B9.5 S5/RS5 flat bottom steering wheel upgrade

[Burrcold]

I know a few people have done this change, but I haven't seen many details for answers to questions (that I had at least). So this only applies to the B9.5 models, my stock wheel in particular is round, alcantara, hands on detection, and is heated. The new steering wheel is from the RS6/7 and has the flat bottom, hands on detection, and I optioned mine with alcantara to match my RS Design alcantara interior.

So about the new steering wheel. Hands on detection still works (and is required otherwise it will throw a code). It's heated as well, but that comes with a caveat. My current wheel has the assignable * button, the RS drive mode button, and the heated wheel button (3 separate buttons). The new steering wheel loses the assignable * button, and consolidates the RS and heated wheel button to one button. So you have to choose whether you want that button to be for heating or the RS selector. I went with the RS button since I use that the most.

Cons:

1) You lose the ability to heat the steering wheel. It can't be coded in (or to be accessed through the MMI) and the "turn heated steering wheel on" voice command does not work.

2) It's expensive because you are buying a heated wheel with hands on detection, regardless of whether you had heating on the stock/current wheel. Also, you have to buy the airbag as well.

Pros:

1) It feels awesome in the hand! I opted for the leather trimmed airbag cover and it makes a big difference (for me) in the upscale look and feel.

2) Compared to the round wheel, it's exactly the same width across but obviously it's not as large vertically since the bottom is chopped off. The new wheel is also thicker especially the 10 and 2 notches. It's basically a few millimetres thicker all around with the exception of the 12 o'clock position...that diameter is the same as the stock wheel (I'm assuming so it doesn't block the virtual cockpit display). It's very girthy feeling and has more protrusions/notches even as you move down around the 8 and 4 area. The stock wheel is perfectly round and has no protrusions at all.

3) No heated wheel errors like some changing from a B9 with a heated wheel are having (presumably because this wheel has the heating elements although not being used).

Here are a few before and after pictures (I also installed the little center console cubby with lid. It does a nice job filling in that big cutout from where the B9 MMI controller once was).


9DE1760D-F5F1-49AA-ACE5-11A6ECE8E959.jpg5C3C9FE3-4972-4E2D-BDF9-57A8887FE4E4.jpg

[Lensch09]

Gotta call you out here too, socks and sandals guy

-DL

[Burrcold]

Gotta call you out here too, socks and sandals guy

-DL

😂 never in public. The first pic was just a quick run out to the car to take the picture lol

[VVG]

Okay, so this is completely unrelated to the steering wheel upgrade, but I noticed something about the virtual cockpit in your two pics...

Is there something you need to do to get the "runway" tachometer to appear because I also have a 2022 model and can't seem to do it. I can switch between an "RS Sport" layout with the traditional two large dials for tach and speedo, and the "RS Performance" layout which is what you have with your right hand pic, but I seem to have no option for the "runway" tach. My car was a late production model (May 2022), so I am wondering if there was a change?

[Miranda@Nemesis]

Chris, wheel looks SO good. Lmk if you want to sell your stock one.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Burrcold]

Okay, so this is completely unrelated to the steering wheel upgrade, but I noticed something about the virtual cockpit in your two pics...

Is there something you need to do to get the "runway" tachometer to appear because I also have a 2022 model and can't seem to do it. I can switch between an "RS Sport" layout with the traditional two large dials for tach and speedo, and the "RS Performance" layout which is what you have with your right hand pic, but I seem to have no option for the "runway" tach. My car was a late production model (May 2022), so I am wondering if there was a change?

That's very strange! Perhaps it's market specific? I'm in Canada. In have the option of two different "RS layouts" when I go to the virtual cockpit menu.

Chris, wheel looks SO good. Lmk if you want to sell your stock one.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks Miranda and thanks for all the help getting this! I'll definitely let you know if I decide to sell my stock steering wheel...for now I'm going to keep it since I change cars like I change underwear, so I better hold on to it lol.

[VVG]

That's very strange! Perhaps it's market specific? I'm in Canada. In have the option of two different "RS layouts" when I go to the virtual cockpit menu.

Okay. I have 2 options also, but one is with round dials and the other is with the angled tach and digital speedo. No runway option. These are both "RS layouts". One is called RS Sport and the other RS Performance. But these are the only options I have, so 2 in all.

[Burrcold]

Okay. I have 2 options also, but one is with round dials and the other is with the angled tach and digital speedo. No runway option. These are both "RS layouts". One is called RS Sport and the other RS Performance. But these are the only options I have, so 2 in all.

Yeah that's very strange. Mine has three options when I go to the VC screen layout. Here's what mine looks like.


1EC86482-3743-4646-B626-EF91E70517F1.jpg

[VVG]

Yeah that's very strange. Mine has three options when I go to the VC screen layout. Here's what mine looks like.


1EC86482-3743-4646-B626-EF91E70517F1.jpg

So I guess the runway option was deleted in late 2021 for US RS models. Found info on another site with other people questioning this also. The RS6 and 7 also had acceleration timers that were discontinued in 2021

[Burrcold]

Okay, so this is completely unrelated to the steering wheel upgrade, but I noticed something about the virtual cockpit in your two pics...

Is there something you need to do to get the "runway" tachometer to appear because I also have a 2022 model and can't seem to do it. I can switch between an "RS Sport" layout with the traditional two large dials for tach and speedo, and the "RS Performance" layout which is what you have with your right hand pic, but I seem to have no option for the "runway" tach. My car was a late production model (May 2022), so I am wondering if there was a change?

So I guess the runway option was deleted in late 2021 for US RS models. Found info on another site with other people questioning this also. The RS6 and 7 also had acceleration timers that were discontinued in 2021

Does yours have the acceleration timer? Mine does. Strange that they would remove "RS features" in the US. I know the acceleration timer can be coded in, but I'm not sure about the RS Runway screen. To be honest, I never use it anyway. I don't like that the revs come towards you...it's hard to tell when to shift. That's why I leave it on that hockey stick looking one.

[VVG]

Does yours have the acceleration timer? Mine does. Strange that they would remove "RS features" in the US. I know the acceleration timer can be coded in, but I'm not sure about the RS Runway screen. To be honest, I never use it anyway. I don't like that the revs come towards you...it's hard to tell when to shift. That's why I leave it on that hockey stick looking one.

Nope. No acceleration timer, no runway tachometer option. From doing a search, it looks like people have both or neither, and it seems to be an issue with the 4,5,6,7, and Q8 RS models. Maybe has something to do with supply chain issues. Who knows?

[Burrcold]

Nope. No acceleration timer, no runway tachometer option. From doing a search, it looks like people have both or neither, and it seems to be an issue with the 4,5,6,7, and Q8 RS models. Maybe has something to do with supply chain issues. Who knows?

Strange. I can't imagine it's chip related as it's just programming.

[Lensch09]

My 2022 doesn't have the runway option. Worked with a guy (who enabled my matrix lights and blue lasers) to get acceleration timers enabled - Haven't used them to date (re-coded probably 5 months ago LOL).

-DL

[Burrcold]

My 2022 doesn't have the runway option. Worked with a guy (who enabled my matrix lights and blue lasers) to get acceleration timers enabled - Haven't used them to date (re-coded probably 5 months ago LOL).

-DL

He's awesome. I met him person to do some coding, and we were surprised that my acceleration timer was already enabled (I've used it only twice...nobody is missing out by not having it).

[VVG]

He's awesome. I met him person to do some coding, and we were surprised that my acceleration timer was already enabled (I've used it only twice...nobody is missing out by not having it).

It would still be interesting to know why the changes were made. I don't really care about the acceleration timer, but I actually think the runway tach looks sharp as well as being unique

[Burrcold]

It would still be interesting to know why the changes were made. I don't really care about the acceleration timer, but I actually think the runway tach looks sharp as well as being unique

Was a change ever made in the US though? I don't recall seeing either feature on a US spec B9.5.

[sjs55]

My 2022 doesn't have the runway option. Worked with a guy (who enabled my matrix lights and blue lasers) to get acceleration timers enabled - Haven't used them to date (re-coded probably 5 months ago LOL).

-DL

I was going to reach out to him to have my matrix lights coded. Has anyone checked with him to see if he can add the runway style RS display option to the VC? It is probably buried in there and just disabled.

[Lensch09]

It would still be interesting to know why the changes were made. I don't really care about the acceleration timer, but I actually think the runway tach looks sharp as well as being unique

Sounds like some marketing/branding BS to me - Never met more than a handful of marketing/product folks that weren't complete dipshits with a total lack of awareness.

You should *NEVER* pull features away from a product, especially when they're already there (disable) - It represents a competitive differentiation at literally no cost impact.

-DL