Octodyne-INEOS Guards for the buttons on the steering wheel, so you don't press them EVERY time you turn! (are others interested in this design?)

[TelRidan]

yes, the transfer case ball would be pretty straightforward to do an upgrade to. But ultimately, I'd love to do both the transfer case and the main shifter to match, which is a little more involved. I've seen that people are using supra shifters instead of the stock ones? I kind of need a donor part to design around... it's on my (very long) to do list!

That would be pretty cool. I installed the Supra shifter and while I like it better than the original BMW shifter, it's a bit small in the hand. I guess you could work out a housing for the internals of the existing shifter, or some kind of bolt on attachment to make the supra shifter into whatever you come up with. I know some folks were working on 3D printed covers (I think @BenTN) but a machined cover or new housing would be great.

 

[BenTN]

That would be pretty cool. I installed the Supra shifter and while I like it better than the original BMW shifter, it's a bit small in the hand. I guess you could work out a housing for the internals of the existing shifter, or some kind of bolt on attachment to make the supra shifter into whatever you come up with. I know some folks were working on 3D printed covers (I think @BenTN) but a machined cover or new housing would be great.

I set the 3D Printed shifter cover project aside for a while to see what came of the Supra option. My take on feedback so far is that the Supra shifter is expensive and hard to source. That plus @TelRidan 's input above makes me think there is still a place in the world for the add-on cover. Simple, effective, and quick to install.

I've been using the printed cover for almost a year and would not want to go back to stock. I will probably revive that effort soon in a new Rat Works thread.

 

[parb]

I'm about 2 months of using my octodyne steering wheel button protectors. They have worked really well, I have not once accidentally pushed the voice button. Well done!

 

[MACS]

A friendly Forum-Member expedited the Steering Wheel Guard to me (Germany). Thanks to him.
And thanks to wompser for coming up with this. Works great for my style of steering. Without I was hitting the voice button quite often.
Perfect!
Definitely interested in the Key Hole LED next.
Is there any way that we make these superb items aivailable in Europe?
I could maybe act as a depot.

 

[BBQBob]

McMaster-Carr

McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.

www.mcmaster.com

Super-Corrosion-Resistant 316 Stainless Steel Socket Head Screw, M2 x 0.4 mm Thread, 8 mm Long, Packs of 25

These worked perfectly. Nice tight fit.

I tried a pack of these but no-go. The threads are definitely not 'coarse' like the factory fasteners.

For the 2-56 screws, does anyone know what length? Is it 8mm?? This is becoming frustrating I'm afraid.

 

[wompser]

Sorry for the frustration, it seems that there are some variables with these steering wheels. Is the screw not going in deep enough, (not long enough) or not threading in (as in not big enough in diameter) or both?

 

[FlyersFan76]

I tried a pack of these but no-go. The threads are definitely not 'coarse' like the factory fasteners.

For the 2-56 screws, does anyone know what length? Is it 8mm?? This is becoming frustrating I'm afraid.

I was frustrated as well. Home Depot's smallest size is M3. I tried one last time with teflon tape. I pushed a wad of it into the holes and they look at feel fine. Granted I finally did it this morning but happy to say that I noticed them working when I was doing a few multipoint turns in a parking garage today.

 

[BBQBob]

Sorry for the frustration, it seems that there are some variables with these steering wheels. Is the screw not going in deep enough, (not long enough) or not threading in (as in not big enough in diameter) or both?

Seems like it's not threading at all....the factory screws are definitely a conventional coarse thread compared to the McMaster Carr screws. And we only have HD and Menards so I'm pretty sure they won't have anything.

 

[wompser]

yes, the original INEOS screws seem to be some weird proprietary screw, and the thread pitch is LIKE a plastic screw (meaning the thread height and pitch), but not quite. I tried to find something exactly the same as ineos makes but longer, and was unable to source it. I could make them on a Swiss lathe, but they'd wind up costing more than the guards. (!)

so... the easiest thing to do is just stick some kind of shim in there. teflon tape, a broken off toothpick, the straw from a WD-40 bottle, a scrap of 3d printer filament, any of those things will work and take up the space in the hole so the threads can "bite" into the shim and plastic of the steering wheel. using a shim will definitely be strong enough in this application to keep the guard in place.