ps2cho

The steering wheel on my 260E is cracking and I can see the inside of the airbag and its really worn down in general...so I want to get it swapped out. I would like to buy a wood one.

I saw this first...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/92-95...Q5fAccessories
^ Would that fit an 87? It says 92-95, but was there even a difference between the early and later wheel shape?

Any other recommendations?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MBZ-S...ayphotohosting
^ What about that one? Would it fit my 87? I don't know anything about airbags...so can I transplant airbags between wheels or is that not DIY?

2PHAST

The first item is just a steering wheel cap, not an actual steering wheel. The 2nd is a newer style wheel and cap. Personally, I wouldn't buy either, look for a real wood steering wheel. Your OE wheel/airbag design was used from about 86-91. Starting in 1992 and going to 1999, the wheel/airbag design changed. You can use a wheel/airbag from this year range (92-99) but you have to match the wheel with the airbag, its pretty easy up to 97, as the wheels/airbag were pretty much interchangeable (except for the Sportline, CLK/SLK style wheels) starting in 98 MB changed the internals a bit, so a 98 wheel requires a 98/99 airbag.

To install a newer wheel/airbag on your car, you need to acquire either a wheel (complete with contact ring) from a 92-93 car or just the contact ring. The 92-93 contact ring will fit all the wheels from 92-99

See http://www.2phast.com/500e under the interior section for tips on installing newer model wheels on older cars.