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Hi folks,

I'm considering buying an NB8A, which is otherwise in vgc, aside from the steering wheel which looks like a dog has chewed on the rim - right where your hands go...

So, I'm wondering if anyone knows if these wheels can be re-trimmed, or whether it would mean new air bag equipped wheel. Any ball park figures on costs could be useful too.

Cheers

Na mate, I had the same problem in my last car (NB8A). I just bought a second hand one from an NB8B for $50 without an airbag and I swapped them over myself.

You can retrim it or just ask around on here, MX5 Mania or on ebay for a second hand one. NB8A, NB8B or NB8C will fit. You can install it yourself in around 30 minutes too. Just pull out the old one carefully or you'll easily rip out the airbag wires...

Yes you can,

I had mine re-done by Blackman's in Moorabbin (melb, sorry), approx $200ish

This is after it was done

Bevan wrote:Just pull out the old one carefully or you'll easily rip out the airbag wires...

Once you've removed the big nut that's holding the wheel on (no, not the driver ) put it back on and give it a couple of turns. That way when you yank the wheel loose it won't come flying off the shaft and rip out the airbag wires (or break your nose).

Thanks for the replies guys, and the pic fig! Looks like a nice job on yours.

If I get it re-trimmed do I have to frig around getting the wheel off and on again or should I just be able to take the car to a trimmer and give them the hassle? I don't fancy air bags going off in my face unexpectedly!

NMX516 wrote:Thanks for the replies guys, and the pic fig! Looks like a nice job on yours.

If I get it re-trimmed do I have to frig around getting the wheel off and on again or should I just be able to take the car to a trimmer and give them the hassle? I don't fancy air bags going off in my face unexpectedly!

I left the car with'em for 6hrs (dropped off in the morning, they rang me at 2pm to come pick it up) Dont know how, nor do I care how they did it . Easy transaction, happy with the result

Cool, sounds good to me! Thanks fig!

sooooo......NMX.........ya gunna buy it???.....you nail him on a price???..............is it a done deal???....huh????.........has Ed capitulated???

lol, well AJ, I'm trying to get some ammo up my sleeve to hit him up with an offer... Provided someone else hasn't snuck in today, I'll be talking to him tomorrow morning. See how we go!!

Nice job fig. My steering wheel has worn smooth and slippery so getting it recovered was one option I considered. Is it thicker than it was before? It looks thicker in the pic. Is the leather textured or smooth?

Cheers

For those who are interested, I got a quote today to have one done - showed him fig's pic, thanks fig! - and he quoted me $180 for one colour leather, as opposed to how fig's is with the blue sections.

Garry, he gave me the choice of either smooth or textured, and suggested the same price either way. I forgot to ask about resultant rim thickness though.

Seemed like a reasonable price to me, and this guy is very good. I've had work done by him before and he often has pre WWII Rolls and Bentley's in there getting done for a local Rolls restorer... If anyone wants his details, just PM me.

Garry wrote:Nice job fig. My steering wheel has worn smooth and slippery so getting it recovered was one option I considered. Is it thicker than it was before? It looks thicker in the pic. Is the leather textured or smooth?

Cheers

Smooth, but I was given the option. I said I wanted it the same as original, so texture wasnt really a choice if I wanted the original colours. That was the closest to original 10AE as they could get. I've had it done now for about 6 months and it has smoothed out, but is not shiny I cant notice the increase in thickness either.

Well worth doing! Extremely happy with the result!

Cheers

Garry wrote:Nice job fig. My steering wheel has worn smooth and slippery so getting it recovered was one option I considered. Is it thicker than it was before? It looks thicker in the pic. Is the leather textured or smooth?

Cheers

Tell the truth Garry...you just want a red wheel to match the seats!

I was quoted $380 from Blackmans in Sydney, and a 4 day turn around time.

NMX516 who's the guy you were talking to and where are they located?

Actually no Big Dog. Some red stitching would be nice but I was thinking more of perforated leather where fig has his blue bits.

All Car Interiors, Lutwyche, Brisbane. ph 07 3857 1141

Please don't hold him to the price he quoted me, I was also getting pricing for a couple of jobs on my existing car, so he may have given me a better price as a result. It's in the ballpark of fig's price though, so I guess you can expect to pay around $200-ish

Cheers