190E Steering wheel - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

pentoman · #1 02-08-2005, 06:42 PM

I've decided (this has probably been a long time coming!) to replace the steering wheel on my 190E. It's just toooooo big, and has always had a small crack in the centre.

Question is, what with, anyone have any ideas?

My car is very original and I'd like to maintain this, but with a sportier noticeably smaller wheel that doesn't look out of place. I liked the leather wheel in a '98 E320 I held the other day... but it's airbag.

I've got this wheel:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=9855&item=4524802245&rd=1 in leather (the non leather is nasty & rubbery when you're used to the leather one!).

And I'd like a leather, normal looking one (not like a racing cars!), but am not averse to a bit of wood. It would be cool if it was a MB item, and had a star in the middle.

many thanks

Russ

MTI · #2 02-08-2005, 07:11 PM

Round up a helper and a very large breaker bar equiped with a 10mm allen head socket. Lift out the center emblem. Make sure the ignition is not in the locked position and have the helper hold the wheel while you use all your energy to undo the nut. It is torqued like a . . . you know.

You'll end up with this:

This is my favorite sport wheel for the W201, made by Momo for AMG

Be forewarned that you will lose sight of some of the instrument panel, like the low fuel warning light, the top of the speedo and the top of the tach. With some careful seat adjustment you might get to see some of them again, but the feel of the smaller fatter wheel more than makes up for the inconvenience.

daveCT · #3 02-10-2005, 12:40 PM

where can i find that old AMG wheel MTI ?? ^^^^^^

MTI · #4 02-10-2005, 02:20 PM

Like most 80/90's AMG parts, they are mostly made of "unobtanium" and difficult to source. That wheel was the last of the AMG non-airbag wheels. They do show up from time to time on eBay Germany where I've picked up a few. Create a favorite search for the terms AMG (lenkrad,sportlenkrad, lederlenkrad) over there.

pentoman · #5 02-11-2005, 11:55 AM

Thanks MTI, instructions on how to do it too, excellent!

That is indeed a lovely wheel.

pentoman · #6 02-17-2005, 10:20 AM

Is this wheel of any smaller diameter or is it just a funky but still enormous 4 spoke one ?

Pawsh · #7 02-17-2005, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pentoman

Is this wheel of any smaller diameter or is it just a funky but still enormous 4 spoke one ?

I doubte it's any much smaller than a regular wheel. A big difference would be to use a wheel from a C36 or equivalent style (it will be smaller and thicker compared to the regular wheel).

I used an aftermarket wheel:

pentoman · #8 02-17-2005, 05:10 PM

Nice wheel!! I like that a lot.

mercedesperformance.co.uk have this R129 sportline non-airbag wheel (was that ever OE?) on special at a cut down price (£199 + tax) which they emailed me pictures of after an ebay enquiry I made, I've attached them - its in Black Leather/Walnut wood, and additionally the horn pad in Black is £25 + tax.

Presumably they sent me 2 pictures one to show me the wheel's outside wood & leather, and another one to show the horn pad. The horn pad looks horribly vinyl but I think it's probably just the flash photograph.

Is that walnut btw? (I'm not good on woods

). What do you think, good for an original look on a 190E?

finally of course, will the R129 wheel fit?

Russ

Pawsh · #9 02-17-2005, 05:49 PM

Check eBay of Germany and U.K. Right now there is a non-airbagged Sportline wheel on eBay of Germany:

Click Me

pentoman · #10 02-18-2005, 04:09 PM

Many thanks - that looks like the style and it's nice to see it fitted to a car.

I like it, now I guess I just have to decide if I want leather or leather and wood.

I like wood but the rest of my car has no wood (apart from the gearshift surround/electric window switch mounting bit) so the wood wheel may look rather out of place?

Russ

Chamorro · #11 02-19-2005, 02:12 AM

It may, but you could also get a wood kit a little bit down the road.

pentoman · #12 02-19-2005, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTI

You'll end up with this:

Will I also end up with a pair of pink aviators?

My only issue with the non airbag sportline wheel in previous posts is it's 390mm, my current wheel I measured as 410mm, so it's not much smaller, and going smaller was the main point of the exercise, since I like everything else about the factory '80s style wheel that's on there now.

Does anyone know a smaller factory wheel that's non-airbag, apart from I guess the aforementioned '80s AMG wheel?

thanks

Russ

LINDS HANSON · #13 02-20-2005, 08:06 AM

Its a great shame that the 201 was never offered with a adjustable steering column as per 124/ 129 models as all tall or well built drivers struggle with the to low postioning of the steering wheel. Both my 201s run non standard Momo steering wheels because this allows your legs to fit under the wheel properly particularly on manual cars.The steering feels much quicker and the grips on the rim are much better then any non AMG Benz wheel. The downside as other people have said is obscuring the top part of the instruments this can be a bit unnerving when suddenly coming up to a speed cop or camera! I have both the early type and late type Sportline steering wheels they are both the same diametre but the later type feels chunkier there OK on our 124TE for now but are still to big for the 201s. So the sooner someone sorts a adjustable column conversion for the 201 the better, the main hassle will be
modifying the dash trim around the top of the cowling. Regards Linds

pentoman · #14 02-22-2005, 12:36 PM

Well I just went and measured the wheel in a '93 C180, (it's the standard airbag style wheel) and it's 390mm (outer diamter) too.

Whilst I thought it would not be much different the older 410mm wheel, it does actually feel quite different - noticeably smaller and without the bus-like impression. I think it will suffice

.

I then jumped into an E30 BMW M3 next to it, which had an aftermarket 360mm wheel. I felt that this was a little 'go-kart' like for what is not a very small car, even if it's a very sporting model.

Certainly a 360mm wheel on a 190E would seem rather out of place on any 190E except for an Evolution or at least a 16v.

So that's me done. Thanks all for the help.. off to find a sportline wheel!

.

I'll post pictures when I've got it.

Russ

Snibble · #15 02-22-2005, 01:48 PM

anyone know the diameter of the wheels?

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