Easy, reversible mods

[thelews]

Thought I'd share three little things I've done since acquiring this beauty.  Leather steering wheel cover, nice feel, little beefier feeling...www.wheelskins.com  Ebay vendors have them for less.  17.25 diameter  2 21/32 grip.  Black with red dot cocomats with rubber backing.  They normally come with a heel pad, but I opted out.  Great product, great value www.cocomats.com  Black leather MB key fob.  Holds three of my four keys and doesn't whack on the dash while driving.  I keep the gas tank key in a separate fob in the tray.




John Lewenauer
1967 Early 250 SL Red/Caviar, Manual

[hauser]

I have installed wheelskins in the past and it is a nice little upgrade.  Although I don't have it on my Pagoda it's an easy non permanent option.  I also have the coco mats and wouldn't have anything else in my car.  It really gives it that period correctness feel to the interior.

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

[Paddy_Crow]

Another big fan of Wheelskins here. I'll be putting one on my Pagoda sometime before spring.

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch...

[J. Huber]

So John, did you go with the size "B" wheelskin as shown on the website? Original style? I am thinking Mrs. Claus might need to get Santa one for the Holidays!! Thanks.

James
63 230SL

[thelews]

quote:Originally posted by J. Huber

So John, did you go with the size "B" wheelskin as shown on the website? Original style? I am thinking Mrs. Claus might need to get Santa one for the Holidays!! Thanks.

James
63 230SL

I bought it from this guy... Ebay 220181411462  $33 shipped. You specify a custom size 17.25" diameter 2 21/32" grip.  Will give you a nice tight fit.  Don't order the B size, send him an email with this size and even reference me if you want to.  I just got it on Tue. ordered on Sat.  He has a very fast turnaround.
 
John


John Lewenauer
1967 Early 250 SL Red/Caviar, Manual

[J. Huber]

Thanks again John. Good information. And, I just saw that "Zanone" got one! Word gets around fast here...

James
63 230SL

[flacc]

I absolutely agree on the coco mats. I bought a set of floor mats and now I'm thinking of buying one for my rear deck too.  I do prefer the $10 NAPA lace up wheel cover over the wheel skins.  It reminds my more of the 60's.

christopher
1970 280sl
1985 300td wagon
1999 320 4matic wagon

[thelews]

Just a word about my installation. I've put two of these on, the other on my Porsche 356. The site says 45 minutes to an hour, it took me two hours on each, but I was being very careful. I installed the seam just behind the finger indentations. You see the seam best from outside through the windshield. I prefer not seeing the seam when sitting in the car. It feels fine. The thread is about twice as long as you will need. It's tedious to install, but worth it. Also, you use every hole, even around the two thick spokes. Pictures below. Lacing is shown looking through the windshield.








John Lewenauer
1967 Early 250 SL Red/Caviar, Manual

[hauser]

I always had trouble stitching around the spokes.  Looks like you've done a nice job.  Did you remove the steering wheel to install the wheelskin cover?

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

[thelews]

quote:Originally posted by hauser

I always had trouble stitching around the spokes.  Looks like you've done a nice job.  Did you remove the steering wheel to install the wheelskin cover?

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

No, in fact, I think that would be harder.  You need the wheel solidly anchored in order to pull the lacing tight.  I started at about 7:30 and worked clockwise, turning the wheel counterclockwise as I went along to have the working area where I wanted.  I was sitting on the driver's seat and spent a fair amount of the process with my head behind the wheel, in front of the stick on the tunnel   (to see the stitching and cover position).

John Lewenauer
1967 Early 250 SL Red/Caviar, Manual

[Paddy_Crow]

I've always done the wheelskins with the seam on the inside diameter of the wheel. I like the look of the stitching on the inside.

It seems to me that it took me about half an hour or so, maybe 45 minutes. The hardest part is keeping the leather tight while stitching it. I found it works best to pinch the seam together with my fingers while pulling the thread tight.

I went with the standard size B from their website, I'll let everyone know how it fits when I put it in.

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch...

[thelews]

quote:Originally posted by Paddy_Crow

I've always done the wheelskins with the seam on the inside diameter of the wheel. I like the look of the stitching on the inside.

It seems to me that it took me about half an hour or so, maybe 45 minutes. The hardest part is keeping the leather tight while stitching it. I found it works best to pinch the seam together with my fingers while pulling the thread tight.

I went with the standard size B from their website, I'll let everyone know how it fits when I put it in.

Is this the look you like?

http://www.autosalon-singen.de/Katalog-Mercedes-Benz-280-SL-03433_0042_01_02.aspx?languageID=en

To keep it tight, I would loosen enough slack to pull the previous stitch tight and then pull the new stitch to hold it.

I think the B is a little roomier and an installer I spoke with puts a very thin foam behind it.

John Lewenauer
1967 Early 250 SL Red/Caviar, Manual

[Paddy_Crow]

That's a good tip, if I find it to be looser than I like I'll keep it in mind. I have a roll of drawer liner that's about 1/16" thick, it should work. It will probably add a little time to the process, though.

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch...

[zanone]

John, thanks for the tip. I installed the special order size you suggested for the 230SL steering wheel. Keeping the thread short on the needle and doing one hole at a time instead of pulling through both holes made for a tight fit. I also used a hole punch to pull the thread together after every three laces but once pulled the grip stayed in place.
This cover with coco mats and a leather shift knob are nice mods. DZ 66 230SL

[hauser]

Hello Dennis,  Looks like a nice car you have there.  Any other pics?  Would love to see the rest of it.[:p]

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.