Steering Wheel Wear - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

oldsouth · #1 09-23-2002, 11:04 AM

Does anyone know if there is a way to repair a steering wheel that is worn on the top half. I normally hold the wheel on top and it is like the leather part of the wheel is covered with a black like paint that is wearing off. Anybody else had this problem?

#2 09-24-2002, 07:04 AM

I have this problem on my 92 300D 2.5 turbo with 312,500 miles.

I know exactly what ur talking about with it wearing and a paint looking coating.

I heard theres a way to sand it down so its smooth again, and redye it, but its a lot of work, so i didnt do it. I thought about buying one of those wood/leather combo steering wheels, because you can send in your old one (like a trade in credit)

#3 09-26-2002, 10:41 PM

www.exoticwooddash.com will custom install wood and leather on your wheel for $329.00. All wood for $389.00. Or any other hard plastic item in your car. I just talked to them yesterday. Minimum order $200.00. For alot less, check out Wheelskins. Their a leather lace-on cover and pretty nice. Installation takes about an hour. $40.00.

sbr
'79 450SL
77,000 miles
'89 asc/Mclaren Mustang#123
46,000 miles

#4 10-10-2002, 11:26 PM

I had the same exact problem from the 10 to 2 o'clock position on the wheel also.

I bought the Wheelskin Black leather cover for the wheel. Looks great and very inexpensive compared to a new wheel. Before I placed on the Wheelskin, I took some Lexon Leather Cleaner and cleaned the wheel and then on the four spokes where the WheelSkin would wrap around, conditioned the leather so the new leather of the WheelSkin would blend in better with the older leather of the steering wheel.

Highly recommend the WheelSkins.

RIch

acha3 · #5 10-15-2002, 10:07 PM

you can check on ebay, last week I buy a wheel in mint condition for $200 for a E320 94.

400E · #6 10-24-2002, 08:15 PM

It is not difficult to redye your leather steering wheel. I inadvertantly stripped the coating off mine using a too-aggressive leather cleaner. Turns out auto leather is not just dyed but does indeed have a flexible coating on it.

I redyed mine using products from both Leatherique and Colorplus. Both have web sites. If you go to colorplus.com and fill out a form, they'll send you a very nice free brochure which explains how leather is prepared for upholstery use, and how to rehab it.

David C Klasse · #7 11-05-2002, 03:54 AM

Yes I had this problem when I got the car @ 65k miles. It started getting real bad (tiny black peices were getting all over my hands) that I have electrical taped wrapped around from 8 o'clock to 4 o'clock. Not too noticeable, but looks quite ghetto.

New steering wheels from MB are in the $800 range, and having a shop that releathers steering wheels (not common) will usually charge about $200 and will take 1+ days to perform.

I bought a used one from a MB junkyard one.. but it was a 96 C280 (mine is 95) and the connection was different!!! What a bummer, only paid $125 for it too.

Good luck.

oldsouth · #8 11-05-2002, 10:26 AM

I ended up re-dying mine with Leatherique's product. Very good and looks durable but the color did not match very well.

suginami · #9 11-05-2002, 01:13 PM

I just installed a new steering wheel from this site:

http://eris-car.de/cgi-bin/shop2/iboshop.cgi?show1850,3131731010

I bought the wheel they call Steering Wheel Comfort.

It is actually an OEM wheel. They cut out the top and bottom part of the wheel, and put in Zebrano or Burled Walnut.

It looks amazing.

www.************************ also carries the same wheel, although it's $200 more. They carry these wheels for all chasis.

The Godfather · #10 11-17-2002, 11:18 PM

suginami do you have any pics of the steering wheel on your car? How was the buying process thru eris-car? good experience? And how much for shipping? These steerng wheels are so cheap! I'm gonna get one!

suginami · #11 11-18-2002, 01:07 PM

The buying process was fine. Did everything on-line.

I have heard from others who have e-mailed questions to them that their english is very poor.

Sorry, I don't have a digital camera or a scanner, so I don't have a picture of it in my car.

You might try e-mailing Hi-Power to see if he has a picture. He has purchased two of these wheels - one just like mine that he installed in his '86 300E, and the other is a wurzelholz (burlwood) Viktor Wheel that he installed in his '95 E420.

suginami · #12 11-18-2002, 01:13 PM

I forgot to answer two of your questions.

If you want to receive your steering wheel in this lifetime, you'll have to request shipment via air, and it is expensive, like $60.

Hi-Power forgot to request this on one of his wheels, and his was sent via regular mail via ship, and it took like 8 weeks.

I might suggest you order from www.************************

They sell the exact same wheel, and although their catalog list price is $599.00, you don't have the high shipping cost, you can speak to someone in english, and you have the ability to return it.

Further, they are having their annual 15% off thanksgiving sale, so it's almost the same price as ordering from Germany.

You could probably drive down from San Luis Obispo and pick one up, too.

suginami · #13 12-04-2002, 04:38 PM

I got some pics of my steering wheel that Mike Tangas took at the last gtg. I tried posting earlier, but the file was too large and the forum wouldn't let me post it.

I tried resizing it and changed the resolution. Let's see if it works:

Cap'n Carageous · #14 12-04-2002, 04:47 PM

That looks great , Paul. BTW, is that chrome shiftgate cover OEM?

suginami · #15 12-04-2002, 04:49 PM

It worked, although I don't know why there's a white border around the one side of it.

Just for fun, lemme tease you with another shot of my wood / leather shift knob and chrome surround: