Feature

	Text: Dhruv Behl Images: Kapil Vashist
	Project BMW
	The last couple of months have been very productive mechanically for Project BMW. We’ve added Supersprint headers and an exhaust from Italy, as well as Bilstein suspension from Germany – all sourced through Petes in Cochin (www.petes.in). But now it’s time to focus on the interiors once again. Late last year, we put in all new leather on the seats and doors, and even wrapped the steering wheel in a fresh cover of hide. To top it off, we went as far as giving it maroon stitching to match the seats. And while the leather itself felt pretty good, the diameter of the steering was just a little too wide, and the rim a little too thin. Now this is a car – the E36 3 series – that’s known for its interior ergonomics and driver centric cockpit, but the stock steering wheel would have fit better in a truck, rather than a self respecting sports sedan. Bear in mind that being a 1992 model, this was one of the first few cars with an airbag as standard. Having said that, I used to have a Porsche 944 Turbo in the States that also had an airbag wheel – and that was a 1988 model! Yes, it was big, but in true Porsche fashion, it was very well done and felt great to hold as a result. In this case, though, the stock steering wheel simply had to go. Enter a three-spoke BMW M-Technik sport steering wheel from the original E30 M3. I first saw this wheel on an M3 Evo about a decade ago, and I simply fell in love with it – along with the car around it of course. And the beauty of the Internet is that I was able to locate one that would fit on the E36 as well. A few phone conversations and a Paypal transaction later, here we are. The original M3 was meant to be tactile, pure, and functional – and its essence somehow comes through in the steering wheel. This is a non-airbag wheel, so the horn pad (which is also draped in leather) is small. It has ridges to hold it correctly in the three-and-nine position. Mind you, being devoid of an air bag, in the event of a crash it may be a step in the wrong direction – but it certainly feels good to hold. So, on second thought, it may actually help you avoid the crash in the first place. Naturally, it’s much more tactile than the steering wheel that came off the car, but, strangely, it also feels better than the modern M wheels as well. It’s certainly old school, but it’s all the better for it. There are no buttons on the steering wheel – it’s there purely to steer the car, and not to enable you to search through radio stations as well. Of course, the beauty of this interior is that the ergonomics really are that good, so you barely have to extend your hand beyond the steering wheel to reach the stereo and AC controls. This steering swap has demonstrated once again just how important the driver interface is to the physical act of driving. With the new steering, the car actually feels more sporty – it suddenly feels like it handles better. And that just goes to show the extent to which the driver environment impacts how a car feels on the road. The steering itself is lighter than the stock wheel. As a result, it seems as though steering effort is reduced slightly as well. The most important bit, though, is that we’re living up to the M-badge on the steering wheel and gear knob. Project BMW already handles better and produces more power than before. So, you’ll just have to stay tuned for more!