Steering Wheel Condition [Archive]

Ogata

11-29-2008, 06:11 PM

Its been 6 months since I got my 3 and I didn't expect the leather steering wheel on my 3 to be wearing down so fast! Theres already a scratch mark and I don't know how it got there (I don't grip my wheel THAT HARD) or if some mechanic who was driving it with gloves or something scratched it. I have tried to remove it but with no luck. The top portion seems to be wearing off due to UV I believe. I brought it into a dealer and they said it was scratched and that it was MY FAULT which they claimed was not covered under warranty (parts otherwise). Perhaps I should have conditioned it sooner than I thought. Do any of you condition it? I will post pics to furthur depict what I mean.

mazda lover

11-29-2008, 11:22 PM

Its been 6 months since I got my 3 and I didn't expect the leather steering wheel on my 3 to be wearing down so fast! Theres already a scratch mark and I don't know how it got there (I don't grip my wheel THAT HARD) or if some mechanic who was driving it with gloves or something scratched it. I have tried to remove it but with no luck. The top portion seems to be wearing off due to UV I believe. I brought it into a dealer and they said it was scratched and that it was MY FAULT which they claimed was not covered under warranty (parts otherwise). Perhaps I should have conditioned it sooner than I thought. Do any of you condition it? I will post pics to further depict what I mean.

My leather steering wheel still looks new, no signs of wear...
2005 GT GFX

MAZDA Kitten

11-30-2008, 04:13 AM

same here... my leather steering wheel is like brand new. Car was bought in Sept 04/160,000km+

mazdas3sporte

11-30-2008, 05:25 PM

If you had a steering wheel cover on that actually scratches the surface rather than prtecting it, after a year my uncles peugeot 206 had the surface completly rubbed off cause he thought he was protecting it while it actually completly messed it up. compare that to my dads 3 year old 206 with no scratches what so ever.

3GFX

11-30-2008, 05:44 PM

Are you wearing big rings?

p-o-g-i

11-30-2008, 07:16 PM

Are you wearing big rings?

Good point... it could be that.

My leather steering wheel has a minor scratch, due to one of my rings.

Ogata

11-30-2008, 10:49 PM

Are you wearing big rings?

I don't wear any rings at all...I don't know how this wear and tear got on here. I have pics now but have not uploaded it yet.

b.rabbit

11-30-2008, 11:01 PM

My steering wheel still looks the same as the day I got it. Minus some dust.

Maybe the pictures will tell a story.

3GFX

11-30-2008, 11:26 PM

4 years old and now wear on the wheel. Upload the pics when you get a chance and we'll figure it out.

b

12-01-2008, 02:06 AM

same here... my leather steering wheel is like brand new. Car was bought in Sept 04/160,000km+

+ 1. Mine looks great still. I bought mine in Dec 2003 and I have 125,000km on it.

Cardinal Fang

12-01-2008, 09:49 AM

Mine looks fine. I treat it every time I clean the interior of the car to make sure the leather doesn't dry out or crack. However I do have a small scratch but it was caused by my ring.

kevcol74

12-01-2008, 04:26 PM

140,000 kms... mine looks great, only a couple minor scratches and no fading/deterioration...
Maybe they got a batch of chinese cows in by accident instead of the high quality Japanese one? :chuckle

JaYson

12-01-2008, 05:22 PM

do you maybe have sweaty palms?

stripe

12-10-2008, 10:25 AM

do you maybe have sweaty palms?

Idk about the OP, but I do. Specially in the summer, and I found that it really did affect the leather, a lot. My previous car's wheel was significantly discolored/worn in the areas I usually hold the wheel.

secondgear

12-11-2008, 12:05 AM

top left corner very rough now. its been like that since 140000.

Effin Itai

12-13-2008, 01:41 AM

I don't wear any rings at all...I don't know how this wear and tear got on here. I have pics now but have not uploaded it yet.

You have to show us some pics so we can compare ours.

Flagrum_3

12-13-2008, 08:43 AM

Is it possible that some type of cleaning solvent was used at sometime on the leather, ...therefore drying it out and causing the excessive wear?
There's that, or some mechanic handled the wheel without cleaning his hands or leaving his service gloves on, contaminating the leather.

Other then that, I see no reason for it to fail so rapidly....the oil from your hands should surfice to keep the leather in good condition....normally.

_3

Ogata

12-13-2008, 04:23 PM

Is it possible that some type of cleaning solvent was used at sometime on the leather, ...therefore drying it out and causing the excessive wear?
There's that, or some mechanic handled the wheel without cleaning his hands or leaving his service gloves on, contaminating the leather.

Other then that, I see no reason for it to fail so rapidly....the oil from your hands should surfice to keep the leather in good condition....normally.

_3

Heads up and an update. I would figure it would be a mechanic driving my car without cleaning their hands or using work gloves to drive my vehicle in. I just came back from Kaval (who is still living in the winter) and he cleaned up the wheel which brought it back to its original condition. PM me if you want more info on what he used for those of you who have leather wheels.