Steering Wheel Refresh

[Street]

I’m embarking on a steering wheel refresh. The current has lost a lot of the leather finish.

Leather dye would normally be my solution but I’ve decided to try out the MEWANT leather cover. At £19.32 on AliExpress it was worth a punt and it arrived today and on first impressions looks good.
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mMEgEuE


I’m awaiting some felt backing as I want to try and level the joining seam where the perforated leather joins the plain look leather.


The controls are a little scratched so they’re off and ready for a new coating. I’m not decided yet on whether to go silver with top coat to match the door handles, black Matt or possibly even wrap??

Speaking of trim, the bottom wheel trim cover has snapped at the screw holes. I’ve seen it on many before. Does anyone know what plastic these are made of and what glue will actually work on it? Araldite is about the only one I don’t think I’ve tried!

I know many of you have been on this journey so Any tips or ideas as I go are welcome.

Before photos:

 

[Z4C_er]

Hi, this has probably been asked before, but is the material actually leather?

 

[enuff_zed]

Hi, this has probably been asked before, but is the material actually leather?

You get a choice of real or imitation. For the price and the fact I've seen some bigwinn has done, I went for imitation and tbh you'd never really tell.

 

[BumpyZ4]

Hi, this has probably been asked before, but is the material actually leather?

From what i've read they offer real leather, fake leather and alcantara.

 

[bigwinn]

Chris if you need any pointers text me

 

[Street]

Will do Stuart. I've watched the whole of YouTube so ready to play.
Trying to pick out a descent 'chrome' paint and tough clearcoat for the trim to keep it close to original. 2k clearcoats sound good.
I did a nice refurb on the coupe steering trim but the matt finish isn't hard wearing enough and I'll have to do it again one day.

 

[enuff_zed]

So far I've only done a couple of these. I would recommend taking the wheel off to do it.
I also found the lumpy bit just above the side spokes is fiddly to get perfectly tight, so concentrate on that area. Perversely I found it easier to use a little less tape there so it would pull across without sticking so much.
I did the two short sections first, then the longer top one last.

 

[pp1600]

Just done mine..

Araldite works well for the broken lugs... I believe the Gorilla glue epoxy has been used by a few on here also.... I made sure the lugs and the surrounding area was very clean by using a spark plug wire cleaner with soapy water to clean and gently roughen the mating surfaces before bonding.

I chose to go silver on the M wheel trim for a change to the standard black.

 

[patriot66]

Fitted a Mewant Leather cover just over 4 years ago now. It's wearing very well, if a little shiny. It dulls off when I give it a wipe with some APC. For the money it's been superb value

 

[Street]

Just done mine..

Araldite works well for the broken lugs... I believe the Gorilla glue epoxy has been used by a few on here also.... I made sure the lugs and the surrounding area was very clean by using a spark plug wire cleaner with soapy water to clean and gently roughen the mating surfaces before bonding.

I chose to go silver on the M wheel trim for a change to the standard black.

patriot66 you're a superstar. That wheel looks brilliant. I have renewed hope. After initial tinkering I was losing faith.

Today I picked up some 2k clearcoat in prep and primed the door handles and s/wheel trim.

Sticky back felt arrived to line the back of the Mewant cover to hide the seam. It does the job levelling but as a consequence the increased wheel diameter means the leather cover doesn't fit snug. It was worth a try but I'll stop trying to be clever.

 

[Street]

Job done. It’s good enough but not Royals standard I’m certain. Picked up a few methods along the way but I’m not sure I’d do it again.

 

[N4LLY]

Most excellent !

 

[Maddo6659]

@patriot 66. is that an alcantra wrap on your centre console trim? Do you have any photos, descriptions, or whoever did that for you?

 

[patriot66]

Job done. It’s good enough but not Royals standard I’m certain. Picked up a few methods along the way but I’m not sure I’d do it again.

Looks great that Chris. Your first attempt looks much better than mine

 

[patriot66]

@patriot 66. is that an alcantra wrap on your centre console trim? Do you have any photos, descriptions, or whoever did that for you?

Yes it is alcantara Maddo6659 I fancied a change from carbon wrap and just did the dash panels as an experiment. It’s been on well over a year now and is doing fine. I bought black and grey from an Ebay seller but didn't like the grey as it was too light in colour. It's self-adhesive and very stretchy, actually easier to work with than regular vinyl wrap. No heat required and much easier to pull around sharp corners and curves etc. It's also MUCH blacker in the flesh than it looks in photos, but is also quite thin so I sprayed the brushed aluminium panels matt black before wrapping as I didn't want the aluminium to be 'grinning' through in direct sunlight. It's a bit retro, a bit different and I really like it

 

[Maddo6659]

I approve of this message, A picture paints 1000 words reference seller etc. Very much appreciated.

 

[patriot66]

I approve of this message, A picture paints 1000 words reference seller etc. Very much appreciated.