I'm 6' tall with long legs, and even with my seat at what I think is its lowest position, my leg still gets stuck on the steering wheel when I try to heel-and-toe. Has anyone had this problem or had an issue with the large wheel in general? Does switching to smaller steering wheel such as the one in the W201 make enough of a difference to help? Any other suggestions?

__________________
"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

I hate the 123 steering wheel. I've been trying to find a Mercedes one (semi-direct fit) that's similar to my favorite of all time (Audi A4), but so far it looks like they put ship wheels on most of them. I'd love to know a nice small wheel with a thick grip.

-Rog

i have the opposite problem. apart from the height adjustment, consider sliding the seat farther back and tilting the seat back forwards?

__________________
'77 240D, 504H, OM617.952, etc.

Sounds kind of kinky getting your leg caught in the Steering Wheel.
Try a different position.

I have had a W123 since 97, and never noticed a problem with the wheel.
Read a lot of complaints about the large wheel.
But Iam 5` 9", maybe that makes a difference?


Charlie

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

Adapters in any configuration are widely available to fit almost any wheel to any car but .....

Since our steering wheels are non-adjustable, a smaller wheel will partially obscure the instrument cluster. The top sections of speedometer and tachometer will be covered.

I put a smaller Nardi wheel in my coupe and have learned to take needle position on faith.

I bet you aren't getting all the adjustment you can out of the seat tracks....yes tracks....there are two adjustments so be sure yours are working. YOu should be able to get comfortable....unless your legs are hooked right onto your shoulders.

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I have been using both, and although I think I have the seat in the bottom-most position, I'll definitely check the tracks to make sure they aren't gummed up when I replace the seat cushions.

__________________
"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

I would be very surprised if a shorter person with chubby legs could get the seat high enough to see and forward enough to reach the pedals but still fit their legs between the seat and wheel.

Regardless, the wheel is from a 1700s pirate ship. Can we all just agree on that? That's the point, not how worn out and gunked up the seat tracks are or how stupid the person trying to operate the seat adjusters is.

-Rog

It's as far back as it can be for me to comfortably push the clutch to the floor.
Probably makes a big difference, I am 3" taller than you and my legs are particularly long (34" inseam).

I do like the large wheel, except for the fact that it is in the way... if I could adjust it up just a bit, it would be perfect .

__________________
"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

Heel toe-ing a 240D is like when people flat foot shift hondas. It sounds like a neat idea but you're still going slow in a slow car.

That being said, slide the seat all the way forward on the fore and aft adjustment, then try to slide back on the height adjustment. I don't understand how it works but there is a way to not get all of the down adjustment if you start with the seat too far back.

Lubing the tracks is also a solid idea.

__________________
68 280SL - 70 280SL - 70 300SEL 3.5 - 72 350SL - 72 280SEL 4.5 - 72 220 - 72 220D - 73 450SL - 84 230GE - 87 200TD - 90 190E 2.0 - 03 G500

Nissan GTR - Nissan Skyline GTS25T - Toyota GTFour - Rover Mini - Toyota Land Cruiser HJ60 - Cadillac Eldorado - BMW E30 - BMW 135i

I more use it if I'm slowing down to go around a corner or get off the highway or something... not particularly trying to go fast, just trying to shift into the gear I'll need and brake at the same time.

I'll try moving the seat all the way forward, didn't realize that that could be an issue. Thanks!

__________________
"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

I don't think I know how to drive a stick without "heel-toe"ing, ... it's just about being smooth IMO.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

In this thread you made a while back, it shows some pictures of the seat adjustments.
One is the forward and back, and notice the other is on an angle, or slope.
That one is for your height.

W123 seats -- disassembly, skin removal padding refurbish, misc. notes

Charlie

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

I must either be driving like crap, or I've been doing it all along and using the wrong term. More than likely the former. I'll google it and come back.

__________________
68 280SL - 70 280SL - 70 300SEL 3.5 - 72 350SL - 72 280SEL 4.5 - 72 220 - 72 220D - 73 450SL - 84 230GE - 87 200TD - 90 190E 2.0 - 03 G500

Nissan GTR - Nissan Skyline GTS25T - Toyota GTFour - Rover Mini - Toyota Land Cruiser HJ60 - Cadillac Eldorado - BMW E30 - BMW 135i

Yeah, I do get that, and I thought I had that at the bottom-most position. DieselPaul made the point that I might be able to get it down more if I scoot it further ahead, so I'm going to try that...

__________________
"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."