Flat-Bottom Steering Wheel Guide...

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Just as I have done with most other models it's time for a guide to the sportier flat-bottom wheels that are available for all the C8 models. These are steering wheels which are prepared to be plug and play with the proper C8 multi-function controls that work for your application, customizable by shift paddle type and badging. Guaranteed to fit the first time and work perfectly right out of the box!

Pricing is for steering wheels without an airbag included as all C8 steering steering wheels share the same airbag which helps save costs when changing from a round wheel to a flat-bottom...


Smooth Flat-Bottom Multi-Function Steering Wheel - $1095.00 each <- Click Link for More Information
(Smooth Leather, Single Stitching, with Black Paddles, No Badging, Standard Controls)


S-Line Flat-Bottom Multi-Function Steering Wheel - $1095.00 each <- Click Link for More Information
(Partial Air Leather, Grey Stitching, with Chrome Paddles, S Badging, Standard Controls)


RS Air Leather Flat-Bottom Multi-Function Steering Wheel - $1149.00 each (Heating +$200.00) <- Click Link for More Information
(Full Air Leather, Red or Grey Stitching, with Extended Paddles, RS Badging, RS Mode Controls)


RS Alcantara Flat-Bottom Multi-Function Steering Wheel - $1149.00 each (Heating +$200.00) <- Click Link for More Information
(Full Alcantara Leather, Red or Grey Stitching, with Extended Paddles, RS Badging, RS Mode Controls)


Custom Flat-Bottom Multi-Function Steering Wheel <- Click Link for More Information and to Build Your Own
(Fully customized to your specifications)

Fitment:

• All A6, S6, RS6, Allroad, A7, S7, RS7 models can fit these wheels and reuse the airbag
• Multi-function controls, badging and shift paddles can be changed per application
• RS Mode controls only work on RS6 or RS7 models
• Standard controls only work on A and S level models
• The heating for the RS flat-bottom steering wheels is available
• Swapping from a heated round wheel to a flat-bottom wheel does not cause dashboard errors
• All flat-bottom steering wheels are identical in size and shape, variations are based on leather, stitching, paddles, etc.

Questions:
If you have any questions or needs other than those posted above please don't hesitate to PM or email: [email protected]

Thanks!

[MichaelScott]

Going to order as soon as i have a VIN!

[dnm814]

I’m very interested in the carbon one. Is the installation difficult? How long is shipping time and how many hours labor required to install?

[[email protected]]

Going to order as soon as i have a VIN!

Sounds good, just let me know if you have any questions prior to that.

I’m very interested in the carbon one. Is the installation difficult? How long is shipping time and how many hours labor required to install?

Installation is reasonably easy to do at home. The airbags are clipped into place and the first time you go to release the clips it can take a little fiddling around. Once you get the hang of it you can pop the airbag free in a few minutes. Once the airbag is loose make sure to return the wheel to center. Then power down the car and wait a bit, 10 minutes to be safe with the door open, make sure the key isn't around the car. Using a Torx T55 or M12 triplesquare remove the center bolt. Slide old wheel off, slide new wheel on, tighten firmly. Plug airbag in and push it in until both sides clip in fully. Done and done! For a shop, under an hour but most would charge an hour of labor.

Custom wheels take around 4-6 weeks to produce once ordered. They are produced from a brand new RS flat-bottom wheel which is sent to Belgium. Once they are completed they come back to CA and are inspected to ensure they are perfect. Then a few days from CA to TX in your case.

If you want to shoot over an email we can discuss more details: [email protected]

Cheers,

[MichaelScott]

Question: does the fbw come with the center cap? May sound silly but thinking about putting the OEM wheel in a display case.

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Question: does the fbw come with the center cap? May sound silly but thinking about putting the OEM wheel in a display case.

The center of the wheel is actually your airbag assembly. That cover with the rings is built into the airbag so your old wheel when removed would have an open center if you wanted to display it. You can see what an open center of the steering wheel looks like above in several of the photos.

Cheers,

[MichaelScott]

What I thought! Still gonna get it in a case. Thanks.

The center of the wheel is actually your airbag assembly. That cover with the rings is built into the airbag so your old wheel when removed would have an open center if you wanted to display it. You can see what an open center of the steering wheel looks like above in several of the photos.

Cheers,

[71camaro]

Any way to get the stitched center cover while we're at it?

[[email protected]]

Any way to get the stitched center cover while we're at it?

The airbag is a whole unit and there is unfortunately no way to just get a cover for the center/airbag. The whole airbag can be purchased with the leather stitching if wanted, but that of course is reasonably pricey. If you did want a leather stitched airbag I can assist, shoot over a PM/email: [email protected]

Cheers,

[[email protected]]

Someone at Audi might have been listening...

RS Flat-Bottom Wheels Now Have a Heated Option!!!


RS Air Leather Heated Flat-Bottom Multi-Function Steering Wheel - $1349.00 each <- Click Link for More Information
(Full Air Leather, Red or Grey Stitching, with Extended Paddles, RS Badging, RS Mode Controls, Heated)


RS Alcantara Heated Flat-Bottom Multi-Function Steering Wheel - $1349.00 each <- Click Link for More Information
(Full Alcantara Leather, Red or Grey Stitching, with Extended Paddles, RS Badging, RS Mode Controls, Heated)

After 14 model years from the first flat-bottom wheel ever offered Audi has taken the plunge. The RS Air Leather and RS Alcantara flat-bottom wheels are available with a heated option. For those of you who want to retain the heating function and have a flat-bottom wheel your day has come!

Cheers!

[[email protected]]

The backorders are starting to clear on the heated flat-bottom wheels and customers are receiving shipments this week

[RTW S4]

So the heated Alcantara FBW is official? Last I heard it probably wasn't happening.

[[email protected]]

So the heated Alcantara FBW is official? Last I heard it probably wasn't happening.

Yes, and the alcantara with grey stitching has been arriving from Audi in Europe to send out to customers. The red stitched shows an ETA into Feb, but coming soon it looks like. It takes a bit of work to flush these out and I have noticed some sources aren't receiving access to them oddly. I've also confirmed with an RS6 owner that has an alcantara heated flat-bottom steering wheel factory fitted.

Cheers,

[RTW S4]

Thanks Alex

[The_Capt]

So are you saying the heated FBW will be included in all North America RS6’s moving forward?

If so, by what production date?

Mine is scheduled to enter production 0421 which I believe is this week.


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine Forum

[[email protected]]

To my knowledge it will not be all of North America. So far the only cars that have come with a heated flat-bottom wheel are in Canada and as I see with the earliest production date of 11/25. I still so no option in the configurator for a flat-bottom wheel in the US and later build US cars still show a round wheel by VIN.

Just checked a 12/12 build date VIN for a US model and still shows a round heated wheel.

If there are Canadian owners with VIN for production dates past 11/25 that want to post up I can check what comes up. So far I have two Canadian customers who have had heated flat-bottom past that build date. Amazingly a car with a build date a week early came with a non heated wheel.

Cheers,

[Grundel76]

Yes, and the alcantara with grey stitching has been arriving from Audi in Europe to send out to customers. The red stitched shows an ETA into Feb, but coming soon it looks like. It takes a bit of work to flush these out and I have noticed some sources aren't receiving access to them oddly. I've also confirmed with an RS6 owner that has an alcantara heated flat-bottom steering wheel factory fitted.

Cheers,

Can you get the FBW with black stitching? I only see red or grey offered.

[[email protected]]

The RS wheels do only come with red and grey stitching. S-Line only comes with grey stitching.

The all smooth leather flat-bottom wheel can be had with black stitching but is not available heated. That can have the RS Mode controls, extended paddles and RS badge fitted to it for an RS6/7 application.

Cheers,

[Daily Driver]

Can you get the FBW with black stitching? I only see red or grey offered.

And here I thought I was the only one here who went with black/black. I had same question!

[Grundel76]

And here I thought I was the only one here who went with black/black. I had same question!

We New England folks like to keep it classy!

[L0U]

To my knowledge it will not be all of North America. So far the only cars that have come with a heated flat-bottom wheel are in Canada and as I see with the earliest production date of 11/25. I still so no option in the configurator for a flat-bottom wheel in the US and later build US cars still show a round wheel by VIN.

Just checked a 12/12 build date VIN for a US model and still shows a round heated wheel.

If there are Canadian owners with VIN for production dates past 11/25 that want to post up I can check what comes up. So far I have two Canadian customers who have had heated flat-bottom past that build date. Amazingly a car with a build date a week early came with a non heated wheel.

Cheers,

Dec 02, 2020 mine was in production complete status. Lucky by just a few days. Heated was why many picked round vs unheated flat. Glad I went flat now.

[[email protected]]

Dec 02, 2020 mine was in production complete status. Lucky by just a few days. Heated was why many picked round vs unheated flat. Glad I went flat now.

If you have a VIN and want to PM/email that I can check what wheel Audi fitted to your car: [email protected]

I can happily check for any Canadian owners that have VIN and are waiting on cars to see what wheel you should receive.

Cheers,

[[email protected]]

Audizine's own Greenley showing off his heated alcantara flat-bottom steering wheel... and matching fuzzy shift knob trim and hidden cup holder package (can't see the labelless visors though)

Slowly but surely Audi is getting these out, but slowly is more the operative word. ETA is still listed as Feb 2021 on all types, but they did push that back from Jan 2021 at the beginning of the year. Hopefully getting more in production to fulfill the need for builds heading out to Canada and elsewhere besides North American models plus get all of us supply that need them.

Again, any Canadian buyers that are waiting on production and have a VIN, happy to check what steering wheel you will get by VIN. Just shoot over a PM or email: [email protected]

Cheers,

[Ripcordaff]

So these FBSW may become standard fitment on North American models after February?

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So these FBSW may become standard fitment on North American models after February?

Not that I am aware of. US bound cars should all have heated round steering wheels.

The Feb 2021 ETA is for purchasing this heated flat-bottom steering wheel separately to retrofit to a US model with a round steering wheel.

Cheers,

[Dr_Bass]

Not that I am aware of. US bound cars should all have heated round steering wheels.

The Feb 2021 ETA is for purchasing this heated flat-bottom steering wheel separately to retrofit to a US model with a round steering wheel.

Cheers,

Question for ya (might be silly)

Is the Carbon Custom wheel heated? not sure if its able to provide heat when its carbon like that or not - thanks!

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The custom wheels built with carbon fiber would not have the option of being heated. The builder that is used has attempted other heated custom wheels previously and stated the heating elements almost always are destroyed when the original leather is removed. Unless these wheels are built differently or heated in a new way I'd assume the same, especially with touch capacitive wheels rolling out.

I'd also think that the heating circuit in the wheel goes full circle and having that under carbon and whatever glues/resins/chemicals are used in construction would be advisable, but I am not custom steering wheel builder myself.

The builder used also has a sample of the dry carbon fiber to best match any custom builds that are ordered:

Steering Wheel | Custom Flat-Bottom <-Click for More Information

Cheers,

[NerviG]

I got mine installed this week. Those are not heated ... everyone will tell you that they are ... but when you order they tell you they are not. But I really dont care. car doesnt throw any errors ... it still shows up in the menue and you can click the steering wheel heating button but its only red for a second and then turns to normal again, so it knows its not on.

[[email protected]]

Did you purchase from Europrice or another source?

I only show 3 heated flat-bottom wheels having shipped to customers out of quite a few in waiting and only 1 installed so far. That customer has confirmed the flat-bottom wheel supplied is indeed heated and working properly.

Additionally - a customer in Canada that had ordered a heated flat-bottom but when they car arrived it already had a heated flat-bottom wheel. Audi Canada's website now lists the following:

Sports contour leather-wrap.multi-func. Plus steering wheel, w/ steer. wh.heat. + shift paddles, 3-spoke, flat-bottomed

So maybe if you purchased from another source they either claimed the wheel you would receive is heated and they supplied the wrong one or you had just ordered a non-heated wheel?

Cheers,

[NerviG]

Did you purchase from Europrice or another source?

I only show 3 heated flat-bottom wheels having shipped to customers out of quite a few in waiting and only 1 installed so far. That customer has confirmed the flat-bottom wheel supplied is indeed heated and working properly.

Additionally - a customer in Canada that had ordered a heated flat-bottom but when they car arrived it already had a heated flat-bottom wheel. Audi Canada's website now lists the following:

Sports contour leather-wrap.multi-func. Plus steering wheel, w/ steer. wh.heat. + shift paddles, 3-spoke, flat-bottomed

So maybe if you purchased from another source they either claimed the wheel you would receive is heated and they supplied the wrong one or you had just ordered a non-heated wheel?

Cheers,

TAG motorsports

[[email protected]]

Hopefully if you ordered a heated one you can get that swapped out.

I just want to make sure folks reading this know, heated flat-bottom RS steering wheels are available! They are just taking their sweet ole time to come in from Audi.

Cheers,

[pwdrskr]

Hopefully if you ordered a heated one you can get that swapped out.

I just want to make sure folks reading this know, heated flat-bottom RS steering wheels are available! They are just taking their sweet ole time to come in from Audi.

Cheers,

Nice. This will be on the list for the A6 Allroad when (if) it comes in a few months...

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Nice. This will be on the list for the A6 Allroad when (if) it comes in a few months...

The rarest steering wheel of them all showing it's little added heated wiring on the lower left, they do exist! For your Allroad the proper multi-function controls can be fitted so you have your "*" button if you care to have it.

Only took Audi roughly 13 years to make a heated flat-bottom steering wheel...

[[email protected]]

The backorder on the heated steering wheels is starting to ease dependent on the exact type. Out of 17 orders stemming back from December all but 3 have shipped so as long as Audi keeps that pace up these should be much quicker to arrive when ordered.

A fair number of customers have asked about the custom wheels for more details. Unfortunately these cannot be heated, but can be finished in a matte carbon fiber that does a great job of matching the raw carbon fiber twill in these RS models:



Steering Wheel | Custom Flat-Bottom <-Click Link for More Information

Also for the custom wheels the later build models from around 11/20 forwards require the heated steering wheel which is touch capacitive whereas the custom can't have that function unfortunately. I am happy to check with a VIN concerning fitment when requested.

If anyone has any questions or other needs do let me know here or via PM/email: [email protected]

Cheers,

[scott1961]

Hi Alex, I just picked up a 2021 RS5 and dislike the round wheel, do these wheels work on RS5? This is the wheel so would want this shape airbag

[scott1961]

From doing some more searching here seeing the problem might be the hands on detection car has? Has anyone tried a swapping a wheel yet to see what happens? I wouldnt care if I lost that function as long as didn't throw codes or I wonder with my vagcom could I disable it? Really dislike the wheel I have so if no other option may just do what I did for my brother who just got a launch edition Ascari. He didnt like the alcantara, neither do I, so I sent it out and had it changed to leather. Will be a more expensive option for me since I will first need to buy a new flat bottom alcantara wheel and a new airbag since different shape. Would still prefer if I could do carbon fiber though

His stock


Re-covered

[[email protected]]

Unfortunately round steering wheels with the trapezoidal airbag like the one pictured above cannot be replaced with a flat-bottom wheel for this chassis type, yet.

Audi has moved to a touch sensitive steering wheel for the driver's assistance systems. The round wheel above with that style airbag is specifically for post-facelift models and has the touch sensitive system in it. The only touch sensitive flat-bottom wheels so far from Audi are for the RS6/7 models only.

I am hoping in time Audi will also move to touch sensitive flat-bottom wheels for other models such as the RS4/5, SQ5 and others that use this style airbag so you and others can upgrade in the future.

I suspect fitting a non-touch sensitive flat-bottom wheel in a car that has that system factory fitted would be a really tough thing to get around. The older system looked for a bit of torque on the steering wheel showing that a hand was present. There are different steering wheel controllers that match to each type of system. Since it's a major safety component I really doubt it would be easy to change/code/adapt/replace parts to get around. Best hope is that Audi makes some touch sensitive flat-bottom wheels which are compatible with your existing airbag and controls.

Cheers,

[scott1961]

Thanks for explanation. Do you think my other plan would work? The 2021 Ascari RS5 launch edition has a flat bottom steering and has same hands on detection, so could I switch to that wheel?

[[email protected]]

Unfortunately no, the launch edition cars do not have touch sensitive steering wheels. They have the original style torque sensing system to see if a hand is on the wheel. Even fitting that with the round airbag from a launch edition car will cause problems with it not being touch sensitive.

At the moment there are no touch sensitive flat-bottom wheels except for the RS6/7 models.

Cheers,

[scott1961]

Thanks again, saved me the hassle I would of had ordering that wheel and airbag.