The big wheel is great, except when getting in and out. The wheel doesn't tilt, just moves in and out on my "87 SDL.

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Paul 1987 300 SDL; 2000 ML; '69 MGB; '68 VW Fastback

The 123 coupe is perfect... I get the big wheel, and I can rack the seat all the way back to fit my 6'4" into the car with no trouble at all.

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1992 300D 2.5T 249k - Parked with a bad transmission
1981 300SD 142k - Daily driver

I ADORE my big steering wheel!!!

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Ginny in Denver-ish
78 300SD, 265K (mine)

Yep, getting in and out was too much for me.. I got a wood/leather APC wheel on ebay. Unfortunately it has a Grant mounting pattern and the only hub adapter I could find was made by MOMO. Luckily Grant makes an adapter for just that problem. The new wheel is alot smaller and much thicker and feels better on the twisty highway I take to work..

I'm about 6'3" and I just slide the seat all the way back - I drive with it all the way back too so it's no problem.

I love the big wheel except for one thing - it makes it almost uncomfortable to do the one-hand-across-the-top technique like I can do in the F-250 - the wheel's so tall it's not comfortable to just drag one wrist over the top of the wheel.

However, 8 days out of 10 I don't drive that way anyway, and when it's one of those eight good days, I love the whole armrest-enabled design.

Even more than the steering wheel I like how tight a w126 will turn to be its size... so much tighter than the Crown Vic it's incredible.

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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

Second that on the turning radius - my brother said his s2000 didn't have a radius as tight as my wagon.

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tgingrich
'83 300TD 282k
'83 300D 239k
'82 300SD 204k
DFW

Not very good as a get away car. Too hard to steer while wearing handcuffs (I'll refrain from making any derogatory comments that include lowrider cars).

i love the big wheel

I can attest to that too...whenever I go back to school and start driving the Subaru, most of the time I end up having to stop and reverse when pulling into the parking space for the first week or so. I can really notice the difference in turning radius between it and my 124. I also end up taking off like a rocket in the Subaru every time I touch the gas for a while because of the totally different response characteristics

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Dale

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g1...MG_2277sig.jpg

1990 300D 2.5 Turbo -155k
2000 E430 - 103k
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ecodiesel 4x4 - 11k
2014 VW Passat TDI SE - 7k Bro's Diesel
2006 E320 CDI - 128k Pop's Benz

Pre-glow - A moment of silence in honor of Rudolph Diesel

Thanks for all the great replies!

Yes I've also marveled at the incredibly tight turning radius. I wonder if MB designed it that way 'cause they realized it's a big benefit for a taxi, especially in narrow European streets.

Bert

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'81 300CD - 180K, cannot be killed by any conventional means
'99 Ford Escort - good MPG

Try a 116 car. Even better. Anyone have the numbers?

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'90 300SE 298k
-300K and it gets put into retirement.
'80 300D 255k Purchased new by family in 1980.

Had a:
1973 220 (gas)
1980 300SD
1992 400E

I like the way the big wheel looks and I like the way it steers! When in good shape I also like how they feel.

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

The big wheel allows for better leverage. What surprises me more is how great the power steering works on these cars. With the engine off it's very, very hard to turn the wheel, even with a steering wheel that large!

Incidentally the W123 steering feel is lighter and more nimble, while the W124 is heavier and the harder material used for the wheel itself (round part) makes driving more firm and confident.

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg

LOVE the big wheel ... When I drive my wife's Ford Freestar, I feel like I'm using a Nintendo video game steering wheel. That being said, would be nice to tilt it out of the way during embarking and disembarking!

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