Mercedes SL 320 Wood /leather steering wheels

[Dr ETM Cooke]

Loads of adverts etc. show these cars with wood/leather steering wheels that match console trim etc.
However, no one seems to know how these are obtained in UK ...?requires new air bag.
Standard vehicle and SL500-600 has just coded leather trim wheel.
Only sale on net. are from USA and more than $800 ! Wow!!
Any ideas where to obtain?

[r129sl]

The wheel and the airbag are separate items. You should not need to replace the airbag unit merely because you are replacing the wheel. There are essentially two types, pre- and post-June 1998 (the airbag is not interchangeable between types). Each type is available in a variety of colours and woods. Carbon fibre is available too.

Wood and leather rimmed wheels were available from the main dealer. They were expensive, for sure, and if they are still available they will be even more expensive now. There are many sellers on eBay, but still they are not cheap. A number of aftermarket sellers will supply them. I have found Tim at Special Vehicle to be very helpful with this kind of thing. His website is rubbish and he is best dealt with over the telephone. He suggests he can supply them to order from about £400. http://www.specialvehicle.co.uk/product_info.php?c...

A wood and leather wheel is a very nice thing and you enjoy it every time you drive the car. Beware of second hand items as the wood is often cracked or damaged.

[Stegel]

The original wheel on my otherwise pretty tidy 97 SL looked like it had been savaged by a belt sander - I bought a new (actually remanufactured) leather and wood rimmed wheel from Denmark, via Ebay, for about £250 / £280 and it took 20 minutes to swap over, using the same airbag.