Wood Steering Wheel
09-05-2007, 01:32 PM
#1
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Wood Steering Wheel
Those with Birdseye Maple (called birdseye poplar in the UK brochure) know that Mercedes does not offer a wood/leather steering wheel in this wood.
Well, MP Designs from Germany (via Performance Products for USA) does and I've installed one and picture is attached.
It's better than OE IMHO as there's wood both top and bottom--like our E-class and most Mercedes sedans I think--which isn't the case with the OE items on GL, ML, and R (which are all the same).
It also differs in having finger grooves on back side, but otherwise is same as OE and has same center "potmetal" with Mexico, TRW, and Mercedes star all stamped in.
ALL switches and buttons (and of course the airbag) transfer from your current wheel and it even doesn't arrive with the aluminum lower spoke covers. I bought new ones, but WIS does have procedures for removing the old ones. Leather color match is perfect.
Have burl walnut on our E-class but I like the lighter shade of the wood I have on the GL. Of course, if I really wanted "light" I may have been able to source the apparently Europe-only Pale Birch, but that's of course lots and lots of pieces and lots of work.
Dealer charged 1.5 hours to retrofit.
Well, MP Designs from Germany (via Performance Products for USA) does and I've installed one and picture is attached.
It's better than OE IMHO as there's wood both top and bottom--like our E-class and most Mercedes sedans I think--which isn't the case with the OE items on GL, ML, and R (which are all the same).
It also differs in having finger grooves on back side, but otherwise is same as OE and has same center "potmetal" with Mexico, TRW, and Mercedes star all stamped in.
ALL switches and buttons (and of course the airbag) transfer from your current wheel and it even doesn't arrive with the aluminum lower spoke covers. I bought new ones, but WIS does have procedures for removing the old ones. Leather color match is perfect.
Have burl walnut on our E-class but I like the lighter shade of the wood I have on the GL. Of course, if I really wanted "light" I may have been able to source the apparently Europe-only Pale Birch, but that's of course lots and lots of pieces and lots of work.
Dealer charged 1.5 hours to retrofit.
09-05-2007, 05:24 PM
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09-05-2007, 05:41 PM
#8
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SL500, GL550, Escalade, 66 Corvette
Those with Birdseye Maple (called birdseye poplar in the UK brochure) know that Mercedes does not offer a wood/leather steering wheel in this wood.
Well, MP Designs from Germany (via Performance Products for USA) does and I've installed one and picture is attached.
It's better than OE IMHO as there's wood both top and bottom--like our E-class and most Mercedes sedans I think--which isn't the case with the OE items on GL, ML, and R (which are all the same).
It also differs in having finger grooves on back side, but otherwise is same as OE and has same center "potmetal" with Mexico, TRW, and Mercedes star all stamped in.
ALL switches and buttons (and of course the airbag) transfer from your current wheel and it even doesn't arrive with the aluminum lower spoke covers. I bought new ones, but WIS does have procedures for removing the old ones. Leather color match is perfect.
Have burl walnut on our E-class but I like the lighter shade of the wood I have on the GL. Of course, if I really wanted "light" I may have been able to source the apparently Europe-only Pale Birch, but that's of course lots and lots of pieces and lots of work.
Dealer charged 1.5 hours to retrofit.
Well, MP Designs from Germany (via Performance Products for USA) does and I've installed one and picture is attached.
It's better than OE IMHO as there's wood both top and bottom--like our E-class and most Mercedes sedans I think--which isn't the case with the OE items on GL, ML, and R (which are all the same).
It also differs in having finger grooves on back side, but otherwise is same as OE and has same center "potmetal" with Mexico, TRW, and Mercedes star all stamped in.
ALL switches and buttons (and of course the airbag) transfer from your current wheel and it even doesn't arrive with the aluminum lower spoke covers. I bought new ones, but WIS does have procedures for removing the old ones. Leather color match is perfect.
Have burl walnut on our E-class but I like the lighter shade of the wood I have on the GL. Of course, if I really wanted "light" I may have been able to source the apparently Europe-only Pale Birch, but that's of course lots and lots of pieces and lots of work.
Dealer charged 1.5 hours to retrofit.
09-05-2007, 08:21 PM
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2008 Barolo Red GL450, P1, 19" pkg, ipod, ill. door sills, running boards, trailer hitch, keyless go
I also added the Bird's eye maple steering wheel and really like it
