Can you add a heated steering wheel after purchase?
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2014 Mercedes E350
Can you add a heated steering wheel after purchase?
I have had my 2014 e350 for a little over a month. i love the car. Does anyone know if you can add a heated steering wheel after the fact? I don't understand why Mercedes does not ship most of their cars with one like BMW does with their cold weather package. Also looking to add illuminated sills also if possible. Any help would be appreciated.
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Joined: Sep 2013
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From: DFW, TX
2014 E350 Wagon, 2025 GLC 350e, 2026 E53 Wagon
It is possible as they have an entire service guide for the retrofit however there are two issues:
1) It is not available for US vehicles
2) It is most definitely cost prohibitive as it requires a completely new steering wheel ($1K) and a completely new steering column switch module ($500)
1) It is not available for US vehicles
2) It is most definitely cost prohibitive as it requires a completely new steering wheel ($1K) and a completely new steering column switch module ($500)
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Joined: Sep 2013
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From: DFW, TX
2014 E350 Wagon, 2025 GLC 350e, 2026 E53 Wagon
If you have Distronic+ finding a heated steering wheel+distronic stalk set in the used car market will be like finding a needle in a haystack.
And I haven't mentioned the cost of the control unit that is behind the dash plus all the other wiring that has to be done.
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Joined: May 2013
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From: Boston
2010 E550
The problem is that the column switch is a complete unit including the gear shift, blinker stalk, cruise and steering column adjuster. So you have to find a car that has the same features (distronic or rear wipers) and same model year as yours.
If you have Distronic+ finding a heated steering wheel+distronic stalk set in the used car market will be like finding a needle in a haystack.
And I haven't mentioned the cost of the control unit that is behind the dash plus all the other wiring that has to be done.
If you have Distronic+ finding a heated steering wheel+distronic stalk set in the used car market will be like finding a needle in a haystack.
And I haven't mentioned the cost of the control unit that is behind the dash plus all the other wiring that has to be done.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 472
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From: Southern California, Orange County
2012 E350
Always wanted to do this mod, but gave up on it because of the price.. Wanted to get a nice wooden steering wheel.
Can we just get a steering wheel and swap airbags? I heard that that way is cheaper, but I don't know if you can just swap out airbags.
Can we just get a steering wheel and swap airbags? I heard that that way is cheaper, but I don't know if you can just swap out airbags.
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From: DFW, TX
2014 E350 Wagon, 2025 GLC 350e, 2026 E53 Wagon
Wood is not a good head conductor and it's probably harder to put a heating element under the wood veneer. My other guess is that the intersection of the set of people who want wood and the set that wants heated wheel is pretty small and not worth the engineering and tooling effort. On the S-class since all W222 comes with wooden wheel the tooling is more justified. Also note that you can't order sport wheel with flat bottom with heat so it's probably the latter reason about the subset being too small to worth the cost. These are just my speculations of course...
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2014 e350 convertable
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W212 E550 4M P2
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W140 Mercedes S350, W221 S550 sport
Which is stupid. Other manufacturer's have heated the wood for years... If it makes you feel better only now, for 2018, does the new S class heat the WOOD and the LEATHER if you get the heated steering wheel option. Before, it only was the leather, which is pointless when you have a wood/leather wheel, and the leather is always where you don't grab the wheel at!
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From: Hudson Valley, NY
2012 E350
FWIW wood is a very poor conductor of heat. I once lived in a house that in one room had a wooden decorative radiator cover. It had to go as with it in place the room never adequately warmed up.
Some years back I had an Audi A6. I had a wood/leather steering wheel. A heated wheel was an option, but only with a full leather wheel.
Some years back I had an Audi A6. I had a wood/leather steering wheel. A heated wheel was an option, but only with a full leather wheel.
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Currently: 2014 W212 E350 Wagon, 2019 F150 Platinum, 2006 Saab 9-3 ‘vert
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24 GLS580 '23 E450 4matic 12 E350 4Matic
Well, my wife loves it, in fact when I got the new '12 E350 and tried to take the '07 S550 and give my wife the new car, she said no. Because of the heated steering wheel. So when I bought the '13 heated steering wheel was a must have option. I don't care for it much, half the time I forget I have it.
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From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
2016 E350 Sport
Well, my wife loves it, in fact when I got the new '12 E350 and tried to take the '07 S550 and give my wife the new car, she said no. Because of the heated steering wheel. So when I bought the '13 heated steering wheel was a must have option. I don't care for it much, half the time I forget I have it.
Oh well, still wouldn't have it... don't need to be reminded of an overcooked car in the middle of the summer.
Last edited by DFWdude; Nov 14, 2020 at 11:04 AM.
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24 GLS580 '23 E450 4matic 12 E350 4Matic
[img]blob:https://mbworld.org/07098b34-d112-48f7-8001-bf774209abd4[/img]
Last edited by pierrejoliat; Nov 14, 2020 at 11:43 AM.
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From: Pepper Pike Ohio
24 GLS580 '23 E450 4matic 12 E350 4Matic
I also got this steering wheel, I believe it's part of my "AMG package", wheels, steering wheel, rear air dam and something called a "blackout kit" which I have no clue what that means.
