Will V8V steering wheels fit on DB9's?

[brakedwell]

I almost bought a replacement for the shiny steering wheel in my DB9 - until I noticed the bottom air bag module retaining clip looked wrong. The leather pattern suggests the wheel came from a V8 Vantage. Can anybody confirm V8V steering wheels will fit on DB9's.

The bottom clip on this (V8V) wheel is different to the DB9 wheel below it.

[yeti]

I was sure they were interchangeable, but there is a slight difference in that clip for sure...

My DB9 wheel is off for a trim, if it's not nice then BR are going to fit a V12V wheel to it. So they're obviously swappable!

[KarlFranz]

Not sure what "clips" you are pointing out unless you are referring to the horn buttons. The DB9 and Vantage wheels are indeed identical. The difference I see in the pictures is that in the first one, the bottom horn button is broken. It is missing the upper half (moveable part) of the button and the springs.

FWIW the airbag is actually retained by a pair of small tabs on the back and two torx head bolts.

ETA: the black wire you see going from left to right across the middle of the wheel in the first picture should actually be going to the bottom horn button. If someone is buying this wheel, be aware of this and the missing pieces and make sure it's priced accordingly. To my knowledge, Aston does not have a separate part number for the horn switches and their harness so it would be difficult to source this part individually from an entire new wheel.

Edited by KarlFranz on Wednesday 20th February 15:28

[Gibberish]

brakedwell said:

I almost bought a replacement for the shiny steering wheel in my DB9...

You probably know this, but a lot of the shine on a steering wheel will go with a good clean.

If you haven’t cleaned it for a long time, try it before you swap.

[KarlFranz]

If cleaning doesn't help, Leatherique sells a steering wheel re-dye kit that will make it look new again.

[brakedwell]

KarlFranz said:

Not sure what "clips" you are pointing out unless you are referring to the horn buttons. The DB9 and Vantage wheels are indeed identical. The difference I see in the pictures is that in the first one, the bottom horn button is broken. It is missing the upper half (moveable part) of the button and the springs.

Thanks for that KF, I wonder if it is possible to transfer a horn button from the old wheel.

Gibberish - The wheel has been well cleaned, but the shine always returns.

[yeti]

Gibberish said:

brakedwell said:

I almost bought a replacement for the shiny steering wheel in my DB9...

You probably know this, but a lot of the shine on a steering wheel will go with a good clean.

If you haven’t cleaned it for a long time, try it before you swap.

The problem is not the shineyness from dirt, it's more the smooth polished leather on the thin rim that bothers me. Vantage, DBS and V12V all have much nicer wheels with some details that draw the eye and some texture for the hands.

Here's a question... is the V12V wheel a smaller diameter than the DB9 one..? Certainly looks it, but it that just because the V12V wheel is thicker rimmed (presumably to be driven with safecracking gloves)?

[yeti]

KarlFranz said:

Not sure what "clips" you are pointing out unless you are referring to the horn buttons. The DB9 and Vantage wheels are indeed identical. The difference I see in the pictures is that in the first one, the bottom horn button is broken. It is missing the upper half (moveable part) of the button and the springs.

FWIW the airbag is actually retained by a small tab on the back and two torx head bolts.

There is always someone who knows

[KarlFranz]

brakedwell said:

Thanks for that KF, I wonder if it is possible to transfer a horn button from the old wheel.

Gibberish - The wheel has been well cleaned, but the shine always returns.

Buying a new wheel simply because it's shiny seems a bit extreme. Like I said, give Leatherique a try. You can get your wheel to look nice and matte again.

But to answer your other question: Yes, the buttons can be transferred. Each button and the small circuit board they connect to on the top of the wheel has two round pegs to are press-fitted into the rubber of the wheel's hub. The buttons are all wired together so it is easier to carefully pry off all of the components and transfer them as a whole.

Here's a pic for reference:

[KarlFranz]

yeti said:

The problem is not the shineyness from dirt, it's more the smooth polished leather on the thin rim that bothers me. Vantage, DBS and V12V all have much nicer wheels with some details that draw the eye and some texture for the hands.

Here's a question... is the V12V wheel a smaller diameter than the DB9 one..? Certainly looks it, but it that just because the V12V wheel is thicker rimmed (presumably to be driven with safecracking gloves)?

The difference you're referring to is because some wheels have the optional perforated leather instead of the standard smooth leather. The two pictures included by the OP illustrate this. Both wheels are originally a matte finish, but oils from your hands make the wheel shiny after a while. The smooth leather just shows the "shininess" more. A re-dye is fairly trivial and will restore the matte look to either wheel.

The V12V wheel is the same diameter. They have to be to make sure they don't restrict the view of the instrument cluster. The wheel can look thicker when it's covered in Alcantara.

[brakedwell]

That's very helpful Karl. Shiny leather is only part of the story, I do prefer the perforated leather wheel on the V8 V's and I want to fit it myself. BTW, clear methylated spirits will take off the shine, but the effect doesn't last long.

[Gibberish]

brakedwell said:

... Shiny leather is only part of the story...

Arr.. fair enough. I wasn’t implying you were unclean.

There’s a fella on here, who boasts of being a veracious hand cream user: Probably has a permanently shiny one.

[tonyhall38]

i have a spare DB9 steering wheel.....

[MaverickV12]

that first picture looks like, "Jaysabillion", from ebay ......

[Cockernee]

yeti said:

Here's a question... is the V12V wheel a smaller diameter than the DB9 one..? Certainly looks it, but it that just because the V12V wheel is thicker rimmed (presumably to be driven with safecracking gloves)?

And no fingerprints can be lifted from alcantara

[brakedwell]

tonyhall38 said:

i have a spare DB9 steering wheel.....

I have been looking for an almost new perforated leather wheel Tony, but I may have to take the Leatherique route suggested by KarlFranz as my wheel is in good condition apart from the shine.

[DoubleH]

Have you guys tried the "magic sponge"? Just google it and you will find many brands.
It works really well taking all the dirt out from the leather and making it matt again.
I have used it to clean the whole leather interior. Works well on boat vinyl also.

[brakedwell]

DoubleH said:

Have you guys tried the "magic sponge"? Just google it and you will find many brands.
It works really well taking all the dirt out from the leather and making it matt again.
I have used it to clean the whole leather interior. Works well on boat vinyl also.

Brilliant, I will try that. The price of the two part Leatherique treatment costs £76 in the UK

[stevewushu]

What does the V12V steering wheel look like?

[brakedwell]

I think I have solved the shiny steering wheel problem. I cleaned it thoroughly with several doses of neat Isopropyl alcohol, applied with a damp micro-fibre cloth, and allowed it to dry before buffing with a clean MF cloth. Then I treated it with LTT Leather Care Auto Ultra Protect. http://www.lttsolutions.co.uk/auto/auto-ultra-prot...
The leather feels softer and looks like new with an even matt finish.