Hi all. first post - didn't see an introductions area. Feel free to point me to it if I overlooked it.

I just bought a 1983 300SD. I'm quite tall and fit in it fairly comfortable, but my legs are pinned against the console and door a bit. In the old days, I'd always swap smaller steering wheels in to cars. Since airbags I've just had to get bigger cars.

I assume this is a stock "old style" steering wheel that would be an easy swap. But I kind of like having a Mercedes steering wheel.

Is there a different model wheel that I could bolt on there and gain a few inches and retain an OEM look?

Thanks for looking.

There are plenty of adapters available that will allow a swap to almost any steering wheel. I put a slightly smaller Nardi wooden wheel on mine. Most MB models older than the W123/W124 use a wheel that is even larger.

Be aware that a smaller wheel will obscure the upper part of your instrument panel, mainly the speedometer.

Thanks!

Anyone know if there's a size difference between W123 and W126? That could be my only Mercedes option if they were bigger before and had airbags after.

I saw a pretty spectacular looking one on a TD with a wood center, but don't know the size.

I'm used to having part of the dash obscured. Few later model cars were meant to be driven with the tilt all the way up, apparently.

I question whether or not your seat goes back to its full travel.

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84 300SD
85 380SE
83 528e
95 318ic

It does. It's a lifelong problem. I'm 7'/340. If I were short, I'd be called "stocky". My legs are like tree trunks - it's not the length that's getting me - it's the diameter.

You might drop forum member, "Desert panther" a line. We just changed out a smaller wooden wheel for an original on his W126. It was a good looking wheel but it obscured his vision of the console gauges.

I don't believe he has any plans for it.

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