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Dears, I own a 1990 V12 5.3 Convertible and wish to change the steering wheel. So my question, has anyone disconnected the the airbag and mounted something like a Nardi wheel, wood or otherwise ? If so what model no and modification attachments where needed ? Or any other suggestions?
I may be wrong but I'm not sure if that Thread is relevant, as that refers to a Steering Wheel Change on an XJS 4.0L and your Car is a V12 the same as mine, where as such you may not have an Air Bag, as my 1990 doesn't have one (although yours might)
The Person who would know for sure apart from yourself is 'Paul' (ptjs) so hopefully he will jump in and let you know what to do
Yes you can replace the stock AirBag steering wheel with a Nardi wheel, which was the first change I made to my 1990 convertible after buying it (I hated the look of the airbag wheel, and the thought that there was only one airbag. Didn't like the idea that I might survive a accident and a passenger might not).
The bad news is that I did it so long ago, I can't recall all the specifics. I seem to recall that the Nardi adapter was only listed going up to '89 but still worked on the '90. There were all kinds of scary warnings back then about how airbags couldn't be disarmed or removed by DIYers, but there were clear instructions somewhere on how to go about it.
That's (almost certainly) not an airbag steering wheel, but the early facelift padded one. The airbag wheel has a monochrome Jaguar head moulded into the plastic, and a seam for the bag to burst out of. This one, which looks identical to mine, should just have a centre pad that pulls out.
You're right, that's a non-airbag wheel, so significantly easier to remove. The horn buttons are integral to the centre pad as opposed to being fixed to the wheel spokes on an airbag wheel.
Naturally any replacement wheel will need to have a suitable horn capability built in to it.
Integral horn buttons? Are you sure?
This is a very short clip I took a couple of years back of removing and replacing the pad in a facelift non-airbag car. It might be of use.
That's (almost certainly) not an airbag steering wheel, but the early facelift padded one. The airbag wheel has a monochrome Jaguar head moulded into the plastic, and a seam for the bag to burst out of. This one, which looks identical to mine, should just have a centre pad that pulls out.
Correct... I can't remember what the wheel I started out with looked like, it was messy, and this is the wheel I have now...
If I were you I would find the wheel you want and then call the group selling it and ask what it would take... That will certainly get you on the path...then, next call, next question, next call and so on. There is a Paul's Jaguar in Florida. Google it it will come right up. They do a LOT of interior work, the guy loves to talk (Jeremy I believe) and he'll send ya in some directions I'm sure.
Apols, that was a poor way of describing what I meant!
The airbag wheel is structured such that the airbag includes the top part of the padded area up to where the horn buttons are left alone remaining at the top of the spokes. As per the pic below.
In the non-airbag wheel, the padded part at the top centre of the wheel remains intact when the centre boss is removed, integral with the horn buttons, as per your pic.
Now I get ya! So non-airbag and airbag alike have the horns on the spokes, but in the gasbag wheel, the buttons are separate, whereas with the non-gasbag wheel, the buttons are contained within the outer section surrounding the actual central pad.
That's (almost certainly) not an airbag steering wheel, but the early facelift padded one.
Wait, you mean they put those ugly airbag style steering wheels in cars without airbag?. That would be like putting the motorized mouse tracks in coupes without seat belts.
How easy would it be to retrofit a non-pad steering wheel, I wonder....
Not that I dislike the pad one, actually. The chunky pad is a nice place to hold the wheel when cruising.
I do not, however, think that wood and metal Nardi-style ones suit the XJS. It's a little too modern. The E-Type, absolutely. So I wouldn't go in that direction myself.
Apologies to those who like the ugly padded wheel.
The Nardi wheel looks at home in the original XJS but would probably seem a little out of period in the facelift cars. Given that the whole redesign exercise was to bring a 1970s design and make it look modern to a 1990s buyer.
People ask what year my XJS is, and sometimes seem almost disappointed when I say 1990 because they expect it to be much older. It’s out of period for most people’s expectations.
Yes, I had it done professionally, but it was easy. Note: you want the deep dish style wheel. Plus,
you will find the controls on the column will be a longer reach and need some getting used to.
The wheel grip is also smaller. However, it is all worth it. The Nardi is more expensive but the one to use.
I did to my 1994 XJS
Apologies to those who like the ugly padded wheel.
The Nardi wheel looks at home in the original XJS but would probably seem a little out of period in the facelift cars. Given that the whole redesign exercise was to bring a 1970s design and make it look modern to a 1990s buyer.
People ask what year my XJS is, and sometimes seem almost disappointed when I say 1990 because they expect it to be much older. It’s out of period for most people’s expectations.
I prefer the Nardi wheels on the E types.
while aesthetically appealing to some, not really at home, since no XJS ever came with that type wheel.
in reality the first XJS wheel and the last are not that different at all. In fact they are pretty similar - ( yes I do realize the very very last wheels have wood)
No criticism here. My XJS has a big leaper my grandfather had put on there when he took delivery of the car. And that doesn’t belong there either…….
Change Steering Wheel
