New Steering wheel issues...help needed.

[fozi.g]

Hi guys.

I recently purchased an 2010 E350 cab and I wanted to change the old steering wheel for the newer style one. I read on various forums that the new wheel will be plug and play. I purchased a new AMG style wheel from a 2013 C Class and went about fitting it. Now the wheel went on and fit perfectly but the horn, buttons and paddles don't work. After some further reading there have been a few people that have said because the wheel is so new I need to get a contact plate for all the funtions to work. If it was produced in 2012 and earlier a contact plate would not be needed. My question is what is a contact plate and where can I get one from? I've done a google search but drawn a blank. If anyone can Point me in the right direction or has a solution to getting the functions to work I'd be most grateful.

Nice one.

Foz.

 

[fozi.g]

Anyone?

 

[thecolonel]

I take its nothing simple like coding the new wheel into the system with STAR or alike is it?

not many things late model PnP into old models with Merc it appears to me when I have tried to upgrade things.

 

[sjmaxwell]

Steering wheel change on my 2012 E Class was straight forward to an AMG one but then all the functions were already there, I'm assuming that you had paddle operated gear change before - if you didn't then a new steering wheel won't just add the function. This is where a contact spiral may be required on the steering column but I'm no expert at this sort of change and almost certainly some time on a STAR machine will be required to code it!

 

[fozi.g]

Steering wheel change on my 2012 E Class was straight forward to an AMG one but then all the functions were already there, I'm assuming that you had paddle operated gear change before - if you didn't then a new steering wheel won't just add the function. This is where a contact spiral may be required on the steering column but I'm no expert at this sort of change and almost certainly some time on a STAR machine will be required to code it!

The paddles and all the multi function buttons are already there. I assumed it was a case of plug and play with a new wheel. I followed the thread below.

DIY: Steering Wheel Swap - MBWorld.org Forums

 

[sjmaxwell]

The paddles and all the multi function buttons are already there. I assumed it was a case of plug and play with a new wheel. I followed the thread below. DIY: Steering Wheel Swap - MBWorld.org Forums

I don't see any part numbers on the MB World post so he could have got an E Class wheel. I'm guessing that a C Class one may be wired slightly different to the E Class and therefore the wires are in different places in the plug/sockets

 

[fozi.g]

I don't see any part numbers on the MB World post so he could have got an E Class wheel. I'm guessing that a C Class one may be wired slightly different to the E Class and therefore the wires are in different places in the plug/sockets

Yeah your probably right. When I read the first paragraph and the op stated that he thinks all the new wheels would work I took a chance and bought one from a c class. I might have to sell this one and look at buying one specifically for an E class. You said when you fitted yours you didn't have any issue?

 

[fozi.g]

The airbags must all be the same though right? I'm thinking just to buy another wheel and use the bag I already have.

 

[sjmaxwell]

Yeah your probably right. When I read the first paragraph and the op stated that he thinks all the new wheels would work I took a chance and bought one from a c class. I might have to sell this one and look at buying one specifically for an E class. You said when you fitted yours you didn't have any issue?

Yes but mine was the same except it had the AMG alloy paddles. I did a similar change on the former W207 without issues but they were effectively like for like not different generations

 

[fozi.g]

Yes but mine was the same except it had the AMG alloy paddles. I did a similar change on the former W207 without issues but they were effectively like for like not different generations

Ahh ok. I suppose there wouldn't of been any issues with the swap then. I did also read on another thread that I could get the wheel functions to work if I changed the contact plate. Now for the life of me I don't know what a contact plate is or where I could get one from. I might need to speak with a specialist or techy to see if they can shed some light on this.

 

[sjmaxwell]

It might be the contact spiral - a unit that transfers the connections from the revolving steering wheel so that it keeps contact. I've got an idea that on the E Class this is a "column tube" a fairly pricey part!

Looking at WIS seems to suggest a change in 2013 but I have no details. It does also suggest the W204 and W207 are compatible whereas the W212 isn't, again not sure why.

What are the part numbers of the old and new steering wheel?