Like fignewton said the multi function pieces are a pressed in type, except the two side ones have a screw holding them in from the back. Reverse order and it is done! I'm posting pics of my upgrade in a minute! 
Neutral
Joined: May 2008
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Masterd78 that wheel set up looks nice! Did you buy those carbon fibre inserts or are they vinyl over the originals? im thinking of either buying the JCW CF inserts or paint the original inserts black. Im not sure if vinyl would stick over the original inserts due to their shape.
I just installed this too and agree it is about a 20 minute job at most. If you have anything in your boot (like your new steering wheel) remember to open the hatch before you disconnect the battery.
The wheel is REALLY nice of course, and is about 10mm larger in circumference at any given point. I got mine from newministuff.com in the UK, delivered to the USA in 5 days.
The wheel is REALLY nice of course, and is about 10mm larger in circumference at any given point. I got mine from newministuff.com in the UK, delivered to the USA in 5 days.
Dr. Morbius
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 346
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