C63 steering wheel on manual tranny, yay or nay?

[vic viper]

Remove ground cable from battery Remove airbag by inserting an L shaped T30 torx key in the two holes behind the steering wheel, loosen them both to fold out the airbag. with the airbag folded outwards, disconnect the two large connectors in the steering column and place the airbag in a safe spot. Unscrew the center bolt using a 8mm allen socket with an 2-3 inch extender and a socket wrench, be careful not to break the steering wheel lock, its best to use a buddy to hold the wheel steady while you loosen/tighten the bolt. Remember the markings on the center spline and remove the wheel. Install in reverse order.

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[jmartinacevedo]

Thanks so much!

[perdikoula888]

Originally Posted by vic viper

(Cellphone pics)

Hi do you see in the photos the grain in the top and bottom leather? This is what I mean grainy. The alcantara one has completely smooth top and bottom leather.

[vic viper]

Yes I know, but it is ten times smoother than the stock bus steering wheel, then like mentioned before I dont think the alcantara with its slightly greyish color would match a non AMG interior.

[jmartinacevedo]

I received my flat-bottomed AMG sport wheel and airbag yesterday and the leather is as smooth as it gets, except from the 9 and 3 o'clock areas which are perforated leather--but too feel great.

I can wait to install it this weekend!

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by vic viper

The steering wheel is now mounted, a pleasant surprise is that the C63 wheel is a bit smaller in diameter than the stock sport wheel, almost one inch smaller.
The C63 wheel is also about half the weight of the stock wheel

Guess it will take some time getting used to the flat bottom steering wheel while driving, but it feels really good the short time I have tried it so far, will shoot some pics when the lighting gets better..

Vic,

What does the smaller diameter to do line of sight visibility of the instruments? I am 6'2" and already cannot see the 12 o'clock position on the speedo when the stock sport wheel is properly adjusted for arm comfort.

[vic viper]

Nothing that has crossed my mind, I am 193cm and have no problems with the instruments, then again I rarely look at the speedo

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by vic viper

Nothing that has crossed my mind, I am 193cm and have no problems with the instruments, then again I rarely look at the speedo

Sounds good...you're an inch taller than I am...any thought of making some more aluminum plugs for sale?

[Sportstick]

So...is this legit?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Merce...Q5fAccessories


I called the local MB dealer and offered up the same part number and he said its $2,100!! ...just for the wheel....not including the air bag.

I assume the original air bag module fits to be reused, based on your earlier post explaining how to swap?

[vic viper]

Nope, you cannot use the original airbag, the C63 airbag unit is smaller in all directions.

[jmartinacevedo]

Vic,

I have a C300 sport automatic and no paddles on the current stock wheel.

Do you know if I can make the paddles in the AMG wheel operational to control the gears?

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by vic viper

Nope, you cannot use the original airbag, the C63 airbag unit is smaller in all directions.

Maybe I am overly cautious, but this concerns me. The C63 bag likely is calibrated for a crash pulse for a platform with an 8 cylinder engine, which has an additional cylinder bank as compared to a 6. The less diminished energy of impact exiting the rear of the V8 would send more force rearward to the passenger compartment, while a 6 would provide more crush to dissipate some of the force. Therefore, that probably makes the C63 bag a more aggressive inflation to offset possibly higher chest g's. If the bag module is also smaller with a smaller bag volume, it may also be more aggressive for that reason as well. In combination, the C63 bag may not be well suited for a 6 cylinder vehicle. We need a MB restraint systems engineer to tell us if bag performance is common between a 6 and 8 cylinder model...or not.

[perdikoula888]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

Maybe I am overly cautious, but this concerns me. The C63 bag likely is calibrated for a crash pulse for a platform with an 8 cylinder engine, which has an additional cylinder bank as compared to a 6. The less diminished energy of impact exiting the rear of the V8 would send more force rearward to the passenger compartment, while a 6 would provide more crush to dissipate some of the force. Therefore, that probably makes the C63 bag a more aggressive inflation to offset possibly higher chest g's. If the bag module is also smaller with a smaller bag volume, it may also be more aggressive for that reason as well. In combination, the C63 bag may not be well suited for a 6 cylinder vehicle. We need a MB restraint systems engineer to tell us if bag performance is common between a 6 and 8 cylinder model...or not.

Mercedes does not differentiate the airbags according to the engine size or the number of the cylinders of the engine. To sunstantiate this, I give two examples. A four cylinder W204 c180 with 1.6 4cylinder engine has the same airbag with a w204 c350 sport 6cylinder. Another classic example a w203 c180 4cylinder sport wears the same aibag with the w203 c63 amg. I hope this helps

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by perdikoula888

Mercedes does not differentiate the airbags according to the engine size or the number of the cylinders of the engine. To sunstantiate this, I give two examples. A four cylinder W204 c180 with 1.6 4cylinder engine has the same airbag with a w204 c350 sport 6cylinder. Another classic example a w203 c180 4cylinder sport wears the same aibag with the w203 c63 amg. I hope this helps

I appreciate your input, but, with respect, how do you know this? Are the assembly/bag/canister part numbers identical? Similar sales codes can be supported by model-specific part numbers.The propellant charge may vary in what appears to be the same external part.

Also, a different example may not be relevant, as the crush for a 4 or 6 may be compatible with one bag spec, but a V8 crash pulse may vary to the degree another spec is required. We would need to actually document commonality from C300/C350 to C63 to make a certain determination. I will observe from the sideline meanwhile....thanks!

[perdikoula888]

I have just checked Mercedes EPC Software for the models I mentioned above. For the given model pairs, EPC has exactly the same part numbers, therefore airbags should be indentical. Let me also clarify that the w203 c180 engine is a 4 cylinder engine and the w203 c63 engine is a 8 cylinder engine and they both wear exactly the same part number airbag. I hope this helps.

[Sportstick]

That does....thank you for digging into this further.

[perdikoula888]

You welcome!

[jmartinacevedo]

Sportstick: A T is totally legit.

[vic viper]

Correct the pyro unit itself is all the same, I checked when I swapped the airbag units, the C63 unit is only smaller in the outer plastic housing, the insides remain the same.

And remember that the aibag units are "two stage" they are equipped with two charges (hence the two connectors), if the impact is small enough only one will discharge and if the impact is harder both charges will ignite at the same time for increased protection.

[Merc-IN-the-Dez]

Fellas, I'm lost duh, the C63 steering wheel was installed on what car? The link on ebay sez the C63 wheel will not fit the C350 due to the neck something......

anyone care to elaborate on this??

graci.

[vic viper]

It fits all 204.s only thing that doesnt fit is the stock airbag.

[aranu]

If you have auto and you installed the c63 wheel will the paddles be usable? on a 08 model? Pray tell how much does a c63 wheel cost?!

[vic viper]

Yes, the paddles will work, if anyone need the paddles only, I have them for sale.

Over here the wheel including airbag cost around $1900

[tanktube67]

Originally Posted by vic viper

(Cellphone pics)

Looks very nice

[Azn_C300]

Quoted this from my dealership
"The steering wheel has to come from Germany, 5/10 days sells for $2140.00
Air bag 2 days to get, sells for $1180.00"

I'm sure I can find better prices, but that was just quick local dealership price check.