Steering wheel detail… try this before a full refurb

[True-Blue]

Thought it might be worth posting my method here, as it’s not technically difficult just requires a bit of elbow grease and the right cleaning products.

First things first, this is what I started with;

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I didn’t get a great picture of the leather condition, but it was very shiny with patches of what looked like wear. This wasn’t wear, it was basically dirt/oil.

The trims look awful, and this is typical of what happens to the black, rubberised, soft-touch finish applied to the hard plastic trims.

You only really need two products to do the cleaning;

Isopropanol alcohol - I keep a bottle of this for cleaning panels after compounding
An APC (all purpose cleaner) - I use Bilt Hamber Surfex HD - I keep a 5l bottle of this because it’s brilliant, versatile and cheap as chips because you dilute it. For this job I used 1/20 ratio.

You also need some clean microfibre cloths, a medium/soft brush (I use a detailing brush) and some clean (preferably warm) water.

I’ll explain method in the next post.

[True-Blue]

I didn’t remove the steering wheel to do this job, but I did rotate it to enable easier and complete cleaning.

Starting with the trims, I used neat alcohol on a microfibre and effectively ‘polished off’ the remaining ‘soft-touch’ finish to reveal the clean, shiny, black plastic underneath.

This is not technically difficult, but it does require patience, a little attention to detail and frequent reapplication of alcohol to a clean part of the cloth. It also requires firm pressure, it doesn’t just wipe off easily. This method is much easier than trying to clean this goo off with anything else, believe me I have tried other things in the past!

For the leather I sprayed the Bilt-Hamber directly into the bristles of the detailing brush and then worked this into the leather a section at a time, wiping frequently with a clean, damp microfibre to lift away the residue. I used a white microfibre for this, it was not white at all by the time I’d finished. I then gave the whole wheel a final wipe down with a clean, barely damp, microfibre and left it to dry.

Once the wheel was completely dry I applied some Gtechiq L1 leather Guard and allowed a couple of hours to dry.

This is the finished result, the buttons on the right side are completely clean, it’s a bit of reflection on the plastic in the photo;

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The leather feels fantastic, no tackiness at all, and almost completely Matt.

Can’t see me doing much else with this wheel really, Royals wheels are lovely, but feels a bit unnecessary

[pvr]

Good to know about the plastic. Half of mine is shiny like that but I could not get it fully removed. Will try with the alcohol

[Boyo]

Great write up and what a transformation for minimal outlay

[Colin_E]

Just tried using BH Surfex on the leather wheel and I’m impressed with the results. Ever since I bought my Z4 the steering wheel has looked fine (no wear or marks) but felt …a bit sticky. Some shiny spots too. I was never sure if it was grime or a build up of cleaning products but nothing I did got rid of the tackiness. This stuff though has finally sorted it so thanks OP for your recommendation.
The only bad news is I bought 2x 5L of it …

[Special Kay]

That's an impressive transformation. The steering wheel looks fantastic

[True-Blue]

Thanks for all the positive comments

@Colin_E ….Why??

[True-Blue]

Thanks for all the positive comments

@Colin_E ….10L…Why??

[Colin_E]

@Colin_E ….Why??

Short answer: faced with a P&P threshold, I'd already seen loads of recommendations for Surfex ...so why not just get more?
Only when you see the dilution ratios do you realise how long it's going to last! I think the first one will probably see me out no matter how creative I get with using it

[True-Blue]

@Colin_E ….Why??

Short answer: faced with a P&P threshold, I'd already seen loads of recommendations for Surfex ...so why not just get more?
Only when you see the dilution ratios do you realise how long it's going to last! I think the first one will probably see me out no matter how creative I get with using it

It’s excellent for all sorts of things, cleaned my E85’s roof with it this weekend as well as the Mrs 2 series Convertible roof. I
Use it in a higher concentration for cleaning engine bays, wheels arches etc.

[DJ23]

Thanks all for the advice True-Blue.

My 2011 E89 had a really plastic looking sterring wheel that was very tacky to touch. I was going to start looking into where I could get it recovered but them saw this thread.

The Surfex as well as the technique you descirbed worked a treat. I bought Meguir's Leather Balm, thats given it an as new sheen. Wheel feels like leather again and isn't tacky. What a transformation.

[True-Blue]

Thanks all for the advice True-Blue.

My 2011 E89 had a really plastic looking sterring wheel that was very tacky to touch. I was going to start looking into where I could get it recovered but them saw this thread.

The Surfex as well as the technique you descirbed worked a treat. I bought Meguir's Leather Balm, thats given it an as new sheen. Wheel feels like leather again and isn't tacky. What a transformation.

Brilliant, happy to help