E55 steering wheel w/R129 airbag installed

[G Man]

I got the steering wheel that I purchased from Rik (2phast) installed yesterday. Thanks to Rik's site and a few tips from Gerry, installation was no problem. I'll take some more pictures when I detail my interior this coming weekend. I have to say that this is one of the BEST mods I have done since purchasing the car in '04. That factory wheel (early '92) was like driving a school bus. Thanks to Rik for a great transaction!!

 

[2phast]

Your welcome. Looking good!

 

[gerryvz]

Agree, looks like a good mod. Perhaps I can get my hands on such a wheel next week when I'm in Belgium.

And agree with regard to transactions with Rik being smooth (I've done two of the Gentex mirrors for my E500 and my SEC).

Cheers,
Gerry

 

[Miziev]

That factory wheel (early '92) was like driving a school bus.

You said it! ))) I've got the very same feeling! ))) Mine is on its way from Austria.

 

[samiam44]

Where's the best place to find one for a reasonable price?

What year wheels will fit? What year R129 airbag do I need?

 

[Miziev]

I got mine off ebay. It's a 1998 w210 E55 AMG steering wheel.

 

[2phast]

A 98-2000 C43 steering wheel/airbag or a 99 E55 steering wheel/airbag. If you can't locate the AMG airbag a SLK/CLK airbag will work or the R129 airbag (97-98).

You just need to make sure the airbag looks like the one in the pictures (integrated horn contact rings) and be sure about the color, the late model airbags are charcoal not black.

 

[Taxi Driver]

Hi

I guess this is what you really would like to have, in my C43 T with quite unusual Blueberry/wood designo option
I tell you this st. wheel is a delight in your hands and to look at. Roger

 

[Miziev]

Here is a very nice steering wheel from, I believe, one of our European club members. EURO750.

 

[2phast]

This is a good example of the color difference between charcoal and black. This wheel is charcoal and the airbag is black. There were never any AMG version clk/slk airbags made in charcoal. Miziev would have to swap it for a R129 airbag which was available in charcoal (and lose the AMG logo)

 

[Miziev]

Finally I've replaced my oem wheel with w210 e55 AMG one. Thanks to 2phast for this idea and guidelines on the site. Feels just awesome! )))

 

[Zuffenhausen]

good looking wheel

 

[gerryvz]

I'm still hopin' and prayin' that 2Phast can hook me up with an E55 wheel in black.....

 

[2phast]

I'm still hopin' and prayin' that 2Phast can hook me up with an E55 wheel in black.....

Your first in line if I come across one.

 

[Zuffenhausen]

I have one in mine and have no idea how to get the horn to work

 

[2phast]

I have one in mine and have no idea how to get the horn to work

You should have two wires from your clock spring, one for the left horn button and one for the right. If you don't hook up both, your horn wont work. (the ckt wont be complete)

 

[Zuffenhausen]

from the new wheel or old?

 

[2phast]

from the new wheel or old?

Sorry, guess I wasn't very clear in my prevous post.

I am guessing you have a 94 (based on your avatar), so since I don't have a clock spring in front of me, my info is based off of the older contact ring design.

Look at this picture.

You can see the two horn wires come out of the contact ring and are spliced together and make one connection to the airbag mounting plate. In this scenario, you need to seperate the two wires. I unplugged one from the contact ring and installed a longer wire (with new female connector) See picture below

Furthermore, the new wire needs to be routed outside of the hub area and some modification is needed to route the airbag contact wire into the hub area. You can see in the below picture I snipped a bit of metal from the hub and split a plastic grommit and routed the wire.

You then connect your two horn contact wires (one to each horn button on the E55 airbag).

 

[chicky]

Hello 2phast,

This is an OT, I have an R129.066 and wanted to upgrade my steering wheel to the R170, and would like to ask if the procedure on the electrical connections for the horn, as stated in your post, be the same needed for my upgrade?

Thank you in advance,

Chicky

 

[chicky]

Hello again 2phast,

I tried to attach another picture to my previous post, but was not succesfull, let me try to up load a picture of the air-bag to the steering wheel picture above,

...still unsuccessful, I hope you'd still be able to reply thou,

Thank you,

Chicky

 

[2phast]

Hello again 2phast,

I tried to attach another picture to my previous post, but was not succesfull, let me try to up load a picture of the air-bag to the steering wheel picture above,

...still unsuccessful, I hope you'd still be able to reply thou,

Thank you,

Chicky

Hello. There were several different styles of R170 wheels/airbags. Judging from the picture you posted, your planning on using a late model R170 wheel/airbag (looks similar to a Sportline wheel). The procedure will differ depending upon the year of your R129, up to model year 1993 the R129 used a contact ring, after that it used a clock spring just like the R170.

Both cars regardless of year, all used single stage airbags and standard connectors. I don't see any issues with the swap you are proposing. BUT, with that said, I personally have not done a swap like this, so its totally possible that something might be a little different from the W201, W202, W208, W124, W126 etc.

Although I have not done this swap myself, I have seen late model R170 wheels/airbags on W124's, so I know those are backwards compatible. The SLK32 wheel/airbag (early R170) is identical to the E55 wheel/airbag (minor cosmetic differences) and I have installed several of those on W124's as well.

 

[chicky]

Hi 2phast,

Thank you for taking the time to reply and sharing your experience, regarding the upgrade.

I downloaded the pics that you posted and will show to my mechanic, to serve as a guide of sorts.

Chicky

 

[2phast]

Hi 2phast,

Thank you for taking the time to reply and sharing your experience, regarding the upgrade.

I downloaded the pics that you posted and will show to my mechanic, to serve as a guide of sorts.

Chicky

Your better off referencing www.2phast.com/500e under the interior section, scroll down till you come to the steering wheel upgrade.

 

[chicky]

Hi Rik,

Thank you again, went to the site and found it very informative, I'm now actually thinking of doing the shifter and fire extinguisher, as I have done the warning triangle and pedal pads already.

 

[Miziev]

Miziev would have to swap it for a R129 airbag which was available in charcoal (and lose the AMG logo)

That one is not mine. This one is: