MBWorld.org Forums - W203 steering-wheel swap how-to

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bif powell (Post 1504937)

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Note: I know this is very basic stuff, but I would've found this helpful when I did it. Plus I wanted to see how much work it was to do a write-up and would I have the patience to do a write-up on something like this(?):

Comprehensive GReddy turbo installation

It's just a kitchy little mod like the euro-trunk insert I'm doing next. Please don't call it 'Rice'....

...the term would be 'Kraut' :)
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This steering-wheel swap was done on a 2002 AMG C32. Probably all Mercedes steering-wheel swaps will be similar, but things like a heated wheel, paddle-shifters etc... will change the procedure slightly.

A fairly detailed W210 swap how-to can be found here.

Obviously any time your doing something to or near an airbag, you should take precautions suggested by your vehicle's manufacturer. Even if the airbag didn't hit you in the face, you still have dangerous gasses and a huge mess and expense if you accidentally trip it's trigger. In the case of the W203, it's sufficient to keep the key out of the ignition during the procedure. Placing the key in the ignition at any time while the airbag is disconnected will throw an SRS fault code and only a dealer can clear it. Disconnecting the airbag and reconnecting it is fine as long as the key is out of the ignition.

As paranoid as I am, I didn't disconnect the negative battery lead as recommended by my shop, but I did establish visual contact with my keys at key moments in the procedure.:icon_redf

http://www.bifpowell.com/pictures/st...wheel/keys.jpg

I pulled the stock steering-wheel (nearly identical to what's found on my wife's 4-matic wagon...

http://www.bifpowell.com/pictures/st...l/oldwheel.jpg

...which is pretty mundane given the general manner of any AMG)

My replacement is the steering-wheel from an F1 Medical car!!!

http://www.bifpowell.com/pictures/st...edical_car.jpg

(which is a station-wagon itself - the irony is unbearable)

Here's the medical car steering-wheel

http://www.bifpowell.com/pictures/st...l/newwheel.jpg

I used the following tools for this swap in (this order)

T30 Torx
Small common screw-driver
10mm Allen socket
Torque wrench

http://www.bifpowell.com/pictures/st...heel/tools.jpg

The procedure:

1. The wheels should be pointed straight-ahead. Fully telescope the steering-wheel and locate the two small holes with T30 Torx screws about a 1/2 inch in.

Right side of steering-column
http://www.bifpowell.com/pictures/st.../rightside.jpg

Left side of steering-column
http://www.bifpowell.com/pictures/st...l/leftside.jpg

2. Remove the T30 Torx screw inside each.

http://www.bifpowell.com/pictures/st...nrightside.jpg

For the Torx, my T30-driver was too long, even with the wheel fully telescoped so I used a T30 bit on a 1/4" socket attached to an extension from my smallest socket wrench. The T30 Torx screw will loosen completely, but it won't fall out as it's part of the assembly.

On the left-hand side I had to flip the turn-signal all the way up to get the tool in there.

3. Gently tilt the airbag down and away from the steering-column and disconnect the upper lead - Yellow Jacketed wires with a black, plastic clip.

http://www.bifpowell.com/pictures/st...eel/airbag.jpg

4. Locate the two airbag leads. Use a small common screw-driver head to flip up the small tab with a looping piece of plastic. Do this for both leads (Yellow and Green on my car)

Use the screw-driver's head to pry up the tab like this
http://www.bifpowell.com/pictures/st...crewdriver.jpg

It comes straight out and will look like this when it's all the way out

http://www.bifpowell.com/pictures/st.../yellowtab.jpg

Pull the entire plug straight out - it should come out pretty easily. Now do the same thing with the green plug.
http://www.bifpowell.com/pictures/st...l/greentab.jpg

5. The airbag assembly should now be completely free. Place it in a safe, clean location with the Mercedes Star facing up (I've heard that they are really safe at this point, but still, I figure if it accidentally went off, it would just blow the bag UP this way, and if it had it bag-down, then I have the metal backing of the airbag assembly going who-knows how fast in my garage).

http://www.bifpowell.com/pictures/st...airbagsafe.jpg

You should now have a large Allen bolt visible at the center of the steering wheel.

http://www.bifpowell.com/pictures/st...l/noairbag.jpg

6. Use the 10mm wrench to remove the counter-sunk Allen bolt at the center of the steering-column. This bolt is in there pretty tight. Even so, with my torque-wrench as a cheater bar it came right out. Have a friend hold the wheel in the manner shown. Don't work against the steering-wheel lock, you might break it.

http://www.bifpowell.com/pictures/st...centerbolt.jpg

7. Carefully pull the steering-wheel straight away from the steering-column. Guide the wires through the holes in the steering-wheel as you do. This will reveal a finely toothed inner shaft.

http://www.bifpowell.com/pictures/st...el/removed.jpg

8. Align the new wheel with the toothed inner shaft. Carefully feed the 3 free leads through their proper holes. The steering-wheel will have notches at 0 and 180 degress which should line up with yellow or brownish dark lines on the inner shaft.

(sorry about the bad pic, my camera doesn't like close shots - I'll take a new one soon)
http://www.bifpowell.com/pictures/st.../darklines.jpg

9. With a friend holding again, torque the counter-sunk Allen bolt to 80Nm or 60 ft-lbs

http://www.bifpowell.com/pictures/st...oldtighten.jpg

10. Plug in the green and yellow airbag leads. Connect the black top-lead. Align the airbag and attach it by tightening the T30 Torx screws from the back of the steering-wheel.

11. AMG F1 Medical Car Steering Wheel

http://www.bifpowell.com/pictures/st...linstalled.jpg

Can't see the pictures