neanderthal

I have no idea how to narrow this search down using the search function.

My steering wheel, when it is damp/ humid/ raining, has this crud on it that comes off. It's rather nasty and it irks me to no end.
Happens on both my cars. Standard steering wheel on both, one is a 94 E320, the other is a 90 300E 2.6. 94 has leather, 90 is MBTex. I'm putting that out there in case it makes a difference.

Anyone have any idea what it is?

Saijin_Naib

Sweat, oils, dirt plus (on the leather wheel at least) some of the leather. Strip it down using a cleaner and it should stop for the time being.

neanderthal

Cheers

RBYCC

Brett is so correct !!

Try rubbing it down with isopropyl alcohol and you would be amazed with what comes off on the rag.

Just treat it with a good conditioner if it's leather and it may begin to look brand new !!!

Saijin_Naib

You'll notice that this phenomenon is MUCH worse in cars that are driven by females, especially since most will use some sort of lotion on their hands and many put this on just prior to driving.

I can tell when my sister has used my car, the wheel is all nasty >_<

ksing44

When I cleaned the leather steering wheel on my 1995 E320, I found out the crud was actually the leather deteriorating right off of the wheel. First I tried cream shoe polish to fix the finish. The polish did work, but it smudged easily and didn't last long. Then I tried the heel restore, which basically puts a new finish on the leather. It really does work very well. See the link below. The MB-Tex is usually better than the leather, so the older wheel may not turn out to be as bad.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...d.php?t=122291

neanderthal

I appreciate all the insight. I do use lotion on my skin so that does make sense.

I guess I know one thing I am doing this weekend.

Saijin_Naib

Should be an easy clean. Its hard to get the crud out of the stitching on the wheel though :\ That and the seam for the airbag/horn assembly.

curlytom

ksing44 - you have described my problem to a T...thanks for the tip. I'm going to try cleaning, sanding and then the heel resore this weekend...thanks again!