daviddallas

I'm looking at getting a used 12-14 E350 with luxury trim. But I don't like the wood/leather steering wheel. But to get the options I want, I might have to take one with the wood steering wheel.

I wanted to find out if anybody has used or could recommend a leather cover/kit that goes over the wood parts and of course looks and fells good.

Getting the wheel replaced with a all leather if also an option, but seem lke that would be expensive.. Has anybody done this?

Thanks in advance...

ChuckinTucson

It would probably take a check would a couple zeros in it, but I'm pretty sure the dealer can order a full leather steering wheel and replace the wood/leather one the car may come with. I know the other way around is an option, i.e., getting a wood/leather one to replace a full leather. You may want to look into this.

BeachBunny

Are you buying from a Merc dealer? Do they have cars on the lot with steering wheels which would look appropriate on yours (and your wooden one on theirs)? If so, have them swap the steering wheels as part of the sale.

I did this on my M45 when I bought it new. The premium package came with a spoiler and I didn't want one. I also didn't want holes / repainting done on a brand new car, so I had them swap trunk lids with another car on the lot which lacked the spoiler. It was a win / win. I got what I wanted and the dealer got to charge more for a spoiler on the other car.

It's not like popping off a steering wheel takes any great amount of labor or expense.

alanme123

I've seen an AMG style(flat bottom) steering wheel that is wood/leather on this forum somewhere. I would love to get that wheel because it just looks so awesome. However the price of it is not very awesome...

Swapping steering wheels really depends on the dealer. I don't think they'd bother though, but doesn't hurt to push for it.

Sgooter

Not sure you can swap the steering wheels that easily: I just found a 2014 E350 I like with a leather steering wheel, and asked the dealer for a price quote to add the wood sport steering wheel. He called me back 30 minutes later and said they called MB corporate about it, and MB said not to do it.
Several years ago, I had a wood steering wheel and shift handle installed by the dealer on my 06 SL500, and it was a routine job in the shop.

YYZ-E55

The variables for switching between wood and leather are:

1) heated vs not
2) lane keeping assist vs not
3) wheel style (sport 3 spoke vs 4 spoke)

If the car you buy has a wood wheel, it will not have heat. If you try to add a leather wheel with heat, you need to replace the steering column assembly (shift lever + signal stalk) and reprogram.

If the car you buy has lane keeping assist, you need a leather wheel with the shaker in it or you need to try to move the parts over (not sure if this is possible).

If you don't want to have to replace the airbag, you also need to keep the same style of wheel (3 spoke vs 4 spoke).

In general, the physical swap itself is easy.

El Cid

Don't know about now, but in 2010 the wood steering wheel was an $850 option. If you do replace, need to make sure they align the steering wheel with front wheels centered.

xxGenericSNxx

There's plenty of used wheels on eBay so it wouldn't be hard finding the part you want at a much more reasonable price than buying new at the dealer, you'll just have to do your homework on getting the right part number based on the issues YYZ-E55 outlined.

El Cid

Don't know how mechanically inclined you are, but seems to me it would be a very difficult task to swap steering wheels. Lots of wires and computer connections inside the steering wheel.
The dealer replaced mine at three years due to a defect in the leather portion. Took more than a few hours and I believe they had to "match" computer inputs between wheel and car and the MB computer itself.

xxGenericSNxx

It is very easy to swap steering wheels. It's about a 15 minute job. Just two screws from the back removes the airbag and you unclip a couple wires. Another central screw removes the wheel itself. I know because I swapped my stock one for an aftermarket CF wheel.

daviddallas

Every cpo dealer I asked wouldn't change it out, that wanted to sale the car as is. I did buy a leather wheel on eBay and will have it switched out myself..

Thanks for all the input..

drsaab

Does your car have the active lane assist.

daviddallas

I don't have the car yet, but the ones I have been looking at does have that feature... Does that make a difference on the wheel I should get or can one from a e350 without that work or be adjusted to make work?

Thanks..

drsaab

I think it does. As does the shift paddles. I have a 2011 e350 with distronic and lane assistance. I can swap for your wood wheel with my leather wheel of its an easy swap as mentioned. You can pm me if interested.

daviddallas

Thanks all for some good input, I ended up getting a E350 with a leather wheel. But some good info here for future use

maki6664

I just picked up a 2014 E350 with that wheel. Salesman told me the car was a custom order but took so long to deliver, due to the scarcity of this steering wheel, that the buyer finally got fed up and bought a car right off the lot. His car apparently showed up a couple days later but too late.


Then I waltzed in looking for the particular color combination of that car and bought it. I love this steering wheel and glad to find out it is pretty unique. I love the whole car actually.

ss3964spd

Annnnd yet - no pictures.

Welcome aboard! When you get a moment snap a few of that wheel so the rest of us with plain ole flat bottoms can see what we're missing.

Dan

maki6664

Hmmm, I think I have attached a pic here for you. Although I see no evidence of it. Let's see what happens when I submit.

ss3964spd

Well done, Sir. Great looking wheel - haven't seen one before.

The interior colors of yours are very much the same as the '05 E500 I recently released from service. Beautiful combination indeed. If I could have found an E550 with the same interior I would have bought it.

Dan

maki6664

Agree. I can hardly believe my luck in finding this exact combo as it was the colors I selected early on in the buying process (several weeks ago) but then quickly found out that most 2014 models with this combo had already been sold. Polar White with Black interior could be had all day, but Diamond White with Silk Beige... not so much.

I had found one in Modesto CA (I live in LA) and had started negotiating with a local dealer to get it shipped down, and had even started negotiating with the Modesto dealer prepared to drive up there to pick it up.

I found one at Keyes in Van Nuys, without the AMG wheels but was willing to compromise. Ended up walking out at the last minute when they told me they were going to charge $395 from some coating they applied and refused to negotiate.

At one point I noticed the Modesto car had the wood steering wheel and thought that while that was not a "must have" for me it was another cool perk of that car.

All this time Mercedes of Encino had been calling me, and calling me, and calling me and due to their low inventory I just ignored them. Then one day I was in the area and decided to just stop in and take a look at what they had.

Which was when I saw THIS car. Diamond White, Silk Beige, AMG wheels, and wood steering wheel. Almost as if I had custom ordered it myself. They also made me a good deal with very little in the way of shenanigans so I drove it off the lot a day later.

It wasn't until I tried to build the car on the MBZ website when I noticed I could not even configure it with that exact steering wheel and suddenly the salesmans story of the custom order and delays, made sense. Just another little perk of this car. I love it.

ss3964spd

Great story.

I'd been jonesing for an E500 for sometime. Then my dear wife wadded up her BMW 325CiC (in her defense, she was T-boned by some old duffer). So I started driving our "honey do" pick up truck and she was driving my Honda while I searched for a replacement for her car. Then she managed to rear end a PT Cruiser. Though still drivable it effectively killed the Honda (more to repair than it was worth). Dropped the boys off at roller hockey practice one Sat morning and started trolling the lots of half a dozen nearby dealers. Saw the E500 at a Jag dealer; dark blue, pretty loaded, and with THAT interior. "Honey, I haven't found your car yet but I have found mine". Deal done that evening. Found hers a few weeks later.

pamiboy

That's an awesome looking steering wheel. I would love to have one of those. May be I'll keep that I mind for my next car..... whenever (if) that happens .

Johnny Rad

@ SS3964spd: I like you more and more!

"Honey, I haven't found your car yet but I have found mine".

mikemargolis

I love my wood steering wheel.

ss3964spd

That's a pretty nice looking wheel too, Mike.

LOL - I know, right? Although she was a terribly good sport when I made the call, I felt like I was on solid ground in making my pitch. I mean, what with her having balled up two cars within a month. In hindsight I actually did thank her for killing the Honda - I'd probably still be driving it otherwise.

Dan