The leather on the left side of my steering wheel has been deteriorating for the past 2 weeks. It started after I picked my car up from the dealership to address the tire feathering issue.

I brought my car in and had one of the service managers look at it. They told me they needed their managers approval since it was an expensive part. Fortunately for me their manager was in a good mood and I am getting a new steering wheel.

The damn thing costs $700 for the dealer.

 

That is absolutely crazy! I am sure you could have gotten a nice aftermarket one for much cheaper (If you're into that).

 

Sorry, double post

 

Its that silly airbag that costs so much

 

It is covered by the warranty, so I am not having to pay for it. However, if I were then I would certainly consider an after market wheel.

 

I guarantee that it's at least $1200 when purchased from the parts department.

 

You know what's annoying? I thought our steering wheel was supposed to be specifically engineered.

I remember reading somewhere that it was made out of magnesium to give it a specific weight and tossability to it. I think it's a damn fine steering wheel... but then I look at Autoweek today and here is the New Frontier:



And here is the new Pathfinder:



Apparently they need magnesium steering wheels too???

 

Its not the same.. my sister in law has an Altima and though the wheel looks the same, when you hold it it is larger heavier, but thinner... it doesnt feel as nice in your hands. It is definitly not the same.

 

Ya I was thinking that. But the Altima steering wheel looks like:



which is a different shape all together. The Frontier and Pathfinder ones look like the same damn steering wheel.

I just hope that magnesium core stuff isn't just marketting hype!

 

the one thing i absolutely hate about the car is the steering wheel. it's too big and clunky, every sports car should come with a small diameter steering wheel from the factory ... (it's a JDM option; we don't get it in the US)

Im replacing the steering wheel once i have my harnesses in.

 

It probably cost so much due to the airbag....

 

yup, all oem steering wheels cost alot of $$$ bc of the airbag.

 

i had the same problem ,the service manager at the nissan near me told me that it's around 700 for the wheel without the airbag.

 

Yeah, the airbag alone usually costs $900 for the driver's side.
Passenger is $1100

 

No, it's not just the airbag. A lot of it is the labor involved in sewing on the leather cover, I would guess. Several years ago, I priced a new wheel from Toyota for my '88 Supra. They wanted $900 for it. I bought a junkyard special, and ripped off the nasty cover to use while I recovered mine. It took $50 worth of leather and 40 hours to redo it. There's a lot of wasted leather and it's all done by hand.

Asterix

 

talk about expensive, i just paid $510 for just a drivers side window a few weeks ago. that was real nice, especially since i have a $500 deductable. wow that would have saved me a whole $10.

 

another annoying thing about the US steering wheel is lack of audio controls. i remember seeing the euro one have the controls

 

Sorry I find that amusing.

 

Actually the steering wheel for the Z is made specifically for the hand position for tracking/ racing the car. With your hands at the 9 oclock & 3 oclock positions the thumb grips fit perfectly for the proper grip. I did not realize this until after I had attended my first instructed track session.

 

except that it's entirely way too big... if it were like a 330 or 350mm steering wheel it would be great.