Flat bottomed wheel, opinions when it has a rectangular airbag

Russboy

Russboy

Registered User
Joined
Sep 14, 2007
Messages
519
Reaction score
253
Points
63
Hi all,

Want to get a flat bottomed steering wheel (the title of this thread probably gave that away!) so have been in touch with Royal Steering Wheels about my options.

My existing wheel is this:

40099264781_c80d37c3a8_b.jpg


They have said on an exchange basis for £200 they can supply me this:

28273270818_5d2a8a1e3c_b.jpg


I'm not sure why but the flat bottom doesn't seem to have the visual impact I want and I guess that is because of the rectangular airbag the wheel still looks round in my eyes with only a slight flattening at the bottom. To me it looks aftermarket rather than OEM, anyone else?

What I really like is this:

41187121465_e2d6c9338e_b.jpg


Just looks OEM and right for the job. Downside is it’ll mean switching to the round airbag wheel, suspect that’ll be mega expensive, need to be paired to the car(?), if it is even possible?

I have asked Royal Steering Wheels about the swap to the S3 style wheel with the round airbag if I drive over to them, will see what they say but suspect the answer is a no.

Anyone think i'm mad for not taking the £200 option?
 
  • Like
Reactions: andyay123
Tricky decision; there's two ways looking at it. £200 is a very good price for what Royal is offering to do. The trouble is, it's not really what you want, so no I don't think you're mad not to just take it.

I think you need to wait for Royal to reply on whether it can do what you really want, and how much it'll charge to do so. But if we assume for a moment that it'll be £400, you have to ask yourself if the cheaper alternative is saving you £200 or wasting £200 on something you don't really want.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mister.c., feva and Russboy
Yep, spot on, I think I will see it as £200 wasted as it's not what I want ................ but the answer to that question is a B8 RS4 Avant, and that's another story entirely!

Agree the price from Royal is very good and i'll wait for them to come back to me on my comments back to them.

Think I need to build up my knowledge of what I can buy and swap over and then sell my original. I have read a few things on here but not sure I have ever been given the confidence that someone on here knows exactly what works for me and what I need, i.e if I buy XXX & YYY this will = Happy Russ!
 
Got the reply from Royal:

Yes you are right our modification doesn't have the flat bottom as the S3 wheel but they are completely different wheels. I'm afraid we can't supply a complete S3 wheel with airbag and switches etc. as we don't keep them in stock so we can only offer the modification as on the photo sent earlier.
If you could get that S3 wheel and wanted to have it re-trim as per photo you like then it would not be a problem.
Please let us know if you are interested in ours or want to search for S3 wheel.

My reply to them:

Thanks again for coming back to me.
I think your wheel for £200 is good value, but ultimately I won't be happy as I only like the look of the round airbag flat bottomed wheels (doesn't have to be the S3 version).
Sounds like I need do more research into what wheels will fit my car that have the round airbag. If I can get one with a flat bottom then great, if I get one without the flat bottom then I can still look to use you guys to modify it.


So basically no progress made! Lol
 
  • Like
Reactions: jdp1962
Russboy said:
Hi all,

Want to get a flat bottomed steering wheel (the title of this thread probably gave that away!) so have been in touch with Royal Steering Wheels about my options.

My existing wheel is this:

40099264781_c80d37c3a8_b.jpg


They have said on an exchange basis for £200 they can supply me this:

28273270818_5d2a8a1e3c_b.jpg


I'm not sure why but the flat bottom doesn't seem to have the visual impact I want and I guess that is because of the rectangular airbag the wheel still looks round in my eyes with only a slight flattening at the bottom. To me it looks aftermarket rather than OEM, anyone else?

What I really like is this:

41187121465_e2d6c9338e_b.jpg


Just looks OEM and right for the job. Downside is it’ll mean switching to the round airbag wheel, suspect that’ll be mega expensive, need to be paired to the car(?), if it is even possible?

I have asked Royal Steering Wheels about the swap to the S3 style wheel with the round airbag if I drive over to them, will see what they say but suspect the answer is a no.

Anyone think i'm mad for not taking the £200 option?
Click to expand...
definitely go for a B8 8K5/facelift wheel & gear knob...

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk
 
20180513 141204
I have this wheel but would like a flat bottom but cost just for that is expensive. :sorry:
To me rectangular one don't look as good and not oem like you say imo .
 
Marky007 said:
View attachment 155471 I have this wheel but would like a flat bottom but cost just for that is expensive. :sorry:
To me rectangular one don't look as good and not oem like you say imo .
Click to expand...

You're in a better position than me as you would be able to use Royal Steering wheels to exchange to this:

Audi-A5-S-line-Black-alcantara-9040-Silver-stitching-1.jpg


With a leather or alcantara finish for around £200. Probably worth contacting them as they sent me a pic of what could be that isn't featured in their gallery.

The key here is having the round airbag to start with, which you have.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Marky007
I have noticed standard wheels are a bit too thin for my liking :racer:
 
  • Like
Reactions: andyay123 and Russboy
Russboy said:
You're in a better position than me as you would be able to use Royal Steering wheels to exchange to this:

Audi-A5-S-line-Black-alcantara-9040-Silver-stitching-1.jpg


With a leather or alcantara finish for around £200. Probably worth contacting them as they sent me a pic of what could be that isn't featured in their gallery.

The key here is having the round airbag to start with, which you have.
Click to expand...
Looks smart
 
audi upgrades
Russboy said:
Hi all,

Want to get a flat bottomed steering wheel (the title of this thread probably gave that away!) so have been in touch with Royal Steering Wheels about my options.

My existing wheel is this:

40099264781_c80d37c3a8_b.jpg


They have said on an exchange basis for £200 they can supply me this:

28273270818_5d2a8a1e3c_b.jpg


I'm not sure why but the flat bottom doesn't seem to have the visual impact I want and I guess that is because of the rectangular airbag the wheel still looks round in my eyes with only a slight flattening at the bottom. To me it looks aftermarket rather than OEM, anyone else?

What I really like is this:

41187121465_e2d6c9338e_b.jpg


Just looks OEM and right for the job. Downside is it’ll mean switching to the round airbag wheel, suspect that’ll be mega expensive, need to be paired to the car(?), if it is even possible?

I have asked Royal Steering Wheels about the swap to the S3 style wheel with the round airbag if I drive over to them, will see what they say but suspect the answer is a no.

Anyone think i'm mad for not taking the £200 option?
Click to expand...


How many times do you actually look at the wheel? The feel is more important to me. I’ve asked Royal to do my wheel which will make it much fatter and have alcantara trim.
Don’t do it as you will only wish you had the real thing. I know from experience
 
Russboy said:
Completly agree, but has a round airbag so not possible via Royal wheels.

Would need a new wheel & airbag.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't want to spend circa £900 when Royal can do more or less the same for £200
 
andyay123 said:
I wouldn't want to spend circa £900 when Royal can do more or less the same for £200
Click to expand...

Again I agree and think Royal are excellent value for money, but I think the royal one looks a bit pants. Prefer the OEM look rather than .............dare i say it a bit 'Halfords'!

28273270818_5d2a8a1e3c_b.jpg
 
Russboy said:
Completly agree, but has a round airbag so not possible via Royal wheels.

Would need a new wheel & airbag.
Click to expand...
You best looking for a flat bottom steering wheel with round airbag second hand keep looking on ebay you may just get one at a decent price everything rolled into 1 :gun2:
 
Marky007 said:
You best looking for a flat bottom steering wheel with round airbag second hand keep looking on ebay you may just get one at a decent price everything rolled into 1 :gun2:
Click to expand...

Absolutely and even if the trim isn't what I want I could get that done at a later date.

Although i'm still not sure 100% which wheels would fit my car with all buttons (poss not nav as I have read a bit on that) and paddles working.
 
Fairymuff.
All I know is that it will be 100% more engaging than the current one
 
andyay123 said:
Fairymuff.
All I know is that it will be 100% more engaging than the current one
Click to expand...

Very true, but it's like have a missus who's amazing in the sack, but with a face like a bulldog chewing a wasp, you still gotta look at it!

I'm greedy and want the best of both worlds!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Marky007, andyay123 and KrisKrk
Lol. I used to swap cars every 6-9 months when money wasn’t an issue. Now I have to count the pennies otherwise I’d have a round flat bottomed wheel tomorrow!
 
audi upgrades
Here’s my flat wheel off eBay with a rectangular bag for comparison to the modified flat bottom one

6E22215F 91EC 47E7 8BFE 2EB7C0B94E3C

2EC3270B 47E3 4819 86B1 6DE4EDD843AD
 
I think the top one is the standard wheel cut and modified to be flat so they can only change so much of the dimensions so it’s got the more round look at the bottom

sorry if that’s been mentioned already or is a lot of rubbish :blahblah1:
 
Chop. said:
I think the top one is the standard wheel cut and modified to be flat so they can only change so much of the dimensions so it’s got the more round look at the bottom

sorry if that’s been mentioned already or is a lot of rubbish :blahblah1:
Click to expand...

I think you're right.

Any links to where you got yours from?
 
Was just an eBay search mate get most of my stuff from there came from Poland £400
 
  • Like
Reactions: Russboy
Hi, do you know if the royal wheel is thicker, more padding in the trim, I find the oem a bit too thin, and big, after coming from an e46 m3. The proper rs flat bottom looks great but for £200 I’m quite tempted.
 
  • Like
Reactions: andyay123
Yes I think it is quite a bit thicker than standard.
 
  • Like
Reactions: andyay123
IMO leather is the only material to have on a steering wheel, alcantara starts to look worn and shabby very quickly.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Russboy
When I researched this subject I was told that modified OE steering wheels with the rectangular air bag can’t be made smaller in diameter therefore if you want a smaller flat bottomed steering wheel you’ll need to buy a genuine OE one.
One advantage in going to a company like Royal Steering wheels is that you can have any combination of colour and stitching etc
 
  • Like
Reactions: andyay123
I love the feel of my steering wheel.
Doesn’t bother me what it looks like as I prefer to look at the road when driving
 
  • Like
Reactions: winterrB6
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

A
Flat bottomed original steering wheel
Replies
1
Views
427
jdp1962
jdp1962
wrighty01
Flat bottomed steering wheel fitment
Replies
2
Views
883
wrighty01
wrighty01
skiptowncat
Flat bottom wheel...
Replies
33
Views
5K
AU11 ALS
AU11 ALS
glenandem
Flat bottom steering wheel
Replies
0
Views
702
glenandem
glenandem
baldybloomy
Flat bottom steering wheel
Replies
2
Views
1K
baldybloomy
baldybloomy
Top
Back