Flat-bottomed steering wheel installed! Loving it.
03-18-2009, 06:21 PM
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2005 E55, Renntech Pulley, ECU
Flat-bottomed steering wheel installed! Loving it.
I'm not liking but LOVING the new steering wheel. I'll post pics today or tomorrow, along with details: price, who I got it from (he's an authorized vendor I believe). Great price, far less than every other aftermarket wheel I've looked at. I've had it on a week or so now, and really wish I'd bought it sooner.
The feel and fit is awesome. Ergonomically shaped, super chunky, with the most incredible white contrast hand-stitching. Unreal that this was stitched by hand. Really a work of art...
I usually drive at 3 and 9 position, and it has a perfect cutout/contoured shape in that spot for your hands. I have oversized mitts and the stock wheel was woefully thin and unremarkably shaped at 3 and 9. If you are more of a 10 and 2 type of guy, this wheel has nice bumps in those spots so you get a handful of contoured padded leather instead of a thin round wheel.
Keep in mind that since it is so much thicker it won't feel as hard as the stock wheel does. It does feel padded rather than feeling like a wood or metal wheel wrapped in leather. Not a bad thing, just a difference to keep in mind if you like a hard wheel instead of a thick but padded number. I couldn't be happier. The do all kinds of options (suede, carbon fiber, etc), but I went with standard leather with the flat bottom.
It was built on a stock E55 core, so I believe the outer diameter is the same as stock, though it somehow feels smaller. Maybe b/c of the flat bottom or the thickness of the grip. A much more satisfying experience.
Consider that the wheel is your primary interface and it's quality determines the a big part of how your car feels every time you drive. To say nothing of appearance. Both the shape and stitching look awesome without being over the top and rice-erish. The leather matches the stock airbag reasonably well. A little armor-all and everything fits in beautifully. They even installed it while I hung around at no cost, a big + if you live in the SF Bay Area. Loving it.
I'll walk up to the car and take some pics later today...
Skeeter
2005 E55
Renntech I
Fat flat bottom steering wheel
The feel and fit is awesome. Ergonomically shaped, super chunky, with the most incredible white contrast hand-stitching. Unreal that this was stitched by hand. Really a work of art...
I usually drive at 3 and 9 position, and it has a perfect cutout/contoured shape in that spot for your hands. I have oversized mitts and the stock wheel was woefully thin and unremarkably shaped at 3 and 9. If you are more of a 10 and 2 type of guy, this wheel has nice bumps in those spots so you get a handful of contoured padded leather instead of a thin round wheel.
Keep in mind that since it is so much thicker it won't feel as hard as the stock wheel does. It does feel padded rather than feeling like a wood or metal wheel wrapped in leather. Not a bad thing, just a difference to keep in mind if you like a hard wheel instead of a thick but padded number. I couldn't be happier. The do all kinds of options (suede, carbon fiber, etc), but I went with standard leather with the flat bottom.
It was built on a stock E55 core, so I believe the outer diameter is the same as stock, though it somehow feels smaller. Maybe b/c of the flat bottom or the thickness of the grip. A much more satisfying experience.
Consider that the wheel is your primary interface and it's quality determines the a big part of how your car feels every time you drive. To say nothing of appearance. Both the shape and stitching look awesome without being over the top and rice-erish. The leather matches the stock airbag reasonably well. A little armor-all and everything fits in beautifully. They even installed it while I hung around at no cost, a big + if you live in the SF Bay Area. Loving it.
I'll walk up to the car and take some pics later today...
Skeeter
2005 E55
Renntech I
Fat flat bottom steering wheel
03-18-2009, 07:41 PM
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pics or ban. 
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03-19-2009, 03:19 AM
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2005 E55, Renntech Pulley, ECU
Tried the iPhone. Can't get a good shot from it. Too cramped and from a distance the details are lost... Rest easy, I'll have 'em up tomorrow. Love this thing.
Skeeter
Skeeter
03-19-2009, 03:24 AM
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2005 E55, Renntech Pulley, ECU
Then I tried my backup cheapo phone. Alas, my media card reader is busted and I don't have the dumb proprietary cable to upload the pics to the PC. So tomorrow, I promise.
Skeet
Skeet
03-19-2009, 05:24 PM
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03-19-2009, 10:33 PM
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looking good!
id love to change my steering wheel to a thicker one.
i find the OEM one to be too thin.
so did u have to send them your stock wheel and then they change it to that?
id love to change my steering wheel to a thicker one.
i find the OEM one to be too thin.
so did u have to send them your stock wheel and then they change it to that?
03-19-2009, 10:36 PM
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2005 E55 ///AMG
Looks like it to me...I ordered one also...cannot wait!
http://www.dctms.com/product_ST_Mercedes_W211.html
http://www.dctms.com/product_ST_Mercedes_W211.html
03-19-2009, 10:52 PM
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2010 E63, 2008 Range Rover Sport, 2010 GLK350
Looks like it to me...I ordered one also...cannot wait!
http://www.dctms.com/product_ST_Mercedes_W211.html
http://www.dctms.com/product_ST_Mercedes_W211.html
03-20-2009, 04:59 PM
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2005 E55, Renntech Pulley, ECU
Yep, that's where its from. I did not have to send in my core but did have to swap it out when the new wheel was installed. Can't tell you how great the build quality is, you really have to see the stitching and contours in person. Awesome upgrade for under $1k... The wait killed me but it was worth it and the end result is just fantastic. I'm sure as they sell more of these things they'll offer faster turn around or find a source on cores... Till then order knowing it'll be 4 weeks and the finished product will be well worth the wait and cost.
Happy customer...
Skeeter
Happy customer...
Skeeter
03-20-2009, 06:22 PM
#24
Super Member
Highly recommended
What impressed me the most of the steering wheel:
1) Quality and feel of leather
2) Quality and craftsmanship of stitching
3) Feel of the padding under the leather
I looked at one of those cheapo Victor wheels and they're complete crap. Hard, low quality leather and even the shape feels "off".
I agree the lead time is long... though IMO it's worth the wait
1) Quality and feel of leather
2) Quality and craftsmanship of stitching
3) Feel of the padding under the leather
I looked at one of those cheapo Victor wheels and they're complete crap. Hard, low quality leather and even the shape feels "off".
I agree the lead time is long... though IMO it's worth the wait
