[oscarlqw]

carbon fiber steering wheel

Hi guys,

So I was doing my research on my future mods, and I found this:

I contacted the sale guy and he said he used genuine carbon fiber to construct the steering wheel and told me that he has the non-paddle shifters version in stock (He bought OEM basic steering wheels and modify them first), so basically after you place the order, he will ship you the carbon fiber one, and then after you install it, you will have to ship your stock one back to him. If you have sport package or Brabus like I do, then you will have to take your stock one off and send it to him to modify, once he finishes, he will send it back to you. The whole process takes about one week.

The steering wheel cost around $310 after currency conversion. But you have to pay for the two-way shipping fees. The problem with it is that the shop is located in China, and the shipping time and cost could be a little costly.

What do you guys think? Is it worth the investment?

 

[1983JZR3W]

I like the looks of it and the price is reasonable. The factory 451 Brabus wheel was about $900.00 if I remember correctly.

 

[1stiski]

Wow that is a sweet looking wheel , and price wise , depending on the actual shipping (incoming and out going ) could be a heck of a deal .. I'd be interested to see how that spin would go in actuality . Are u going to take the dive and go thru with it ? Keep me posted on the progress if you do .

 

[FiveSpeed]

I'd buy one if it was leather like this:

 

[oscarlqw]

Wow that is a sweet looking wheel , and price wise , depending on the actual shipping (incoming and out going ) could be a heck of a deal .. I'd be interested to see how that spin would go in actuality . Are u going to take the dive and go thru with it ? Keep me posted on the progress if you do .

Yup, I dropped off my baby in the shop, and they will help me take off the steering wheel along with the grey panel on the sides of dashboard. I will send them in to get some carbon fiber treatment. I will keep you posted for any updates. I am expecting them back at the beginning of October>

 

[oscarlqw]

I'd buy one if it was leather like this:

you can choose any color of stitching, type of leather or alcantara, shape of the steering wheel (either flat bottom or round) and even the color of carbon fiber. it's pretty much 100% customizble

 

[FiveSpeed]

Ah have to provide a steering wheel and it's in China. No thanks.

 

[oscarlqw]

So the steering wheel and two dash panels have been removed and will be on its way to the factory for some carbon fiber upgrade.. See you in three weeks or so>

 

[1stiski]

[iurl="http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=33897&d=1505310468"]

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So the steering wheel and two dash panels have been removed and will be on its way to the factory for some carbon fiber upgrade.. See you in three weeks or so

Very cool .. hope it all goes smoothly and the results are worth the wait . Keep us posted .

 

[oscarlqw]

Very cool .. hope it all goes smoothly and the results are worth the wait . Keep us posted .

Thanks, guess how much I paid for the 3-4 business day delivery shipping.....:crying::crying::crying:

 

[oscarlqw]

So today, I got some update photos from the factory and my new steering wheel will be on his way to daddy tomorrow!:x

My attachment space has been used up, anyone know how to upload more pictures or another way to share photos?

 

[1stiski]

So today, I got some update photos from the factory and my new steering wheel will be on his way to daddy tomorrow!

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[iurl="http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=34449&d=1506350412"]

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[iurl="http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=34457&d=1506350412"]

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My attachment space has been used up, anyone know how to upload more pictures or another way to share photos?

Great news ! Hope is makes its travels back in perfect shape and you can post up some eye candy photos .

 

[ElementalDragon]

Looks nice.... but personally, i'd have left the silver plastic on the steering wheel as it was. Was a good contrast to the top and bottom carbon as well as the side leather bits. That much carbon fiber just looks a little tacky to me.

Congrats, though. And how much exactly DID it cost for the whole kit-n-kaboodle to get it done and the shipping there and back?

 

[oscarlqw]

how much exactly DID it cost for the whole kit-n-kaboodle to get it done and the shipping there and back?

Thanks and well, not cheap at all:

Flat top and bottom carbon fiber steering wheel ~$499 (after currency conversion)

Two dash panel ~$121 (after currency conversion)

3-day UPS shipping to China (I could have chosen a much cheaper carrier like USPS or longer shipping time ways but I was in a hurry and did not want my brand new car sitting in the shop and collecting dust.. I have only driven it for a week and less than 200 miles since I got it) $560

Additional duty collected by Chinese custom (I was stupid enough to report that the value of the good I was shipping worth more than $500 and according to Chinese custom, that value was high enough to pay for VAT) ~$165 (after currency conversion)

Fedex Shipping to US ~$ 252 (after currency conversion)

Removal and installation $ 350

To sum up: $ ~1947

 

[ElementalDragon]

Ouch. Yea... think i'll just stick to one day maybe taking those gray dash back pieces off and painting them or getting them carbon wrapped or something. MUCH cheaper. lol

 

[oscarlqw]

Ouch. Yea... think i'll just stick to one day maybe taking those gray dash back pieces off and painting them or getting them carbon wrapped or something. MUCH cheaper. lol

I chose the fastest and most expensive shipping method to save times..

But I figured since my matte colored convertible Brabus is already rare enough and it deserves this unique (costly too) treatment. I think the steering wheel is the part of the car where you touch almost 100% of the time in the car (maybe that's not true for Tesla owners lol), I want it to look nice >

 

[ElementalDragon]

I chose the fastest and most expensive shipping method to save times..

But I figured since my matte colored convertible Brabus is already rare enough and it deserves this unique (costly too) treatment. I think the steering wheel is the part of the car where you touch almost 100% of the time in the car (maybe that's not true for Tesla owners lol), I want it to look nice >

Any pointers you might be able to give for getting the two panels behind the steering wheel/head unit off? I know you have to remove the head unit and unscrew the holder for it from the dash...

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

 

[oscarlqw]

Any pointers you might be able to give for getting the two panels behind the steering wheel/head unit off?

I took a lot of stuff before I was able to remove the panel.

It's not hard, just snap them out after you remove the media unit holder.

 

[ElementalDragon]

@oscarlqw Ooh... that's another good question. How is the instrument cluster held into place? Assuming it's held on with screws that are behind the two plastic panels?

and as far as snapping them out... In what way do you recommend doing so? I've got some plastic trim pry tools that came with a set of interior LED's that i could use... but i don't want to risk doing something the wrong (or stupid) way and end up damaging the fabric on the dash. I briefly tried tugging on the one to the left of the steering wheel... but there was nowhere to grip to try to pull it free, and can't get to it through the side of the dashboard after removing that small panel. Assuming it has to be freed from the left side as some part of it might be tucked behind the instrument cluster?

 

[oscarlqw]

@oscarlqw Ooh... that's another good question. How is the instrument cluster held into place? Assuming it's held on with screws that are behind the two plastic panels?

and as far as snapping them out... In what way do you recommend doing so? I've got some plastic trim pry tools that came with a set of interior LED's that i could use... but i don't want to risk doing something the wrong (or stupid) way and end up damaging the fabric on the dash. I briefly tried tugging on the one to the left of the steering wheel... but there was nowhere to grip to try to pull it free, and can't get to it through the side of the dashboard after removing that small panel. Assuming it has to be freed from the left side as some part of it might be tucked behind the instrument cluster?

Yes, there were a few screws keeping instrument cluster in place.

I removed steering wheel, steering wheel column cover, instrument cluster and of course media unit before started removing the dash panels (as you can see from the picture). I understand that for you, you don't have to remove the steering wheel. But after all of above parts were removed, you would get much more space to work around, and for my case, I could actually insert a pen light to the back of the panel to sort of seeing where the hidden clips were.

The carbon fiber pieces will be installed today and I will post photo of it right after!!