Steering wheel differences

[waltklatt]

I know there is a difference between the early and late W113SL's, but I have two white steering wheels from the early period, the ones with the horn ring pins going through a hole on the horizintal bar.
The difference is one of them has the 2 or 3 small cutout rings along the perimeter and the other has nothing- all smooth.
When did they change them?
Walter
1967 230SL-diesel
1963 230SL-stock for sale

[Cees Klumper]

This would be something the old Engelen book should tell us. It really seems to have ALL of the production changes chronicled (some 350 on the 230 SL alone).

Now about the steering wheel - did you know that:

- car no. 3 was the first one to receive a white ("Elfenbein") steering wheel and English language instruments while no. 24 was the first series-production car to receive this treatment
- 2035, 2038 (February 3, 1964) flattened top of the horn ring. Stiffer steering wheel.
- no. 10275 (April 8, 1965): on black steering wheels, horn ring no longer with two pins
- no. 10611 (April 26, 1965) on white steering wheels, horn ring no longer with two pins

Your question however was even more detailed I think. I might have missed the answer in Engelen´s long list (in German).

Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[Ben]

quote: 2035, 2038 (February 3, 1964) flattened top of the horn ring. Stiffer steering wheel.

..........whew !!!

Mine is # 2068 and still has its original wheel, in great shape, no cracks etc and I love it !!

Oh and it has those line around the perimeter face...........I thgought they all did !

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.

[Albert-230SL]

In fact, the steering wheel (ring) is the same. The difference is just in the "signalringnabe", the part where the chrome ring is fixed with screws. And this part is the same for both black and ivory steering wheels.

According to my W113 Spare Parts list, the change was made (as Cees found in his Engelen's book   ) in the 230 SL no. 10275

Please find attached two pictures, showing this difference: "SW-230early.jpg" is the version with the protruding rings (up to 10274), and "SW-230late.jpg" the version without these protruding rings (from 10275).

Cheers!



Download Attachment: SW-230early.jpg
76.9 KB

Download Attachment: SW-230late.jpg
80.93 KB

Albert de la Torre Chavalera
Barcelona (Catalunya/Spain)
Feb.'64 230 SL Euro 113042-10-002432

[waltklatt]

Thanks for the replies.
I think I'd better take a picture of the steering wheel rings in question.  They are at the outer ring, the part with the many finger holds on the back.  Let me snap some pictures and get back.
Thanks,
Walter

[Ben]

Walter, you are talking about the grooves in the actual plastic that the driver holds, yeah ?

These face you as you sit there, where your thumbs would land correct ?

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.

[waltklatt]

Hello Ben,
Yes you are correct in the rings that surround the outer ring where the thumbs rest.  I have some pics but they are on a floppy and my computer at work cannot read a floppy.  I will put them on a cd and post on Monday.
Sorry.
Walter
1967 230SL-diesel
1963 230SL-for sale

[rwmastel]

My car, built end of Sept. 1966, has the two small grooves that face the drive on the outer edge of the wheel.  I assume my wheel is factory original, can't tell for sure.

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420