Smaller Steering Wheel for 124? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

300D-91 · #1 10-31-2014, 11:44 AM

While watching a Peugeot TV commercial the brain started thinking of how to make the instrument panel on a 124 more visible. The instrument panel on the 124 can't be raised easily, so perhaps the answer is to reduce the size of the steering wheel.

The requirements (for me) are:

use a MB part
maintain an air-bag

So the question is - what MB steering wheel(s) with an air bag can be used on the 124?

Zulfiqar · #2 10-31-2014, 12:43 PM

the last models W124 had a smaller steering wheel (leather trimmed too) with the airbag. Try looking for a 95 E320, E300D E420 wheel.

P.C. · #3 10-31-2014, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 300D-91

While watching a Peugeot TV commercial the brain started thinking of how to make the instrument panel on a 124 more visible. The instrument panel on the 124 can't be raised easily, so perhaps the answer is to reduce the size of the steering wheel.

The requirements (for me) are:

use a MB part
maintain an air-bag

So the question is - what MB steering wheel(s) with an air bag can be used on the 124?

Didn't Mercedes offer a smaller diameter steering wheel on its W124 Sportline models?

DieselPaul · #4 10-31-2014, 02:09 PM

Sportline wheel is 390mm I think. I have one, its not really that much smaller in my opinion, but I've never measured an 86-91 wheel.

The "later" style wheel came out in 1992. A 1994 and 1995 uses a different kind of clock spring setup AFAIK so only a 92-93 leather wheel would be a bolt on on an earlier car.

winmutt · #5 10-31-2014, 07:49 PM

Basically from 70s till at least 00 all of the steering wheels are compatible, in the 202, 210 and 140 they converted from the ring to a ribbon cable. Prior to the 201/124 where the airbag was standard, the contact ring had 2 rings, the ones with air bags have 3 rings. I started out with a stocker, replaced it a 202/140 (cant remember) and now have an AMG (replica) with an after market hub (or was it from the w108?) and a 2 ring contact from the w108. I sacrificed the air back after I had a flex disk pop coming off a start line and it hit the crash sensor and blew airbags and seatbelts.

winmutt · #6 10-31-2014, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselPaul

The "later" style wheel came out in 1992. A 1994 and 1995 uses a different kind of clock spring setup AFAIK so only a 92-93 leather wheel would be a bolt on on an earlier car.

Nah you can pop out the ribbon and put the contact ring back in there.

pwogaman · #7 10-31-2014, 09:02 PM

I have a W202 Sportline type wheel on my 1987 300TD. I had to convert the electronic connection.

Proton approves.

DieselPaul · #8 11-01-2014, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winmutt

Nah you can pop out the ribbon and put the contact ring back in there.

Nah, is an interesting way to reply given what I said was true. It is also true you can retrofit the clock springs, its how I have a 202 wheel in my S124 but it sounds like the op is about to go to the junkyard and a 94/95 wheel will not just slap on. I should have added in that you can change the clock springs around.

winmutt · #9 11-01-2014, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselPaul

Nah, is an interesting way to reply given what I said was true. It is also true you can retrofit the clock springs, its how I have a 202 wheel in my S124 but it sounds like the op is about to go to the junkyard and a 94/95 wheel will not just slap on. I should have added in that you can change the clock springs around.

Ya, sorry, meant to clarify that they are swappable and only muddled things...

DieselPaul · #10 11-01-2014, 10:20 AM

My reply reads snarkier than I intended, tone is difficult to convey online.

To the op, I think I've got pictures of the different clock springs if you wind up needing to swap them around.

You need a 92-93 clock spring fit a 94+ wheel. In my experience the 86-91 wheels clock spring will not fit in the later wheels.

pwogaman · #11 11-01-2014, 12:29 PM

Time for another pictorial: How to change a steering wheel contact ring.