[bmrm396]

Originally Posted by upsidedownfunnel

So I also agree that flat bottom wheels are gimmicky. However, the RS4 steering wheel just looks awesome.



Just look at the perforated leather and that beautiful sculpting. I appreciate the tastefully thin looking spokes as opposed to the chunky spokes on the BMW M wheel. It's more like the previous M3 steering wheel really.

I personally think it would be perfect if it was round, but I'd rather have the RS4 steering wheel over the current M steering wheel.

This one is nice too:

Yup that's the ticket

[AD18]

Originally Posted by BMWModel3

I can't think of any BMW in recent memory that's had a flat bottom steering wheel. In my opinion they are gimmicky and uncomfortable.

Would you be happy with the one in the photo if that was the final version?

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by xlover

Hugely appreciate the photos but does anyone else smell a BMW plant here... join date of today (but aware of the need for manual confirmation)... we get only the angle we need to confirm the manual (3 pedals) but the full interior layout remains hidden...

Seems they are working overtime to smooth ruffled feathers?

You are spot on. If these pics were taken by one of "us", we would've taken a ton of photos. We would have taken pics of the shifter, the interior, surely tried to get better grill photos, and probably would have been all up in the wheels and brakes too.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by BMWModel3

I can't think of any BMW in recent memory that's had a flat bottom steering wheel. In my opinion they are gimmicky and uncomfortable.

I'm not a fan either, but because I liken that design with Audi's, I don't mind it......in an Audi. I'm glad we don't have flat bottom steering wheels in the ///M's.

[bmrm396]

Originally Posted by xlover

Hugely appreciate the photos but does anyone else smell a BMW plant here... join date of today (but aware of the need for manual confirmation)... we get only the angle we need to confirm the manual (3 pedals) but the full interior layout remains hidden...

Seems they are working overtime to smooth ruffled feathers?

Whoa didn't pickup on that, I like how u think. Nice work Sherlock I'd have to agree.

[evanescent03]

Originally Posted by bmrm396

Whoa didn't pickup on that, I like how u think. Nice work Sherlock I'd have to agree.

Thought of that but could also be a lurker who doesn't usually have much input and all of a sudden struck oil and wanted to share ... could go either way. Definitely will keep me on the hook tho and prevent me from buying something else before the M3 is announced... probably.

[AD18]

Originally Posted by BMWModel3

Why am I repeating myself so many gdamn times. Are we that obtuse? Do we really have to go around and around nitpicking details from spy photos of test mules?

That wheel it is the final version. It's the same M Sport steering wheel on all the GXX series cars and F90 M5, X3M and M8. In the picture it's got some camouflage tape and it's dirty but otherwise it's the same wheel. The M3/4 never got its own bespoke steering wheel. Don't like it? There will be plenty of awful carbon fiber flat bottom flat top, missing top, square, whatever you want you can swap it out easily. And if BMW throws a curveball and gives it a bespoke steering I'm sure all of you will still hate it and the exhaust note and the big muffler and the taillights and the big grille.

Jeez calm down

[F85MTuNED]

Originally Posted by ad18

jeez calm down

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[///Mangler]

No M1/M2 buttons?

T

[andrewsd]

Originally Posted by bmrm396

Ya but the fact that its the same wheel as in the other new M cars ... one would surmise that it makes sense this would be the production wheel. Which, if i may say, is pretty sh*tty

Same wheel as my M5, and although it feels nice, I agree it looks uninspiring. Visually, it's one of my least favorite parts of the newer M cars.

The red M buttons are awesome though. Just wish it was better looking.

[AD18]

Originally Posted by ///Mangler

No M1/M2 buttons?

T

It looks like they are there, just covered in black tape.

[Mdoa]

Originally Posted by Alvaro GD

Today I was driving home back from work when I spotted some g80 m3 with full camo. Obviously I went to have a look and found out that one of the cars was manual. So it's for sure there will be a manual version.

The three pedals picture is not enough. I need to see the picture with an actual stick shift to confirm

[JTO24]

Originally Posted by Mdoa

The three pedals picture is not enough. I need to see the picture with an actual stick shift to confirm

Yea maybe that's not a clutch and just a third M button

[Falafel Combo]

Originally Posted by xlover

Hugely appreciate the photos but does anyone else smell a BMW plant here... join date of today (but aware of the need for manual confirmation)... we get only the angle we need to confirm the manual (3 pedals) but the full interior layout remains hidden...

Seems they are working overtime to smooth ruffled feathers?

My man!!! I was about to post similar observations! (join date, first post confirming manual transmission with camo pics)

[Falafel Combo]

Originally Posted by upsidedownfunnel

So I also agree that flat bottom wheels are gimmicky.

I disagree. They look sporty and unique.

[Falafel Combo]

Originally Posted by AD18

Jeez calm down

[upsidedownfunnel]

Originally Posted by Falafel Combo

I disagree. They look sporty and unique.

Hmm, I don't like how you cut off what I said. I said:

So I also agree that flat bottom wheels are gimmicky. However, the RS4 steering wheel just looks awesome.

Gimmicky means a method to attract attention. It doesn't necessarily mean you don't like it or that it's not attractive. The wheel as a whole does look good, but you know very well the flat bottom was made to attract attention; to pretend that it is a sports car. It serves zero actual function. I'm not saying it doesn't look unique or sporty. I think it absolutely does. It's just like how fake vents or fake exhausts look sporty (though more people seem to rag on those).

Audi put it in there as a gimmick because it serves no practical function and is there purely as a design element. The flat bottom is not deep enough to make any meaningful difference for ingress/egress since the cars they're put in don't have full roll cages limiting space and also don't have race car seats with massive bolsters that get in the way.

[Mdoa]

Originally Posted by JTO24

Yea maybe that's not a clutch and just a third M button

Nope I afraid that is a dummy pedal for you to work out your left leg while driving!

[Alvaro GD]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

You are spot on. If these pics were taken by one of "us", we would've taken a ton of photos. We would have taken pics of the shifter, the interior, surely tried to get better grill photos, and probably would have been all up in the wheels and brakes too.

I was in a hurry and when I was going to take another photo of the front grill, the engineers who where driving the car tried to take my phone and threatened to hit me
I also didn't photograph the gear lever because it was covered, same as the seats. It was de only car that had the steering wheel and pedals uncovered

[Alvaro GD]

Originally Posted by ///Mangler

No M1/M2 buttons?

T

It had them, just covered with tape
Sorry guys, I was in a hurry and didn't have time to take more photos

[evanescent03]

Originally Posted by Alvaro GD

I was in a hurry and when I was going to take another photo of the front grill, the engineers who where driving the car tried to take my phone and threatened to hit me
I also didn't photograph the gear lever because it was covered, same as the seats. It was de only car that had the steering wheel and pedals uncovered

They threatened to hit you? Wow. Kinda turns me off to the M brand a little. If they are that worried about some leaked photos they should park it inside.

[bmrm396]

Originally Posted by evanescent03

They threatened to hit you? Wow. Kinda turns me off to the M brand a little. If they are that worried about some leaked photos they should park it inside.

Don't buy into that, this is sounding more and more like a "story". Great to get confirm on the MT but let's leave it at that now and move on, nothing else worthwhile to see here.