Citroen C5 steering wheel inserts

[lze]

My 2011 C5 is loosing paint from the grey plastic steerig wheel inserts. It is starting to look very bad (only at 137000 km!) so is it possible to change those bits and where I could find new replacements? It seems that the coatings used on the interior parts do not stand normal use which is very annoying.

[GiveMeABreak]

If it is the finishes on the 2 sides of the steering wheel where you hold the wheel (at 9 and 3 o'clock) then no - only the steering wheel itself is shown as a complete part. There are no Steering Wheel trim parts shown separately.

If it is any parts of the steering wheel audio / computer buttons, switches or dials on the central boss, either side of the airbag, then again no - that whole unit is called a VMF integral switch unit and is one complete module. Link below and costs £328 new!
https://www.onderdelenlijn.nl/en/car-pa ... d/5178827/

[lze]

It is those stupid plastic finishes on the sides of the wheel. Mine are silver painted and the paint is already 50% gone. How can I remove those parts to get all that paint away?

[white exec]

Does anyone sell aftermarket wheel trims - the sort of thing that crops up, along with gear knobs and dash trim ?

[Stickyfinger]

Who has got rings on then.... many more miles on mine and not a scratch or rub


Maybe China ?
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Case-for ... .28.3E8QKV

God knows what the quality will be like.

[vborovic]

@ lze - You're talking about the silver plastics that are around 2 scroll buttons, right? If so, then no, they aren't available as a spare part, you could only get used/new entire central buttons module (without the airbag, but still expensive)

[Gibbo2286]

Lovely picture there vborovic, a black man chasing a black cat round in a pitch black cellar?

[GiveMeABreak]

Who has got rings on then.... many more miles on mine and not a scratch or rub

Mine seem to be solid metal, not plastic and are not painted as far as I can tell. No scratches, marks or anything on mine, but door trim painted plastic - now that's another story! I've already removed, stripped those down, primed, painted and lacquered all 4 about a year ago.

[Stickyfinger]

Just checked mine, yep, mine are metal and unpainted so not surprised they are still good. Maybe a Exclusive thing ?

[GiveMeABreak]

Could be, there are about 6 or 7 steering wheels listed on my VIN alone!

[lze]

I'm talking about those handle trim bits on both sides of the wheel itself. It seems there are various options for them (completely without, metal, structured painted plastic, plain painted plastic) and I am unlucky to have the last one option. Unfortunately that same silver paint is used also on the door trims and it is starting to scuff in there, too. It just does not withstand any normal use. The trims around the scroll buttons are black unpainted plastic in my car even if I have seen lower spec cars with metal ones. There seems to be no logic with the interior options.

Generally speaking, the interior of my car is very poor quality. The (all leather!) upholstery is poorly made, those before mentioned paintings are wearing out and even the text on the light stalk is fading away. Otherwise this 2011 130000 km car is very good and reliable so it is very annoying with this low quality interior.

[GiveMeABreak]

Generally the paint on the internal door handle trim inserts is very thin (it is almost a thin rubbery feel) - this just wears away with use - and it can be worse on the passenger side grab handle of the door if the passenger wears rings! That is the only other weak part on mine so far is on the Navidrive Head unit - my 'OK' button has some of the wording rubbing off (out with the tippex). I got some paint made up, carefully took all 4 inserts off the door handles and took 3 days to prepare, prime and repaint with several coats and 2-3 lacquer layers too. Now they are solid and the finish is identical to the body paint.

[vborovic]

@ lze - You can replace the steering wheel then ...

[lze]

Yes, there really seems to be no other option. It is really very sensible to renew the whole like-new steering wheel beacause of these plastic flaps.