R129 Smaller Steering Wheel ???

GeneralZod

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I have an R129 SL300 and the steering wheel must surely have been taklen from a bus! It's just HUGE!!!

Is there any accurate information about what other SMALLER wheels will fit at all???

I want to do this preferably keeping it looking like it grew there, I definately don't want some "wickedy wickedy boy racer plastic carbon" tat :mad:


Any help and info greatly appreciated :lol:
 

television

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Hello and welcome, other MB wheels will fit, but you must remember the air bag
 
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GeneralZod

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Thanks for the reply :)

There's no airbag on an early R129, so that's not an issue...

Does anyone know WHICH wheels will fit though ??

The stock wheel is a MASSIVE 395mm diameter... 350mm would be nice...


I'm an automotive engineer by trade and work on performance cars all the time, I'm asking the question here to try and save myself some time messing about trying stuff...

Someone MUST have changed the bus wheel on an SL for something more sensible at some point... The stock wheel is faaaaaar too big for anything like a sports car :(
 

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The 129 shares many things with the 124 and 140, not sure how you work this one out
 

kth286

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Zod

Perhaps your steering linkage is too loose, and you are doing too much wheel twirling.

As you can sense, it does not seem to be too much of a problem for other owners.

So, either something wrong with car OR you just need to get used to driving a relaxed sporting Merc (perhaps after driving something more 'darty' previously).

If you are new to Mercs, note that the rear sophisticated suspension on an older car can have wear in the links (especially in the thrust and torque links) and this will make the rear toe change with road surfaces changes and cause the need to keep correcting the steering, which can become tiresome.
 

johnboy615

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I've fitted a 13" wooden steering wheel to my w126. No longer looks like a bus and has taken all of the play out of the steering.
 
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GeneralZod

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Teh steering linkage isn't loose and it's not a problem of constant correction or that the suspension is worn, it's just that the wheel is to big for my liking...

What 13" wheel did you fit from what car??

Appartently an SLK wheel will fit and is smaller, but they're sooooooo much money it's untrue :-(
 

johnboy615

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It's a brand new Mountney wheel not from any other car. Try looking at Momo too. Any of there wheels will fit if you buy a mercedes type boss to go with it.
 

roofless

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It's a brand new Mountney wheel not from any other car. Try looking at Momo too. Any of there wheels will fit if you buy a mercedes type boss to go with it.
is this for a non air bag model or do you go without
 
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GeneralZod

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It's for a non-airbag model, so no issues at all there. If the "new" wheel had an airbag, it would just never be connected up and would just never deploy, so again, it's no issue.

I'm not looking for aftermarket Momo or Mountney to be honest - I have trade accounts with that kind of supplier and don't want that look with a boss kit for this car...

I'm looking for something OE look or AMG or Brabus or something that looks like it grew there, if anyone knows what other Merc stuff fits and is smaller???
 

johnboy615

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You're out of my league here. I've been trying for a rolling resto on a budget! I hope you find the one you are searching for at a price that makes you happy. Btw mine was bought new off ebay with the boss for £45; a joy to an old Scot like me!
 
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GeneralZod

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Any more advances on this topic??

I'd really like to get this sorted if possible...

The bus wheel just HAS to go, but I want OEM look at the very least...

I don't want Momo or boy racer, it wouldn't look right...

Anyone KNOW what fits that's smaller???? :)
 

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