no i didn't have the tilt wheel.
Apparantly if your BMW E36 has the tilt wheel, you don't have to remove the steering wheel. If your BMW E36 has a pre-1995 wheel...I heard the top of the wheel is flexible and you can squeeze the cluster out sideways....
I'm assuming if your like me and your BMW has the color roundel and is a post 1995 car then the wheel does not flex and you must remove it if you don't have the tilt wheel.
I wasn't even aware that BMW E36s came with tilt wheel option?????? until now!