Something I noticed about steering wheels

"Bytemite" (bytemite) 10/18/2014 at 21:08 • Filed to: None

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Look at the placement of the wheel compared to the seat. It seems steering wheels are always offset to the center of the car, (right side of your body). I have never noticed the steering wheels were like that. This means that your left arm always has to reach further than your right arm and your driving position is never symmetrical. Huh...anyone know why this is the way it is?

Birddog > Bytemite 10/18/2014 at 21:14

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That drives the OCD side of me nuts.

michael bleggi > Bytemite 10/18/2014 at 21:15

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are you sure it isn't just pictures of cars, being from standing outside the door? have you ever sat in a driver's seat? the wheel is dead center....

Clown Shoe Pilot > Bytemite 10/18/2014 at 21:15

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That's not the right wheel for that car. That's an S54 powered Z3 of some kind.

Bytemite > michael bleggi 10/18/2014 at 21:24

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Im not sure about your car...but after seeing other steering wheels and seeing my own car's, it is actually offset to the right.

Bytemite > Birddog 10/18/2014 at 21:24

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I know...I can't UNnotice it now.

Bytemite > Clown Shoe Pilot 10/18/2014 at 21:25

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I was actually meaning to reach out to you to see if you could confirm this steering whel offset nonsense on your Z3. I was looking for Z3s on CL and saw in all the pictures that the steering wheel was not centered. The Z3 and Z4 is what made me notice this at first.

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > Bytemite 10/18/2014 at 21:26

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It's so your left arm isn't crammed into the door sill.

Clown Shoe Pilot > Bytemite 10/18/2014 at 21:30

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Mine's centered. I just walked out to the garage and looked. I put my head inside the car, and the center of the cock & balls bolster lines up perfectly with the center of the roundel on the steering wheel.

michael bleggi > Bytemite 10/18/2014 at 21:31

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are your cars bmws? just curious as the picture you uploaded is out of one... maybe it's a company thing? although i own a bmw car, along with a domestic and vw and theyre all center!

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Clown Shoe Pilot 10/18/2014 at 21:39

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*snickers*

SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) > Bytemite 10/18/2014 at 22:01

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Funny. I don't notice this on most cars, but the 2002 is like that as well. I wonder why...

LeadfootYT > Bytemite 10/18/2014 at 22:14

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This is true in certain cars, but I do not believe it's true in the Z4 pictured there. Likely just an optical illusion. A good example of this is the E30 M3, which had an angled steering column. But even in that car, it felt fine with the stock wheel, because the wheel corrects the difference. Mount an aftermarket wheel, and you immediately realize that the wheel is off to the side and at an angle. But again, aside from the odd Lancia Stratos or other hypercar, I believe automakers try to correct for the shift.

cuts_off_prius > Bytemite 10/18/2014 at 22:43

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Dude, stop it. You're freaking me out now...

Bytemite > cuts_off_prius 10/18/2014 at 22:51

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Very time you step into your bmw you will spend a few minutes trying to see if your wheel is centered. Muahahaha

petebmwm > Bytemite 10/19/2014 at 09:01

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in a couple of bmw's it is.. e9x coupes and conv. are slightly off center, thats why i can never get comfy in them. also the reason I cant stand to drive an older 911, I refuse to sit sideways.

boxrocket > Bytemite 10/19/2014 at 11:04

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depends on the car. I've noticed gms are horrendously awful in this department, but BMWs, Volvos, and a few others don't seem to have a problem with it. As electric power steering becomes more prevalent the issue will likely disappear as components take up less room and can be better placed.

Bryan doesn't drive a 1M > michael bleggi 05/17/2015 at 22:43

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My car is a BMW, and I think the steering wheel is off center. Weirded me out at first.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Bytemite 06/04/2015 at 23:56

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Great Im about to go out to my car at midnight to see if this is in fact a thing. Better not be

Bytemite > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! 06/05/2015 at 00:02

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I know it is possible because my car is offset...