Steering Wheel Difference-E90 335i Manual vs. Automatic-Sport Pkg

normcaldwell · 11-26-2006, 04:06 PM

A few days ago, I looked at two E90 335i cars in a dealer lot.
Both had the Sport package; one was manual, the other an automatic with the steering wheel paddles.

The steering wheel for the manual shift had thumb-grip bulges at 10 and 2 o'clock (much like the E46 M3 steering wheel).
However, the automatic steering wheel did not have the thumb-grip bulges.
Both wheels were the same diameter and thickness.

I thought this was strange, and unfortunate for those who would opt for the auto-tranny with steering wheel paddles.
The paddles themselves would not be in conflict with the thumb-grips, so the omission makes no sense to me.

Any one else seen this pattern?
I wonder if this is the same with the E92 335i?

kujo · 11-26-2006, 04:18 PM

Did one have the M sport package and one not ?
Just a curious question......

kj

normcaldwell · 11-26-2006, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kujo

Did one have the M sport package and one not ?
Just a curious question......

kj

Good question.
No, they each had the Sport Package option; not the M-type package.

espo · 11-26-2006, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by normcaldwell

Good question.
No, they each had the Sport Package option; not the M-type package.

Yea the M-sport package isn't available in the US yet..

BTW the original (i.e. pre-sept 2006) E90 sport package steering wheels did not have the thumb rests. Maybe they had a number of them left over that wanted to use somewhere..

danielt · 11-26-2006, 05:00 PM

the e92 335i's that I've seen here in Australia show that auto with paddles = no thumb rests,

http://www.carsales.com.au/pls/carsa...55&pid=5791356

manual = thumb rests.

http://www.carsales.com.au/pls/carsa...38&pid=5791340

Not sure about auto without paddles, as all auto's I've seen come with paddles ($200 option in Australia). I suspect the wheel would have thumb rests in this case.

normcaldwell · 11-26-2006, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielt

the e92 335i's that I've seen here in Australia show that auto with paddles = no thumb rests,

http://www.carsales.com.au/pls/carsa...55&pid=5791356

manual = thumb rests.

http://www.carsales.com.au/pls/carsa...38&pid=5791340

Not sure about auto without paddles, as all auto's I've seen come with paddles ($200 option in Australia). I suspect the wheel would have thumb rests in this case.

I took a look at BMW North America's website, and in their gallery for the E92, I see a pic of an automatic with paddles and thumb-rests!
http://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/3/335icoupe/gallery.htm

For the E90, there's a pic of a manual and no thumb-rests.
http://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/3/335iSedan/gallery.htm

To me, it would be a big deal; as I'm someone who thinks there's a big difference in how the steering wheel feels. I'd want the thumb-rests.

roller84 · 11-26-2006, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by normcaldwell

I took a look at BMW North America's website, and in their gallery for the E92, I see a pic of an automatic with paddles and thumb-rests!
http://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/3/335icoupe/gallery.htm

For the E90, there's a pic of a manual and no thumb-rests.
http://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/3/335iSedan/gallery.htm

To me, it would be a big deal; as I'm someone who thinks there's a big difference in how the steering wheel feels. I'd want the thumb-rests.

That pic of the manual 3er must be of a 2006 model. Notice how the AC knobs do not have the aluminum trim around it. BTW, my 6spd E90 335i has thumb rests.

normcaldwell · 11-26-2006, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roller84

That pic of the manual 3er must be of a 2006 model. Notice how the AC knobs do not have the aluminum trim around it. BTW, my 6spd E90 335i has thumb rests.

Good catch on the pic.
So, for the 335i, who's first model year is 2007, the forum pics and reports from members have consistently shown thumb rests for the manual shift - sedan and coupe - at least, the ones with the Sport Package.

Anyone have the 335i Coupe, with Sport Package, auto tranny/paddle shifters, and thumb rests on the steering wheel?

pseto · 11-26-2006, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by normcaldwell

Anyone have the 335i Coupe, with Sport Package, auto tranny/paddle shifters, and thumb rests on the steering wheel?

I have the exact setup above, but NO thumb rests

Makes me miss my M3 wheel.

bavarian19 · 11-26-2006, 09:03 PM

Those pics are all PS'ed. I saw a pic a while back (on bmwusa.com) that had a manual gear knob with an auto transmission baseplate

I posted something on bimmerfest and within an hour, the pic was taken off the website...

normcaldwell · 11-26-2006, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pseto

I have the exact setup above, but NO thumb rests

Makes me miss my M3 wheel.

Wow. I just got a message from another board member who said he'd looked at 335i Coupes and Sedans on a dealer lot. The Coupes had thumb rests, and the Sedans did not. This was with the sport/auto/paddles setup.

I wonder if it's a random thing.

BTW, was your M3 an E46? If so, what caused you to make the change?

normcaldwell · 11-26-2006, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bavarian19

Those pics are all PS'ed. I saw a pic a while back (on bmwusa.com) that had a manual gear knob with an auto transmission baseplate

I posted something on bimmerfest and within an hour, the pic was taken off the website...

Good point about the PS.

Fester · 11-26-2006, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pseto

I have the exact setup above, but NO thumb rests

Makes me miss my M3 wheel.

+1

Fester · 11-26-2006, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bavarian19

Those pics are all PS'ed. I saw a pic a while back (on bmwusa.com) that had a manual gear knob with an auto transmission baseplate

I posted something on bimmerfest and within an hour, the pic was taken off the website...

Once same pic had i-drive withouth the Nav monitor! bmwusa.com photo is cetainly a PS'ed photograph.

Fester · 11-26-2006, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by normcaldwell

Wow. I just got a message from another board member who said he'd looked at 335i Coupes and Sedans on a dealer lot. The Coupes had thumb rests, and the Sedans did not. This was with the sport/auto/paddles setup.

I wonder if it's a random thing.

BTW, was your M3 an E46? If so, what caused you to make the change?

I picked up mine a week before thanksgiving - the day it arrived (took about 6 wks). I have sport/auto/paddles setup on my e92 coupe. There are NO thumb rests on my steering wheel!!! See pics below I just took:

normcaldwell · 11-26-2006, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fester

I picked up mine a week before thanksgiving - the day it arrived (took about 6 wks). I have sport/auto/paddles setup on my e92 coupe. There are NO thumb rests on my steering wheel!!! See pics below I just took:

Thanks for the pics!
Maybe some more folks will respond to this thread with their experience, and a pattern will emerge.

Barry626 · 11-26-2006, 11:16 PM

07 autos don't get thumb rest.
07 thumb rest only on manuals!

I have 07 Sedan manual & has thumb rest.

Move.Over · 11-27-2006, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barry626

07 autos don't get thumb rest.
07 thumb rest only on manuals!

I have 07 Sedan manual & has thumb rest.

Not true, only Autos with paddles don't get the thumb rest.

Got an Auto without Paddles but the thumb rest.

normcaldwell · 11-27-2006, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Move.Over

Not true, only Autos with paddles don't get the thumb rest.

Got an Auto without Paddles but the thumb rest.

I'm not familiar with the option codes for the 335i.
Does yours have the sport package?
On the BMWNA website, it appears that if you get the automatic tranny and sport package, you must also get the steering wheel paddles.

FirstClass · 11-27-2006, 03:17 PM

The auto e92 328i I test drove had thumb rests. (No paddles since they're not available)

jasper · 11-27-2006, 03:24 PM

Just rest your thumbs on the arm rests...

Master Deep · 11-27-2006, 03:45 PM

I never use those thumb rests. I hook my thumbs over the corner where the rim meets the middle part.

11-26-2006, 04:06 PM	#1
normcaldwell Private First Class 26 Rep 179 Posts Drives: 2016 Audi S3 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Denver, Colorado iTrader: (2)	Steering Wheel Difference-E90 335i Manual vs. Automatic-Sport Pkg A few days ago, I looked at two E90 335i cars in a dealer lot. Both had the Sport package; one was manual, the other an automatic with the steering wheel paddles. The steering wheel for the manual shift had thumb-grip bulges at 10 and 2 o'clock (much like the E46 M3 steering wheel). However, the automatic steering wheel did not have the thumb-grip bulges. Both wheels were the same diameter and thickness. I thought this was strange, and unfortunate for those who would opt for the auto-tranny with steering wheel paddles. The paddles themselves would not be in conflict with the thumb-grips, so the omission makes no sense to me. Any one else seen this pattern? I wonder if this is the same with the E92 335i?
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

11-26-2006, 04:18 PM	#2
kujo Major 144 Rep 1,153 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: May 2006 Location: LA, CA USA iTrader: (1)	Did one have the M sport package and one not ? Just a curious question...... kj
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-26-2006, 05:00 PM	#5
danielt Lieutenant 71 Rep 449 Posts Drives: 2016 F87 M2 / 2013 M5 LCI comp Join Date: May 2005 Location: Brisbane, Australia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2013 BMW F10 M5 (LC ... [10.00] 2007 E92 335i [0.00]	the e92 335i's that I've seen here in Australia show that auto with paddles = no thumb rests, http://www.carsales.com.au/pls/carsa...55&pid=5791356 manual = thumb rests. http://www.carsales.com.au/pls/carsa...38&pid=5791340 Not sure about auto without paddles, as all auto's I've seen come with paddles ($200 option in Australia). I suspect the wheel would have thumb rests in this case.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-26-2006, 09:03 PM	#10
bavarian19 General 517 Rep 18,858 Posts Drives: Car Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: VA iTrader: (23)	Those pics are all PS'ed. I saw a pic a while back (on bmwusa.com) that had a manual gear knob with an auto transmission baseplate I posted something on bimmerfest and within an hour, the pic was taken off the website...
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-26-2006, 11:16 PM	#17
Barry626 Captain 23 Rep 724 Posts Drives: Coming: 2012 135i Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	07 autos don't get thumb rest. 07 thumb rest only on manuals! I have 07 Sedan manual & has thumb rest.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-27-2006, 03:24 PM	#21
jasper Private First Class 21 Rep 106 Posts Drives: 2002 325i Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Ramon, CA iTrader: (0)	Just rest your thumbs on the arm rests...
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-27-2006, 03:45 PM	#22
Master Deep Captain 40 Rep 869 Posts Drives: 06 325xi Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Miami, FL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 325xi [0.00]	I never use those thumb rests. I hook my thumbs over the corner where the rim meets the middle part.
	Appreciate 0 Quote