Wooden steering wheel....long shot
I really like part wood steering wheels and have been thinking of getting one for my G. The only one's I can find are the type with airbags which my '91 462 doesn't have and in any case are silly prices (Circa £400).
My questions are:
a) Are there any wooden steering wheels without airbags?
b) Do other steering wheels from other models fit?
c) £400 is out of the question, should I just forget the idea now?
Thanks folks.
I bagged a W124 wooden one off eBay.... but I've never found a second one
Gordon
Wooden ones with airbag will fit (just leave airbag disconnected, or, for the price of an airbag control unit (£120) you can retrofit a system)
They can be found for around £200 from time to time on eBay ? Look for ones with single-stage airbag from 1996 to 2002. Ones with control buttons are common and the buttons can be left disconnected or used to control the radio through an adapter
Had a couple of cracks in the wood but still useable so cheap £20 maybe airbag wheels can be fitted without the bag?
Gordon
I really like part wood steering wheels and have been thinking of getting one for my G. The only one's I can find are the type with airbags which my '91 462 doesn't have and in any case are silly prices (Circa £400).
My questions are:
a) Are there any wooden steering wheels without airbags?
b) Do other steering wheels from other models fit?
c) £400 is out of the question, should I just forget the idea now?
Thanks folks.
Ian, I have one as new which I have just removed from my 89 300SL From memory it's a Momo wheel and boss.
If you are interested let me know, picture attached
Kind regards
Rob
Hi Ian,
Don't take this the wrong way.
Just be sure it's what you really want - sometimes a steering wheels that looks good in one model don't looks so good in another -
But maybe that's just me.
Best
Mark
if you're considering one with an airbag (even if left disconnected), then you can choose from the version fitted to the W140, which was also fitted to the W463 from 1995 / 96 and then later to the current W461 (as leather-only version). Or if you like to have a metallic emblem in the centre and like the look of buttons - working or not - there is the W210 version, which was fitted to the G from 1999 to 2002 as a single-stage airbag version and after as a dual-stage airbag version.
The W140 wheel will be the easiest retrofit in terms of connections with the horn switches and slip-rings, being already present. The later, W210, ones will require the addition or transfer of your existing slip-rings or modification of your steering-column to a newer, clock-spring arrangement. The fitting of slip-rings to a steering wheel designed for clock-spring connections (W210), requires drilling 3 small holes in the wheel for the slip-ring fitting screws, but the positions are marked.
If you don't want an airbag type, then the steering wheels from the W107 (SL) should be a straight swap. It will also be the same size as your existing steering wheel, whilst the W140 and W210 wheels will be slightly smaller diameter and chunkier. The smaller diameter steering wheels will obstruct slightly the top of the speedometer if you are a tall driver (as on the 1995/1996 Gs).
One other difference is that the W210 (s-class), steering wheels have a leather-covered centre-boss (airbag), whilst the others all have vinyl covered centres.
I think that the W140 and W210 steering wheels will require you to also replace the existing steering wheel nut with a conical tapered seat one (about £7 from MB).
The ebay prices for these tend to be
- £175 - £200 for W140 steering wheel
- £200 - £250 for a W210 steering wheel complete with airbag
- £200 - £250 for a nice W107, SL steering wheel.
(I was looking for one too, a few months ago)
The W140 wheel and the W107 wheel are of the same era too.
yes, but the 1990's, 463 engines, transmission and electrics are from the 1980's W126 era.
I really like part wood steering wheels and have been thinking of getting one for my G. The only one's I can find are the type with airbags which my '91 462 doesn't have and in any case are silly prices (Circa £400).
My questions are:
a) Are there any wooden steering wheels without airbags?
b) Do other steering wheels from other models fit?
c) £400 is out of the question, should I just forget the idea now?
Thanks folks.
Not with you Alan, do you mean on this board? I spent some time searching and couldn't find the info I wanted. And I've not been able to find any wooden non-bag wheels at all, anywhere.
Can I jump on this thread, now my G is back on the road this nudges me to get a wooden type wheel for my 1981 G, its the original thin two spoke wheel, any ideas on what other models might fit the splines?
I brief word of caution, I have a leather Italvolante steering wheel in my G-wagen, same age as yours Ian, its on a Momo boss and has been on a few years and is proving impossible to remove.
The steering wheel retaining nuts have a loctite threadlock from the factory. If your existing steering wheel has never before been removed (unlikely) you'll need a very long breaker bar with the correct socket to undo it.
Ian photos as promised Kind regards Rob
Just done a search on eBay this guy has several
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=261971340005&global...
Gordon
Just done a search on eBay this guy has several
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=261971340005&global...
Gordon
He had one and it has gone.
Just done a search on eBay this guy has several
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=261971340005&global...
Gordon
He had one and it has gone.
Sorry guys this might be a stupid question, but can I fit the wheel below onto a 460 G ??
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Orginal-Wood-zebrano-steering-wheel-mercedes-1...
very interesting!!! which one of the boffins on here would know?!
Just done a search on eBay this guy has several
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=261971340005&global...
Gordon
He had one and it has gone.
I bought one, which arrived the other day.
Very well made and finished. However, I do not think that that it's totally original. I think these steering wheels all started-off life as standard vinyl or leather-covered wheels. They have then been refurbished with the addition of the wood and new leather. The seller said that only the leather was replaced, but I think the wood also.
Anyway, all done to a very high standard with a good lacquer shine to the zebrano wood. However, the finger scallops on the rear of the wood rim are very simple cut-outs and are not quite like MB's OEM does them on other wooden wheels. I noticed that there are now a lot of zebrano wood aftermarket bits and pieces like gear-knobs available relatively cheap for older Mercedes. some come from turkey and others from the far-east.
Here's a link to a similar one from a few years back:
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/spotted-ebay/86018-w124-201-123-zebrano-leather-wheel.html
some matching gear-knobs here
see if there is anything here:
http://www.ebay.de/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=w463+Holz&rt=nc
Photo?
I fitted a smaller diameter steering wheel to my G which made it feel a bit less like steering a battleship. Probably not such a good idea if the power steering ever failed though.
Battleships - good.
Other vehicles always seem to give me a wide berth anyway.
I bagged a W124 wooden one off eBay.... but I've never found a second one
Gordon
Pricey...?