Anyone here have the thicker OEM steering wheel?

Every time I get my car detailed (I just got my car detailed after a DE event and an autox), I notice the color/texture difference between my stock three spoke steering wheel and my leather airbag cover (the OEM one with stiching). The steering wheel looks very black and shiny while the airbag cover looks matte and a lighter black (like real leather). This leads me to assume that the OEM three spoke steering wheel is pleather rather than real leather. Is this correct? If I were to get the thicker steering wheel (I have been wanting it anyway), would it be real leather like they claim? If so, would it more closely match the leather airbag cover than the OEM three spoke? Thanks.

TD; On natural brown, the thicker steering wheel rim is not a perfect match for the air bag. Although the leather in the rim is soft, matte finished, the air bag cover looks like moulded plastic-got sort of a shine to it. In addition, the 'grain' is much more pronounced, almost to the point of being 'fake' looking. Without the stitching, it would really look like vinyl. Just the opposite of what you have. The other leather covered options, console, fuse box cover, steering column, etc, match the texture and feel of the seats, dash, and steering wheel rim perfectly. When I checked the order guide (on full leather), it does list the steering wheel rim and the air bag cover as being leather covered. Maybe the appearance of the steering wheel air bag cover has something to do with its function. Anyway, the feel of the thicker rim more than makes up for the look of the air bag cover. Regards, BD

I have a thicker steering wheel and I purchased a leather airbag cover with a black/silver/red Porsche crest from Brandywine. The color and texture match is perfect, more of a matte finish than the original shiny finish. The airbag cover looks like it might not be real leather, I can't really tell but the stiching looks more molded than stiched. Overall, it a nice upgade and looks pretty sweet.

Bingo. That is exactly what I wanted to know. You wouldn't happen to have any pics that you could post, would you? Thanks Nick and Thanks BD. I really appreciate you taking the time. TD

Here's the thicker without the leather center part sorry about the size

i love the thicker wheel in my GT3. i previously had doubts that it would reduce steering feel, i was told it didn't. after trying it for myself i was hooked. its not that much thicker than the normal wheel, but the quality of leather and the improved meatiness (for lack of a better term) of the wheel feels very good. since these are exlcusive options, the only way to get one aftermarket (as far as i know) is from our trusty friend Gert Carnewal. http://www.carnewal-europe.com/cpx_p96138.htm he also has a selection of airbags, but only availible in black, check out his site for many hard to find exlusive department parts. he is one of the best businesses i've ever had the pleasure of dealing with. PS. for sheer wheel thickness, i think the E46 M3 takes the cake

Thanks Tom and Lee. The pictures are immensely helpful. If you look at Lee's picture, my car looks exactly the opposite. Specifically, the shiny air bag cover resembles my steering wheel, and the matte leather steering wheel resembles my airbag cover. That is what I want to eliminate. Lee, if I were you, I would buy the leather airbag cover. It looks like it would be a perfect match for your steering wheel. I bought the leather airbag cover from Gert and I really like it, primarily because it is, apart from the instrument cluster, the part of the car that you see the most. The stitching is cool. I may just have to order the thicker wheel to finish out the look. But then I am done, I promise!

I have the full leather (graphite grey) interior in my '04 C4S cab and the car had the thicker steering wheel option. Close-up it does look like leedav's photo above--the steering wheel leather is very smooth, while the airbag cover has small bumps. The color is a perfect match. I love the feel of the thicker wheel, and I would only swap for the aluminum look wheel (which is the same thickness) if I found one for a fair price.

Have you considered the RUF, TechArt or Gemballa thicker steering wheels? Honestly, in my opinion they are much better quality and quite an improvement.

If replacing your original wheel with the factory thicker model, can you reuse your airbag module (undeployed) or do you have to buy a new one?

TD, Your Airbag is leather while your steering wheel is syntethic. In my GT3 the airbag and steering wheel is all the same as your steering wheel. Your airbag has perhaps been deployed and replaced incorrectly. Ciao, Johannes E.