W124 Steering Wheel on a W201 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

jt20 · #1 07-25-2010, 12:51 AM

The w124 is, all around, a nicer car. I sometimes come across leather steering wheels for the w124 and would like one in my 190D.

what are the chances it will fit? The w201 uses a 10mm concave cap screw to mount the wheel.

sixto · #2 07-25-2010, 12:57 AM

Should fit physically but...

I don't know if an airbag wheel will fit a non-airbag column.

I don't know if there are differences in airbags over the years that will be a problem for SRS. Later 124s might use a clockspring instead of contact brushes.

Sixto
87 300D

ronald7410 · #3 07-25-2010, 01:34 AM

Your 190d doesn't have an airbag? The 124 should still bolt on regardless you have an airbag or not.

MBeige · #4 07-25-2010, 01:40 AM

I'm curious too. My 89 190E has an air bag but the grip is the rubbery type (which is mildly disintegrating, into my hands). We both have the same idea to install a leather wheel from a W124 (our 1990 300TE has a leather wheel) into the 190E (or D).

ronald7410 · #5 07-25-2010, 01:43 AM

Ive installed w211 steering wheels to my car. Lol I'm just running without an airbag since the plugs don't match

jt20 · #6 07-25-2010, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixto

Should fit physically but...

I don't know if an airbag wheel will fit a non-airbag column.

I don't know if there are differences in airbags over the years that will be a problem for SRS. Later 124s might use a clockspring instead of contact brushes.

Sixto
87 300D

good to see you posting again, sir.

from what I have seen with the 201, the ones with airbags have more brushes, but have the same outer circumference for contacts.

There is a leather steering wheel for the 201.. but its not as nice and usually worn out.

when were the 124 leather wheels most common?

do they all have airbags?

jt20 · #7 07-25-2010, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronald7410

Your 190d doesn't have an airbag? The 124 should still bolt on regardless you have an airbag or not.

I think you are right, it will bolt on... I am concerned about contacts and and the blinker return etc.. functionality

jt20 · #8 07-25-2010, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronald7410

Ive installed w211 steering wheels to my car. Lol I'm just running without an airbag since the plugs don't match

what car did you install it on?

ronald7410 · #9 07-31-2010, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jt20

what car did you install it on?

W124

Jeremy5848 · #10 08-01-2010, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jt20

The w124 is, all around, a nicer car. I sometimes come across leather steering wheels for the w124 and would like one in my 190D.

what are the chances it will fit? The w201 uses a 10mm concave cap screw to mount the wheel.

The W124 uses the same 10mm screw -- I just put a '90 300E leather steering wheel on my '87 300D. I suspect it would also fit a 201.

Here is what a 1987 W124 (plastic) steering wheel looks like with the air bag removed. It is p/n 126 464 05 17. The '90 leather wheel is 124 464 02 28.

Here is what the W124 steering column looks like with the steering wheel removed. In the '90 300E, the plate that holds the switches and the brushes is Mercedes p/n 124 462 05 97 (I pulled the whole thing for spare parts). The four brushes in a group are for the air bag while the single brushes on the left upper and lower are for the horn. The 1987 part is 124 462 00 97 and seemed to have no significant differences from the 1990 part. Compare to your 201, you should be able to tell whether the swap will work.

jt20 · #11 08-01-2010, 12:19 AM

I just installed a Newer dash in the car so I will show the same pictured display you did tomorrow....

But it does not look good. The contacts / brushes are not similar at all..

The steering wheel mount / spline look the same.

awww schucks. Thanks anyway.

jt20 · #12 08-01-2010, 12:26 AM

oh, wait. I did not see the the lower contact on the left.

It may be possible. If you have a spare moment before that wheel goes back on, please take a rough measurement from center of column to each brush on the left side.

those four on the top right are not on my airbag-less model.

Jeremy5848 · #13 08-01-2010, 01:53 AM

The pictures are several weeks old and the new leather wheel has been on the same length of time -- but -- I still have the switch plate from the '90 300E. As near as I can tell, the distance from the center to the horn contacts is 28 mm and 34 mm.

Your airbagless 190 will simply ignore the rings on the W124 wheel if all else is OK. Getting the horn contacts to match is the question.