I am debating between leather and wood steering wheel on my GLS 580 order. Anybody has experience with wood steering wheel? How does it feel? More slippery then leather steering wheel?
Thank you.

 

I definitely think they’re prettier and gives a nice feeling in your hands. I’ve had them before and liked them. However we didn’t go for it on our GLS simply because they don’t come with the heated feature, which we like much better. The leather is very nice, has a nice padding to it, firm but not mushy, and slides effortlessly in your hands. The heated aspect is more of a luxury to us though than the look of the wood.

Another thing that concerned me with the wood steering wheel is the potential fading effect from the sun in a few years. I have a 2014 E350 sedan with shiny walnut throughout - it fades in the sunlight after a few years. I don’t know if MB fixed it (some 2016’s E’s are now showing the issue too). But didn’t want to take that chance.

 

I have wood and heated steering.

 

I've had carbon fiber and wood wheels. I really don't like them. I much prefer leather. They can get very cold and I find them very uncomfortable.

 

I had wood in my 2011 GL350, and also ordered it in my upcoming 2021 GLS580. My experience is leather wears badly where I grip the steering wheel - must be my gross sweaty man hands - the wood portion of my GL350 steering will still looks like new, the leather not so much.

 

Wood is great, easy choice. Stays clean and won't wear out. Is available with heat feature. Also very elegant.

 

My mistake earlier - I thought the heat feature was only in the leather and not on the wood.

 

The wood steering wheel is not all wood ... there are leather sections and they can be heated

 

can this be added? I assume not unless replace the wheel, add a switch, and possibly software changes

 

Probably could with a new wheel but not really worth it if. Would not be cheap and would end costing considerably more money than what it would have had you just bought the vehicle with that option.

 

I agree whoever ordered this vehicle should’ve checked that $250 option and I just purchased it yesterday and then realized I did not have the wheel heating even though they added the extra winter package

 

Must be those “sweaty hands” and your tight man grip . My CLS is almost 5 yrs old, but the leather (heated) steering wheel looks pretty much brand new. Of course the leather in my car is always kept well-conditioned. Not sure if you do physical work (rough hands, etc.) My hands are those of a scientist—soft, and manicured; I’m definitely not one whose hands see much physical labor (other than cleaning my car). Also, my car rarely spends much time exposed to the elements. She’s kept in a covered parking garage much of the time when not being driven.
Those are my thoughts...

 

The wood steering does look great, but preferred the look of the polished Grey Linden Wood, versus the other choices.Definitely would’ve chose wood if they had a polished wood option rather than the open grain. Although high gloss, the designo wood just didn’t quite look real to me.

 

I got the Natural Grain Walnut Wood without knowing that it wasn't polished. At first it seemed weird to me. But now that I've gotten used to it I like it more. Polished wood now feels old fashioned.

 

I have had both, also with and without heating - on many cars, not just mercedes.

I will always get a heated steering wheel - on any car. I live in the Northeast and have many early weekend activities. The heated option is a must.
I prefer the wood steering wheel on a high end car.