Input Needed on Redoing Brabus Steering Wheel
03-18-2010, 08:28 AM
#1
Out Of Control!!
Thread Starter
Input Needed on Redoing Brabus Steering Wheel
So here's a pic of it now:
Ignore the knob/boot - they've been replaced.
The top part of the wheel is starting to get worn through, so I'm going to be getting it redone. A guy in Miami ( www.aglausa.com ) is going to be doing it; he's got a ton of MB experience. The standard wheel I bought on Ebay came in today (damn, stock steering wheels really suck), so I'm going to get it swapped in for the Brabus, then send the Brabus down to Miami.
Current thoughts are to get the whole wheel done in matching charcoal leather with possibly blue carbon fiber on the top portion (the one piece from 10:30 to 2:30 on the Brabus wheel) and maybe the back (part that faces the gauges), and possibly alcantara in the mix somehow.
Couple of questions:
1) I'm not sure that I'd want to be touching hard cf on my wheel all the time - can anyone who has cf on their wheel comment on this? Might just do an alcantara/leather combo like the F1 medical steering wheel (for those who remember that one) instead, but I'm sure the cf would look more interesting
2) if anyone has any pics of their custom wheels, please post 'em - it'd help to see what some others have done, and also what you like/dislike about your wheel
3) Any suggestions appreciated!
4) If anyone needs a stock wheel in about a month, let me know. It'll be up for sale again then (it's the stock 3-spoke rim, not the C7/Evo wheel with the nicer thumbgrips, unfortunately). Reasonable offers will be replied to, unreasonable ones given the appropriate ridicule.
Gracias.
Ignore the knob/boot - they've been replaced.
The top part of the wheel is starting to get worn through, so I'm going to be getting it redone. A guy in Miami ( www.aglausa.com ) is going to be doing it; he's got a ton of MB experience. The standard wheel I bought on Ebay came in today (damn, stock steering wheels really suck), so I'm going to get it swapped in for the Brabus, then send the Brabus down to Miami.
Current thoughts are to get the whole wheel done in matching charcoal leather with possibly blue carbon fiber on the top portion (the one piece from 10:30 to 2:30 on the Brabus wheel) and maybe the back (part that faces the gauges), and possibly alcantara in the mix somehow.
Couple of questions:
1) I'm not sure that I'd want to be touching hard cf on my wheel all the time - can anyone who has cf on their wheel comment on this? Might just do an alcantara/leather combo like the F1 medical steering wheel (for those who remember that one) instead, but I'm sure the cf would look more interesting
2) if anyone has any pics of their custom wheels, please post 'em - it'd help to see what some others have done, and also what you like/dislike about your wheel
3) Any suggestions appreciated!
4) If anyone needs a stock wheel in about a month, let me know. It'll be up for sale again then (it's the stock 3-spoke rim, not the C7/Evo wheel with the nicer thumbgrips, unfortunately). Reasonable offers will be replied to, unreasonable ones given the appropriate ridicule.
Gracias.
03-18-2010, 10:11 AM
#2
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,174
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
...a panty dropper...
I drive my friends Chrysler 300 and the top and bottom of his steering wheel has the plastic wood grain and its not bad touching it at all. I want to get my steering wheel done as well for the same reason as you but I dont know what I would do to it other then redo it to the stock leather so it matches. If I had a dark interior I would go for the CF accents.
03-18-2010, 11:57 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
2003 C320 4Matic
i think itd look really cool with CF on the steering wheels (as long as you've got other CF on the inside), and i dont think it'd be uncomfortable to be holding onto
and if not you can always be wood grain grippin' ^^
and if not you can always be wood grain grippin' ^^
Last edited by 03MBC320; 03-18-2010 at 12:00 PM.
03-18-2010, 12:15 PM
#4
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,174
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
...a panty dropper...
Silver CF to match your interior trim. Maybe add some blue on it and get that nice looking shift knob and boot back on!! haha. Add a button to the top of the shifter to start up the rice maker!
04-06-2010, 01:54 PM
#5
Out Of Control!!
Thread Starter
So, AGLA's going to start on it today; decided to go all "Jersey Shore" on it, so I got the blue cf at the top, perforated leather on the sides as it is now but with new leather, and he's going to try to keep the bottom piece as-is, since it's basically brand new (and I'm cheesily admitting to liking the embossed "Brabus" there as well).
Pics up in 3-4 weeks.
Pics up in 3-4 weeks.
04-06-2010, 06:59 PM
#7
MBWorld Fanatic!
Gee, it looks like a C7 wheel, which has the 'nubs'.
Wish I could get mine recovered.
How much was the new stocker?
I see new stockers on ebay for about 250, but not with the nubs.
Whats your mileage at these days Tommy? I just cracked 152K.
-Recent work, just keeping on maint.
New plugs, flushed the coolant, new tranny orings a few months back, new
fuel filter, new tires, PlastX'd the Bix, Zymol'd the leather, new rear brakes (Akebono and EBC dimpled rotors, though thats been a year or so now though)
At least if I have a problem, I can know it's not due to delayed maintenance.
The new plugs really pepped it up, (still using NGK 5691 iridiums) and solved my constant failing coil pack issue; old plugs put a strain the coils, did you know that?
I had a wheel sensor fail which was real pain, and apparently some water got in somewhere and killed the car, temporarily, but now she's fine again. $300 for the diag and sensor.
I gotta crack up, you still have the same avatar now for, what,
8 years?
Not many coupey OG's left around here, you, me, Ed,
Heir Krantz(? or did he sell?)....who else?
You still have the stock HU!? Wow. You should snap up an Audio 10 when one come up around here.
OK, sorry for the OT, back to steering wheels.
Wish I could get mine recovered.
How much was the new stocker?
I see new stockers on ebay for about 250, but not with the nubs.
Whats your mileage at these days Tommy? I just cracked 152K.
-Recent work, just keeping on maint.
New plugs, flushed the coolant, new tranny orings a few months back, new
fuel filter, new tires, PlastX'd the Bix, Zymol'd the leather, new rear brakes (Akebono and EBC dimpled rotors, though thats been a year or so now though)
At least if I have a problem, I can know it's not due to delayed maintenance.
The new plugs really pepped it up, (still using NGK 5691 iridiums) and solved my constant failing coil pack issue; old plugs put a strain the coils, did you know that?
I had a wheel sensor fail which was real pain, and apparently some water got in somewhere and killed the car, temporarily, but now she's fine again. $300 for the diag and sensor.
I gotta crack up, you still have the same avatar now for, what,
8 years?
Not many coupey OG's left around here, you, me, Ed,
Heir Krantz(? or did he sell?)....who else?
You still have the stock HU!? Wow. You should snap up an Audio 10 when one come up around here.
OK, sorry for the OT, back to steering wheels.
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; 04-06-2010 at 07:06 PM.
Trending Topics
04-06-2010, 07:43 PM
#8
Out Of Control!!
Thread Starter
It does have the nubs like the C7, but is much thicker and does have more complex curves that the OEM rim.
The "new" non-C7 wheel I got for $85, which was a pretty decent deal, I think. Hoping to sell it at about the same price.
I'm at 131k as of today. I'm hoping to squeeze another couple of years out of this lemon.
I just did the rear rotors of my car as well; now have to switch out the Akebonos in front - Racing Brake neglected to tell us owners that the 2-piece rotors and ceramics don't get along, so I've got some Axxis semi-metallic ones coming in to replace them. I'm hoping to only do maintenance on the car from now on, more or less. I have a new MFD to swap out at the next NJ meet on the 25th, my speaker for my alarm chirp sounds like it's on its last legs, but that's about it.
Yep, still have oem radio (it's Bose! Fear my whimpy subwoofer!!) I never got around to doing anything; have had an old-school Eclipse h/u and in-dash cd changer for about 6 years now that I was going to swap in. I should probably get the stuff in before the engine seizes, but buying speakers, sub, 5-channel amp and install adds up. I'm trying to get the crx back up to snuff, so want to spend the money on that instead this summer. Not to mention saving for a house, paying down debt, various lap dances, etc...
As far as my avatar, there's something to be said for consistency.
The "new" non-C7 wheel I got for $85, which was a pretty decent deal, I think. Hoping to sell it at about the same price.
I'm at 131k as of today. I'm hoping to squeeze another couple of years out of this lemon.
I just did the rear rotors of my car as well; now have to switch out the Akebonos in front - Racing Brake neglected to tell us owners that the 2-piece rotors and ceramics don't get along, so I've got some Axxis semi-metallic ones coming in to replace them. I'm hoping to only do maintenance on the car from now on, more or less. I have a new MFD to swap out at the next NJ meet on the 25th, my speaker for my alarm chirp sounds like it's on its last legs, but that's about it.
Yep, still have oem radio (it's Bose! Fear my whimpy subwoofer!!) I never got around to doing anything; have had an old-school Eclipse h/u and in-dash cd changer for about 6 years now that I was going to swap in. I should probably get the stuff in before the engine seizes, but buying speakers, sub, 5-channel amp and install adds up. I'm trying to get the crx back up to snuff, so want to spend the money on that instead this summer. Not to mention saving for a house, paying down debt, various lap dances, etc...
As far as my avatar, there's something to be said for consistency.
04-06-2010, 09:05 PM
#9
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2003 C230 Kompressor Coupe, 2003 E320, 2003 Chevy Corvette Z06
Where can I find a Brabus Steering wheel?
I would just wrap it in alcantara, I have wood on my E-class steering wheel and that stuff easily scratches if you where any kind of jewelry on your hands or wrists. I can imagine you would run into the same problems with cf as well as it may fade if parked outside all the time. Plus the feel of alcantara would be much better in my opinion.
I would just wrap it in alcantara, I have wood on my E-class steering wheel and that stuff easily scratches if you where any kind of jewelry on your hands or wrists. I can imagine you would run into the same problems with cf as well as it may fade if parked outside all the time. Plus the feel of alcantara would be much better in my opinion.
04-06-2010, 09:06 PM
#10
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2003 C230 Kompressor Coupe, 2003 E320, 2003 Chevy Corvette Z06
It does have the nubs like the C7, but is much thicker and does have more complex curves that the OEM rim.
The "new" non-C7 wheel I got for $85, which was a pretty decent deal, I think. Hoping to sell it at about the same price.
I'm at 131k as of today. I'm hoping to squeeze another couple of years out of this lemon.
I just did the rear rotors of my car as well; now have to switch out the Akebonos in front - Racing Brake neglected to tell us owners that the 2-piece rotors and ceramics don't get along, so I've got some Axxis semi-metallic ones coming in to replace them. I'm hoping to only do maintenance on the car from now on, more or less. I have a new MFD to swap out at the next NJ meet on the 25th, my speaker for my alarm chirp sounds like it's on its last legs, but that's about it.
Yep, still have oem radio (it's Bose! Fear my whimpy subwoofer!!) I never got around to doing anything; have had an old-school Eclipse h/u and in-dash cd changer for about 6 years now that I was going to swap in. I should probably get the stuff in before the engine seizes, but buying speakers, sub, 5-channel amp and install adds up. I'm trying to get the crx back up to snuff, so want to spend the money on that instead this summer. Not to mention saving for a house, paying down debt, various lap dances, etc...
As far as my avatar, there's something to be said for consistency.
The "new" non-C7 wheel I got for $85, which was a pretty decent deal, I think. Hoping to sell it at about the same price.
I'm at 131k as of today. I'm hoping to squeeze another couple of years out of this lemon.
I just did the rear rotors of my car as well; now have to switch out the Akebonos in front - Racing Brake neglected to tell us owners that the 2-piece rotors and ceramics don't get along, so I've got some Axxis semi-metallic ones coming in to replace them. I'm hoping to only do maintenance on the car from now on, more or less. I have a new MFD to swap out at the next NJ meet on the 25th, my speaker for my alarm chirp sounds like it's on its last legs, but that's about it.
Yep, still have oem radio (it's Bose! Fear my whimpy subwoofer!!) I never got around to doing anything; have had an old-school Eclipse h/u and in-dash cd changer for about 6 years now that I was going to swap in. I should probably get the stuff in before the engine seizes, but buying speakers, sub, 5-channel amp and install adds up. I'm trying to get the crx back up to snuff, so want to spend the money on that instead this summer. Not to mention saving for a house, paying down debt, various lap dances, etc...
As far as my avatar, there's something to be said for consistency.
04-06-2010, 09:54 PM
#12
Out Of Control!!
Thread Starter
No, haven't you seen one yet? It's similar to the OEM one, but with thumb bumps, not really anything special, but when combined with everything else in the C7 option, it was a no brainer.
I have alcantara in my shift boot, a pillars, armrest, and driver's side recaro (and I'm sure the headliner eventually, as I've always wanted to do it, AND the rear part of the headliner by the cargo shelf is sagging already); I was afraid of getting alcantara overload.
I'll try to remember to not let my charm bracelets scratch my cf.
I have alcantara in my shift boot, a pillars, armrest, and driver's side recaro (and I'm sure the headliner eventually, as I've always wanted to do it, AND the rear part of the headliner by the cargo shelf is sagging already); I was afraid of getting alcantara overload.
I'll try to remember to not let my charm bracelets scratch my cf.
04-07-2010, 03:36 AM
#13
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: SF Bay Area, San Diego
Posts: 1,119
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
C320 coupe
No, haven't you seen one yet? It's similar to the OEM one, but with thumb bumps, not really anything special, but when combined with everything else in the C7 option, it was a no brainer.
I have alcantara in my shift boot, a pillars, armrest, and driver's side recaro (and I'm sure the headliner eventually, as I've always wanted to do it, AND the rear part of the headliner by the cargo shelf is sagging already); I was afraid of getting alcantara overload.
I'll try to remember to not let my charm bracelets scratch my cf.
I have alcantara in my shift boot, a pillars, armrest, and driver's side recaro (and I'm sure the headliner eventually, as I've always wanted to do it, AND the rear part of the headliner by the cargo shelf is sagging already); I was afraid of getting alcantara overload.
I'll try to remember to not let my charm bracelets scratch my cf.
I am sueded up...
09-30-2010, 10:09 AM
#14
Out Of Control!!
Thread Starter
OK, bringing this back from the dead for an update...
Got an email from agla that they were finishing up the wheel and should be sending it out by the end of the week. This has truly been a nightmare. 6 months is a little long, don't you think?
He's been on vacation, not answering calls, blah, blah, blah.
So, when I get it in, I'll be having it swapped out, as well as adding the updated turn signal and cruise stalks (they look so much better than the 2002's), a full center console switchrow, a remote mute button for my V1 on the reverse side of my turnsignal stalk, and the most important part, the mod done for accepting the dfwdude flat badge.
So, hoping to get this done in October, assuming I get the wheel back soon enough.
To prove my stylin' needlepoint skillz, I added a Wheelskins steering wheel cover to the stocker; couldn't take that thin wheel anymore. It's actually a nice little improvement, I was surprised.
Install and pics to come.
Got an email from agla that they were finishing up the wheel and should be sending it out by the end of the week. This has truly been a nightmare. 6 months is a little long, don't you think?
He's been on vacation, not answering calls, blah, blah, blah.So, when I get it in, I'll be having it swapped out, as well as adding the updated turn signal and cruise stalks (they look so much better than the 2002's), a full center console switchrow, a remote mute button for my V1 on the reverse side of my turnsignal stalk, and the most important part, the mod done for accepting the dfwdude flat badge.
So, hoping to get this done in October, assuming I get the wheel back soon enough.
To prove my stylin' needlepoint skillz, I added a Wheelskins steering wheel cover to the stocker; couldn't take that thin wheel anymore. It's actually a nice little improvement, I was surprised.
Install and pics to come.
