Creaking M steering wheel?

ScottMZ3 · 06-07-2016, 06:57 PM

Hi!

Quick question for those with the M steering wheel (like shown below), does the plastic creak around the buttons when you turn/push/pull on the wheel? It is bugging me that it does on ours. The different plastic pieces surrounding the buttons on the wheel move ever so slightly during normal driving and you can hear it creaking (or you can reproduce just by slightly pushing or pulling on the wheel).

Any fix for this? I've never had a steering wheel creak on any previous vehicle before.

Quicksilv3r · 06-07-2016, 08:40 PM

Sounds like a possible warranty claim

ScottMZ3 · 06-07-2016, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quicksilv3r

Sounds like a possible warranty claim

Yeah, I'd like to think it might be something they will cover under warranty. But if all the steering wheels like this one have the issue, then I'm not sure there is much the dealer can do.

Was hoping someone with this particular steering wheel could chime in with their experience before I head to the dealer.

Thanks!

DanChapman90 · 06-08-2016, 04:10 AM

The bottom part (above the ///M logo) on mine creaks when I'm turning the wheel but only if I put pressure on it.
No issues around the button area though!

ScottMZ3 · 06-08-2016, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanChapman90

The bottom part (above the ///M logo) on mine creaks when I'm turning the wheel but only if I put pressure on it.
No issues around the button area though!

Thanks for the reply! Our wheel does creak just a bit at the bottom near the M, but not nearly like the button area. I was thinking I might be able to get a small amount of dry silicon grease in between the pieces on the back of the wheel...maybe that might help without getting everything all slick and oily.

silverfox666 · 08-04-2016, 11:51 AM

I have this issue too and it is really annoying! It's simply the cheap plastic 'finisher' I think they call it. You only need to touch it and it creaks/cracks. Just gripping the wheel at any point also makes the plastic components creak. I'm taking it into the dealer when it's serviced and I'm going to insist it's sorted. On a £54k car it's crap. Also had a vibration from the leather trim in the pics.

Has anyone fixed either of these problems before? I kind of think that getting into the plastic and packing it out, or using the gummi pledge stuff I bought may help?

Any ideas? Mines a 2015 model with this identical wheel.

silverfox666 · 08-04-2016, 11:53 AM

Wheel pic...

silverfox666 · 08-05-2016, 03:15 AM

Right - an update on the creaking/cracking wheel (cheap plastic trim)!

I decided to have a go at improving this myself, and did the following.

Disconnected the battery in the rear - just the negative by undoing the little nut
Very important bit here - DO NOT SHUT THE BOOT!!!
Wait for 10 mins for charge to drain
Then undid the torx screw at the bottom of the cheap plastic part, at the back of the wheel at bottom
Pushed a flathead screwdriver (slowly) into the two holes either side of steering wheel to pop off airbag
Carefully pulled airbag away and could then see two more torx screws that held the plastic part to the wheel
These were quite loose and I managed to tighten then, without unplugging airbag cable (just held it carefully)
Tightened them as much as I could
Reinserted airbag
Only LOOSELY tightened bottom torx as tightening it puts strain on the cheap plastic - hence the creaking I think
Reconnect battery

Drove it this morning and it has drastically improved the annoying 'crack' and 'creaks'! Hasn't 100% gone, but I don't think it ever will looking at the way the rigid plastic is 'holding' onto a wheel that has some flex. Much happier... although not reallyimpressed I'm taking apart a £50k car!

The reason I say don't close boot - is becuase I did that and then couldn't open it due to no power release!! What an idiot! So I did the work, and then couldn't reconnect the battery. Also, haven't got fold down seats, so had to jump the car from the jumper points under the bonnet! Lesson learnt by me!!!

Hope this helps someone as it's driven me mad for two months - plus I'm still going to moan to the dealer about it!

krautmeister · 08-06-2016, 10:24 AM

Would there be any opportunity for lithium grease or glue so the parts don't make noise when you have it apart?

geminiys · 08-06-2016, 11:33 AM

I have retrofitted regular Steering Wheel on my 535xi 2013 to M-Sport from 2015 M5/M6 style. I can confirm that I don't get any creaking noises while driving. I do get a little when I press rear panned against the front one very hard, otherwise it is silent. What I have noticed that the front cover with M logo, as well as Air Bag for M5/M6 steering wheel are made from either different material or covered with very thin, fine grain leather/vinyl material. That is probably why it stays silent.

gerbs · 08-06-2016, 12:56 PM

Have seen these threads come and go through the years...

When manually manipulating, pushing against and pulling the plastics and covers on the steering wheel, they creak

During normal driving, they don't

Have had the same experience on my last 4-5 M steering wheels.

Axxlrod · 08-08-2016, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanChapman90

The bottom part (above the ///M logo) on mine creaks when I'm turning the wheel but only if I put pressure on it.
No issues around the button area though!

Mine creaks from this part too. Good bad it's made of plastic. On a car that $80K+ it really should be aluminum.

silverfox666 · 08-09-2016, 04:54 PM

Hmmm, the creaking came back.

One of the posts is accurate in saying that it really only does it under parking situation where there's a lot of pull on the wheel. However, mine did it while driving, that's why it drove me mad originally!

So not have gone through the above steps again and done the opposite - I've really loosened the 3 torx screws thinking that if there's less 'tightness' on the cheap plastic, then it's less likely to crack/creak.

Initially it seems quiet...

Still I am really disappointed I'm taking apart a £50k car! I also think part of the reason is that the steering is so heavy. My last car, an Audi A6, had really light steering at parking speeds.

silverfox666 · 08-09-2016, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geminiys

I have retrofitted regular Steering Wheel on my 535xi 2013 to M-Sport from 2015 M5/M6 style. I can confirm that I don't get any creaking noises while driving. I do get a little when I press rear panned against the front one very hard, otherwise it is silent. What I have noticed that the front cover with M logo, as well as Air Bag for M5/M6 steering wheel are made from either different material or covered with very thin, fine grain leather/vinyl material. That is probably why it stays silent.

Was the retrofit easy? I assume the wheels are very expensive, although I suspect I could get quite a lot of money for mine.

silverfox666 · 08-09-2016, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krautmeister

Would there be any opportunity for lithium grease or glue so the parts don't make noise when you have it apart?

Not that I can see really. It's also the lighter grey plastic that sits inside the dark plastic that is noisy. It's just a really really bad choice o fm sterile in my opinion.

The car's only 10 months old.

geminiys · 08-10-2016, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverfox666

Was the retrofit easy? I assume the wheels are very expensive, although I suspect I could get quite a lot of money for mine.

The retrofit is very straight forward with all necessary parts in place. No mods required, just unplug old and put new one in. I had to buy all individual components to assemble it together including the Air Bag. The entire thing cost me ~$1900. It is much better wheel from the regular, non-sport, and since it is M5/M6 the material of plastic that others complain is different (no creaking unless I press it hard).

silverfox666 · 08-10-2016, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geminiys

The retrofit is very straight forward with all necessary parts in place. No mods required, just unplug old and put new one in. I had to buy all individual components to assemble it together including the Air Bag. The entire thing cost me ~$1900. It is much better wheel from the regular, non-sport, and since it is M5/M6 the material of plastic that others complain is different (no creaking unless I press it hard).

Thank you. Interesting. Plus I could get a lot for my wheel too on Ebay etc...

silverfox666 · 08-10-2016, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverfox666

Thank you. Interesting. Plus I could get a lot for my wheel too on Ebay etc...

Got a pic by any chance of yours?!

geminiys · 08-10-2016, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverfox666

Got a pic by any chance of yours?!

Here you go. The M1/M2 do nothing as I have no Active Cruise Control. All other buttons work. It is heated wheel and I do have heat option as well.

silverfox666 · 08-10-2016, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geminiys

Here you go. The M1/M2 do nothing as I have no Active Cruise Control. All other buttons work. It is heated wheel and I do have heat option as well.

That looks awesome mate. Is it from a 2015 M5? Love the stitching.

geminiys · 08-10-2016, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverfox666

That looks awesome mate. Is it from a 2015 M5? Love the stitching.

Actually it came from 2015 M6 but should be the same between the 2 models.

silverfox666 · 08-10-2016, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geminiys

Actually it came from 2015 M6 but should be the same between the 2 models.

Excellent. Thank you.

06-07-2016, 06:57 PM	#1
ScottMZ3 Captain 439 Rep 790 Posts Drives: 2018 Camaro ZL1, 2019 X5 40i Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Roseville, CA iTrader: (0)	Creaking M steering wheel? Hi! Quick question for those with the M steering wheel (like shown below), does the plastic creak around the buttons when you turn/push/pull on the wheel? It is bugging me that it does on ours. The different plastic pieces surrounding the buttons on the wheel move ever so slightly during normal driving and you can hear it creaking (or you can reproduce just by slightly pushing or pulling on the wheel). Any fix for this? I've never had a steering wheel creak on any previous vehicle before. __________________ - Scott Current Cars: 2019 X5 xDrive40i M-Sport, 2018 Camaro ZL1 Past BMWs: '16 528i, '00 M-Coupe, '14 X1 sDrive28i, '00 740iL, '02 325i, '99 M-Coupe, '00 323Ci, '79 323i, '83 320i
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06-07-2016, 08:40 PM	#2
Quicksilv3r Captain 234 Rep 878 Posts Drives: 2013 BMW 535i M-Sport Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Augusta, Georgia iTrader: (1)	Sounds like a possible warranty claim __________________ -WJV
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06-08-2016, 04:10 AM	#4
DanChapman90 Private First Class 50 Rep 175 Posts Drives: BMW F32 M Sport Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Grimsby, UK iTrader: (0)	The bottom part (above the ///M logo) on mine creaks when I'm turning the wheel but only if I put pressure on it. No issues around the button area though! __________________ Current - BMW F32 M Sport Previous - BMW F10 M Sport
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08-04-2016, 11:51 AM	#6
silverfox666 Private 17 Rep 84 Posts Drives: 530d Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW 530d M Sport [10.00]	I have this issue too and it is really annoying! It's simply the cheap plastic 'finisher' I think they call it. You only need to touch it and it creaks/cracks. Just gripping the wheel at any point also makes the plastic components creak. I'm taking it into the dealer when it's serviced and I'm going to insist it's sorted. On a £54k car it's crap. Also had a vibration from the leather trim in the pics. Has anyone fixed either of these problems before? I kind of think that getting into the plastic and packing it out, or using the gummi pledge stuff I bought may help? Any ideas? Mines a 2015 model with this identical wheel. Last edited by silverfox666; 08-05-2016 at 03:16 AM..
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08-04-2016, 11:53 AM	#7
silverfox666 Private 17 Rep 84 Posts Drives: 530d Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW 530d M Sport [10.00]	Wheel pic... Attached Images
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08-05-2016, 03:15 AM	#8
silverfox666 Private 17 Rep 84 Posts Drives: 530d Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW 530d M Sport [10.00]	Right - an update on the creaking/cracking wheel (cheap plastic trim)! I decided to have a go at improving this myself, and did the following. Disconnected the battery in the rear - just the negative by undoing the little nut Very important bit here - DO NOT SHUT THE BOOT!!! Wait for 10 mins for charge to drain Then undid the torx screw at the bottom of the cheap plastic part, at the back of the wheel at bottom Pushed a flathead screwdriver (slowly) into the two holes either side of steering wheel to pop off airbag Carefully pulled airbag away and could then see two more torx screws that held the plastic part to the wheel These were quite loose and I managed to tighten then, without unplugging airbag cable (just held it carefully) Tightened them as much as I could Reinserted airbag Only LOOSELY tightened bottom torx as tightening it puts strain on the cheap plastic - hence the creaking I think Reconnect battery Drove it this morning and it has drastically improved the annoying 'crack' and 'creaks'! Hasn't 100% gone, but I don't think it ever will looking at the way the rigid plastic is 'holding' onto a wheel that has some flex. Much happier... although not reallyimpressed I'm taking apart a £50k car! The reason I say don't close boot - is becuase I did that and then couldn't open it due to no power release!! What an idiot! So I did the work, and then couldn't reconnect the battery. Also, haven't got fold down seats, so had to jump the car from the jumper points under the bonnet! Lesson learnt by me!!! Hope this helps someone as it's driven me mad for two months - plus I'm still going to moan to the dealer about it!
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08-06-2016, 10:24 AM	#9
krautmeister krrrraaauuuuut 177 Rep 524 Posts Drives: G12 750i X Drive M-Sport Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (0) Garage List G12 750i [0.00]	Would there be any opportunity for lithium grease or glue so the parts don't make noise when you have it apart? __________________ (Current) G12 750i X Drive / M-Sport / LOADED (Current) 997 Turbo / 6MT / HRE FF01, Land Rover LR3 - Overlanding Family Adventure Shed, E60 525i - "family beater", Alfa Romeo Spyder Veloce - garage art (Gone) F10 550i / M-Sport, D2 Audi S8, AP1 S2000, Z32 300zx, S13 240sx
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08-06-2016, 11:33 AM	#10
geminiys Private 18 Rep 77 Posts Drives: 2013, 535XI & 2005 M3 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (0)	I have retrofitted regular Steering Wheel on my 535xi 2013 to M-Sport from 2015 M5/M6 style. I can confirm that I don't get any creaking noises while driving. I do get a little when I press rear panned against the front one very hard, otherwise it is silent. What I have noticed that the front cover with M logo, as well as Air Bag for M5/M6 steering wheel are made from either different material or covered with very thin, fine grain leather/vinyl material. That is probably why it stays silent. __________________ 2013, 535 XDrive, 112k miles 1997, 328is, 335k miles - Retired 1998, ML320, 200k miles - Sold 2018, Q5, 100 miles 2005, XC70 AWD, 160k miles
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08-06-2016, 12:56 PM	#11
gerbs woof 84 Rep 1,233 Posts Drives: M6 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 BMW 335i Coupé [10.00] 2008 BMW M3 Coupé [10.00] [retired] 2004 Suba ... [0.00]	Have seen these threads come and go through the years... When manually manipulating, pushing against and pulling the plastics and covers on the steering wheel, they creak During normal driving, they don't Have had the same experience on my last 4-5 M steering wheels. __________________ 2013 F13 ///M6 Sakhir Orange 2013 F30 335i Estoril Blue II 2008 E92 ///M3 Interlagos Blue 2007 E92 335i Montego Blue
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08-09-2016, 04:54 PM	#13
silverfox666 Private 17 Rep 84 Posts Drives: 530d Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW 530d M Sport [10.00]	Hmmm, the creaking came back. One of the posts is accurate in saying that it really only does it under parking situation where there's a lot of pull on the wheel. However, mine did it while driving, that's why it drove me mad originally! So not have gone through the above steps again and done the opposite - I've really loosened the 3 torx screws thinking that if there's less 'tightness' on the cheap plastic, then it's less likely to crack/creak. Initially it seems quiet... Still I am really disappointed I'm taking apart a £50k car! I also think part of the reason is that the steering is so heavy. My last car, an Audi A6, had really light steering at parking speeds.
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