The Black Petri Steering Wheel for BMW
Some versions are rare.
This one is almost never seen.
by Mads – October 19, 2024
A Different Kind of Petri
Finding a good Petri steering wheel for a BMW E9 or E10 is already difficult.
Finding a black one is something else entirely.
Over the years, only a handful have surfaced.
Most people assume they were painted later.
They weren’t.
Factory Black — Not a Modification
Period advertising already confirms it: Petri offered their sports steering wheel in matte chrome — and in matte black.
At a time when chrome dominated everything,
black was the exception.
Which explains why so few were ordered.
Why Black Was Rare
In the late 1960s and early 1970s:
- chrome meant luxury
- chrome meant status
- chrome was expected
A black steering wheel didn’t signal prestige.
It signaled function.
Real motorsport wheels at the time:
- thicker grip
- leather wrapped
- almost always black
The Petri wheel wasn’t a true race wheel.
But the black version moved closer to that world.
Less show.
More purpose.
Rumors & Reality
Over time, several theories appeared:
- built for motorsport
- made for Alpina models
- exclusive to the 2002 Turbo
None of them can be confirmed.
What remains is simple:
It was an option.
Rarely chosen.
Details That Stand Out
Across the few known examples, some patterns appear:
- matte black spokes
- consistent, high-quality finish
- often paired with black-painted hubs
That last detail is interesting.
Unlike chrome versions, where hubs remained raw,
black wheels often came with matching black hubs.
Factory or later modification?
There’s no definitive proof.
But the consistency suggests intention.
A Different Presence
The black Petri steering wheel feels different.
Less decorative.
More direct.
Where the chrome version reflects light,
this one absorbs it.
It doesn’t try to stand out.
It simply does.
Final Note
The Petri steering wheel is not just an accessory.
It’s a piece of automotive history.
And one of the few upgrades that still feels right decades later.