slownrusty

General \ Introduction

Well finally got around to finally installing my steering wheel this morning, granted my car has been "down" for 4 weeks. I worked with Ivan from DCT Motorsports and ordered a steering wheel that was very close to the Black Series in design, fit, finish.

I did some research on this forum and some info was there but not alot of pictures and lots of "piecing" together of threads and info spanning several years.

It was a slippery slope where I was initially only going to install the E63 shifter paddles to my E55 steering wheel and then secondly maybe lipstick my E55 steering wheel with some new leather.

I abandoned the initial idea as I read a few threads and saw pictures where the E63 paddles do not fit well on the backside of the E55 steering wheel, combined with the fact that I was not keen on securing the E63 paddles on my E55 steering wheel with a self tapping screw etc etc, even though I am well aware this works.

I went back to the drawing board and then decided on a Black Series Style wheel which has the paddles integrated (sorry stating the obvious there). I placed the order with Ivan \ DCT Motorsports and while the wheel was being made (Alcantara base, perforated leather sides and red stitching), I had wiring to figure out and an airbag to source. There are subtle changes in the wiring harnesses and the E55 and Black Series airbags are completely different.

I have an '06 <- (build code 80"6") which is favorable for this conversion as the wiring for the horn, audio and menu buttons requires no connector swapping or harness cutting. By the way mid '05 model years also benefits from this (80"5" build code).

The problem when you buy a new aftermarket steering wheel even those on eBay will not include the "guts" for the power distribution block, fasteners and brackets etc etc, most times when you buy these wheels they are hollow and empty on the inside and they will not include an airbag either. Please note, if you buy an airbag from a crashed car where the airbag deployed the clock spring connectors might be damaged.

Removal of the stock E55 is straightforward and there are some good threads and a sticky on how to, so no issues there, other than having the right tools.

Always practice care handling air bags too!

Airbag

You will definitely need the airbag from an E63\CLS63\CLK63\ Black Series, infact the following is a sample of airbags and Clock Springs compatible with the E63 \ Black Series Wheels:
CLK550
W211 E550
CLS550
S550
CLS63
CLK63
S63

And these airbags range from $200-$350 used in good shape with the audio and menu buttons included. If you have an '03 and '04 model E55 you may need the clock spring as well, I would like to see a picture of the connectors from an '03 or '04 model anyone have one so I can compare?

Clock Springs range from $90 - $150


Wiring and Harnesses

The E55 has the power distribution block (for the shifters, horn, menu) built onto the back of airbag where as the E63\CLS63\CLK63\ Black Series Wheels has it built onto the body of the steering wheel itself (as shown in the picture below). The connector from 3 (in the picture below) to the air bag is what communicates between the steering wheel buttons and the accessories listed, this 6-in harness is very critical and often not included.
I had the hugest pain in the *** sourcing one and spent weeks calling Benz dismantlers before finding one from a crashed 2007 CLK550. Mercedes refuses to sell you this harness by itself either, you have to buy the entire $2,700 steering wheel..argh! Ironically you can buy the clips at either end from the Benz dealer ($4 each and make your own harness), which is what I was prepared to do if I did not stumble upon the crashed CLK550. While I was at it, I also bought the CLK550 Clock spring (to compare to my E55 to confirm compatibility) and the entire steering wheel (which also has neat low profile paddle shifters installed) with the deployed airbag as I needed the "guts" to transfer to my new steering wheel.

Another subtle difference in wiring is the E55 shifter buttons have the left and right harnesses tied together into one 3 pin plug, where as the E63\CLS63\CLK63\ Black Series shifter paddles have a left and right harness and plug respectively that plug into the first two slots on the power distribution block on the wheel.

Note that for '05 and '06 E55 model years, the Clock Spring is the same as E63\CLS63\CLK63\ Black Series, with special reference or mention to the black 3-pin connector from the E55 Clock Spring that will need to connect to Number 4 slot on the power distribution block on the E63\CLS63\CLK63\ Black Series Wheels and not to the back of the air bag (which is the OEM connection on the E55):



In summery, on the above picture:
1 & 2: Are for the Left and Right paddle shifters
3: Is the 6-in long 2x3-pin harness connectors from the air bag to the power distribution block
4: 3-pin connector from the factory Clock Spring that is tied to the yellow\green airbag connectors

Any E55 and E63\CLS63\CLK63\ Black Series Wheels have the same yellow and green airbag connectors so no problem there on wiring. Practice caution and patience when removing these airbag clips (I used a fine jeweler's flat edge screw driver) to remove the airbag clips as they are somewhat dainty \ brittle.

Pictures
For reference a factory CLK Black Series Steering Wheel:


E55 Airbag, the black 3-pin connector from the E55 Clock Spring connects left of the green connector (hidden in the shadow):


E63\CLS63\CLK63\ Black Series air bag, the black connector connects to the 6-in long harness to the 3 slot in the above picture


Side by side comparisons. not air bag differences, and that a CLK550 Steering Wheel is thicker than the E55!:








Guts from the donor CLK550 that need to be transfered to the new steering wheel:


Guts transferred only requires the removal of 3xTorx fasteners:


Interior of the E55 Wheel by comparison, much different than the E63\CLS63\CLK63\ Black Series wheels:


E63\CLS63\CLK63\ Black Series (and mid '05 \ 06 E55) Clock Spring:


Installed:




Hope that helps and maybe useful for others considering this upgrade.
Warms regards.
Happy and safe weekend to all.

Denroll

I have the same wheel (minus the red stitching and suede lower part) and I love it. Nice and beefy feeling and the paddle shifters have a nice feel to them.

Nice write-up. Add it to the DIY sticky thread. Luckily for me, the previous owner had to go through the trouble and/or expense of making this happen.

AKnight55

Man I would love to get myself a nice steering wheel like that.. Looks awesome

tbal

Looks slickk!

DVC

Awesome write-up and beautiful results!

slownrusty

You are truly lucky, as that is a huge saving in time and cost by the previous owner.

Thanks guys!

I hope my post was not confusing (over complicated in detail). In summary if you have a mid-late model year 2005 and any 2006, this is a plug'n'play install providing you have the steering wheel guts and harnesses from a CLK63 \ E63 \ CLS63 \ CLK550 \ S550 \ S63.

theblckghst

great write up!!!!! thanks, I will be using this in the future.

chawkins2001

Now that is a write up. Looks amazing bro.

TonyC

holy Batman, makes me think twice about this mod! Fantastic write-up!

slownrusty

Thanks guys!

What model year is your car?

TonyC

'05, it was delivered March '05, which makes it an early '05.

slownrusty

Post a picture of your harness that connects from the Clock Spring to the airbag, it would be easy to identify if you have the right connectors and removing the airbag is easy to small Torx and that's it (just needs to have a long reach), I used a Torx key bought from Harbor Freight ("yes" I am cheap!)

DVC

Thank you to slownrusty for an amazing DIY! His legwork made this an easy upgrade. The E63 wheel was a complete bolt-on for my '06, and the paddles and all controls work perfectly. The difference in the quality of the leather is amazing and the new airbag really updates the interior.

You're the man slownrusty!

SvtAmg

Nice, I like that wheel too DVC.

Hulk

DVC, you were able to just change out the steering wheels with no issues?

I have a late model 05

DVC

Thanks SVT!

Hulk- Yes, a direct swap with no issues. From what I read, but can't confirm, you should be good if your mid '05 has this build code: (80"5" build code). Highly recommended!

Hulk

Where would I find the build code, on the door?

slownrusty

My pleasure DVC! Glad to help out, the wheels looks beautiful, you fall back in love with your car again and re-enhance the driving experience.

Hulk - Build code is found under the hood.

Hulk

Ok thanks

Benz-O-Rama

Looks nice......and expensive.

Hammer Down

So us guys with 03's & 04's are SOL?

cotmfk

Awesome!

slownrusty

Increased level of complexity..having said that I would like to try this upgrade on an '03/'04 to determine the effort required.

cmusngi

Okay dude. You just made it official for me. I'm putting a DCT steering wheel on my need to buy list.



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atnguyen

You should definitely do it Chris. Grant recently upgraded his steering wheel and it looks nice!