oliverb

Hi;
Somewhere during the past three years I saw a post addressing what is involved in doing a swap to the newer "Comfort Style" steering wheel. I have a 1990 300E with airbag. I would like to install a wheel from a 1992-93 300E. I already have an airbag from that style wheel. In the post I read somewhere, it was mentioned that this swap could be made with little or no change to plates (signal cancelling or whatever) on the inside of the wheel. I think it said that if these plates or parts were different, you just needed to switch the parts or upgrade those on your steering column to match the newer wheel. Before purchasing a wheel, I would appreciate help from anyone with knowledge of this type of swap. I have searched here but either missed it or it was not posted on this forum.
Thanks,
OliverB

X03

im interested in this as well, bump.

ashman

pretty easy swap...

1. Make sure steering wheel is set straight
2. disconnect the battery.
3. Get the right size torx screwdriver to remove the two bolts in the steering wheel accessible by two holes on the back.
4. Remove airbag.
5. Get a breaker bar and the right size allen socket, I believe it is 10m Allen
6. Break the center nut loose and unscrew it
7. Remove wheel it should pop off easilya t this point
8. Transfer horn and airbag contact ring to new wheel if it doesnt already have one that works
9. Put new wheel on straight
10. put allen nut back in and tighten
11. put airbag in make sure you connect it first
12. Screw torx back into airbag
13. Reconnect battery
14. test that horn works as it should
15. Enjoy!

AshMan

oliverb

Ashman;
Thanks for the reply. I had a fair idea about the mechanics of the switch but was not certain about matching internal parts. Have not yet decided if I want to use an O.E. black leather wheel or go for broke and put in a Zebrano/Leather wheel. Already have the airbag. Didn't want to get stuck with paying for a wheel I couldn't use.
OliverB

TheDoughboy

Good info Ashman. Would you know if other MB wheels, like the 320e, 420e etc.. will work on the 300e's?

Thanks again,

Ron

ashman

the wheels from any w124 should work on any w124..

Some W210 and W140 wheels will work if you swap some inside pieces too and horn contact rings.

Some have used wheels from other models as well with some modification. all the wheels will fit the spline, but some will not work unless you can get the horn contact ring to fit the other wheel, and you may have to swap internals on the wheel as well.

Rick, also known as 2phast, did the swap on his 190e with a CLK55 Wheel or C36 or C43 Wheel and it worked fine and I am not sure what he did exactly.

My brabus sport wheel is from a w140, I swapped some internals and put my horn contact ring on it and it works great.

AshMan

lkchris

91-660 in service manual includes ...

remove foot mat in passenger footwell
remove foot rest (?)
disconnect test coupling for airbag plug connection

it also advises, once airbag is removed from steering wheel ...

disconnect plug connection at detonator

Can these steps be skipped?

ashman

I have done it myself without disconnecting the battery... But I don;t see why one would need to disconnect all the other stuff you just mentioned.

Plenty of other people have done it too without disconnecting the battery either. but I would think if you disconnect the battery you should be fine. There is only one wire on the airbag and it comes off pretty easily.

I would assume disconnect plug connection at detonator to mean unplug the airbag...

The disconnecting the thing under the passenger footwell, that could be done too, I do not think it is necessary, but one could do it if they wanted to be extra safe.

lkchris

I think electricity is stored in a capacitor since in an accident the battery could become disconnected and the airbag would need alternate power to fire.

ashman

There is always a risk when disconnecting anything electrical.

But like I said I have removed mine several times without disconnecting the battery and never had a problem.

One2Four

hey Alon, do you think a steering wheel from a W203 will fit the W124 with some modifications? I don't care if the buttons on the steering wheel works.

ashman

it is possible.. you may want to check with rick aka 2phast. he put a newer wheel with the buttons on his 190e so anything is possible