Leather Steering Wheel

[shanksy]

Hi all, just been cleaning my interior today, decided to clean the steering wheel
I think I have cleaned the top a bit hard as now it is no longer smooth and feels like rough suede.
The cloth I used turned black so I must have taken some kind of coating off.

Does anyone know what I can use to re-coat the wheel so get that lovely black finish again?

 

[Peter DLM]

Mine did that in my previous 210. It was just plain worn out. Worn leather does feel like Suede and there's no coming back. How old is the wheel?

I replaced it with a wood/leather jobbie, £200 and my old wheel.

However, I may be totally wrong, probably.

 

[shanksy]

well its a '94 w124 so is 16 yrs old

 

[Peter DLM]

I'd say that particular piece of leather has reached the end of its life. Unless anyone knows better.

Get a 2nd opinion though for goodness sake. lol

 

[Will]

The leather is probably worn through.

Look for a replacement on places like eBay, specialist MB parts dealers or on forums like this.

You could have it re-trimmed but it's probably going to be more expensive than finding another wheel. I'd personally consider living with it if the wear on the wheel is in keeping with the rest of the patina on the car (ie seats, pedals, gearshift etc).

Will

 

[ianrandom]

Mine was getting like that. I overcleaned it by accident. And then some.. I fed it lots with Leatherique, left to soak in for days in the sun covered up. De-greased it, and re-dyed it black with some stuff from ebay. Then (making sure i covered up the interior thoroughly!) i gave it a few coats of leather lacquer spray, supposedly breathable coating tha protects the finish of leather dye. It comes in gloss, satin or matt.
Looks brand new a year later.
Of course, it might not cost much from a salvage yard either.

 

[shanksy]

cheers guys, i'll see if I can pick one up from a breakers cheap otherwise I may just have a bash at ianluscombe's suggestion.

If I were to get one from a breakers without an airbag are they easy enough to swap over?

 

[WDB124066]

Mine was getting like that. I overcleaned it by accident. And then some.. I fed it lots with Leatherique, left to soak in for days in the sun covered up. De-greased it, and re-dyed it black with some stuff from ebay. Then (making sure i covered up the interior thoroughly!) i gave it a few coats of leather lacquer spray, supposedly breathable coating tha protects the finish of leather dye. It comes in gloss, satin or matt.
Looks brand new a year later.
Of course, it might not cost much from a salvage yard either.

Pictures??

 

[Guv1]

Mine's pretty knackered as well..

I contacted some guy on ebay for semi wooden wheel but his wood did not match the rest of my interior.

Anyone know of anyone?

 

[neilrr]

I've got a genuine MB Burr Walnut & black leather wheel from a 1997 W210. The same wheel was fitted to W124s, R129s, W140s & W210s of the era.

The wood & stitching are without flaw & a little bit of the shiny finish is starting to wear off on the upper RH leather. It sounds like Ian's solution would make it look like new again.

£235 shipped if you fancy it.

 

[Guv1]

Hi neilrr,

I went to see a s.wheel before and the wood grains were different pattern and colour to my W124. Can you send me come close ups of the wood effect? Just want to be sure that i dont get the wrong one.

Also, u willing to accept offers?

Thanks

 

[neilrr]

Guv,

AFAIK there were only ever two types of wood offered in W124s, Burr Walnut or Zebrano, a sort of streaky zebra like pattern in a much lighter coloured wood.

Happy to send you later tomorrow if you'll put up an email address. I'm online for the next 10 minutes or so. If you see this post in that time post it up & I'll confirm I've got it so you can remove it.

Regards.

 

[Guv1]

..

 

[neilrr]

Thanks, got it.

 

[Yossarian]

I've got a genuine MB Burr Walnut & black leather wheel from a 1997 W210. The same wheel was fitted to W124s, R129s, W140s & W210s of the era.

The wood & stitching are without flaw & a little bit of the shiny finish is starting to wear off on the upper RH leather. It sounds like Ian's solution would make it look like new again.

£235 shipped if you fancy it.

Are you still offering this? I would be interested - although would want to have the airbag fitted - does this take one?

 

[neilrr]

Yes, it's still for sale & Yes, it's an airbag SRS (Supplementary Restraint System) wheel.

To transfer your airbag over you disconnect the battery & undo the two hexagonal screws / bolts buried on the back side of your wheel holding the airbag in place. It just pops loose, you unclip the electrical connections & it's off. Replacing the airbag on the new wheel is the reverse process.

The wheel itself is held on by a very tight 10 hex bolt which usually requires a longish breaker bar to remove. It's the leverage you need.

MB recommends a new replacement bolt when re-installing any steering wheel, probably because it comes with new 'glue'. IIRC the bolt is about a fiver. I've reused the old bolt on my own cars a couple of times without any issues.

 

[Yossarian]

In that case I am interested - although will naturally want to haggle over price. I can't send private messages being a new member so please give me a call on 07790 495531.