Steering wheel differences

[Ubar]

Hi all, new user here!

I have just got a 2010 1.4 SE, which has the standard plastic steering wheel and I am finding the rim is quite thin compared to my previous cars.

Is the leather wheel from the SEL any thicker, or is it just a different material?
Alternatively, would a GTI (non-MFSW) wheel fit with the existing airbag without modifications?

I have seen a number of threads about adding radio controls, I am not bothered about those.. I am only interested in the dimensions of the wheels.

Thanks!

[iichel]

You have the following wheels:

Plastic 'basic' wheel - round - no MF - airbag A
Leather 'premium' wheel - round - no MF - airbag A (still artificial leather) with either a white sew (cross) or black sew (normal)
Leather 'premium' wheel - round - MF - airbag C (still artificial leather) with either a white sew (cross) or black sew (normal)
Sport wheel - flat bottom - no MF - Airbag B with different sews (red = GTI, grey = R-Line/R/GTD)
Sport wheel - flat bottom - MF - Airbag C - red/grey/alcantara sew (GTI/R+R-Line/WRC/GTD)

The airbag B and C are the same dimensions. The C has the wiring loom of the B with an additional wire for the MF module.

Aditionally, the flat bottom wheel has a thicker 'grip' and is also factory mounted in the sporty golfs MK VI and sciroccos, even though most of those do have buttons.

The airbags are generally a match with the type, however it's not always so exact.
The MF airbag is always fitted with the clips at the 'quarter to 3' position, while the round wheel airbag without MF has them at the 20-to-4 position.
This is only a rule of thumb and doesn't always count, but it works fairly well and you know what to look for.

There is also a round Golf VI MF wheel with a more V-shaped airbag. Be careful not to buy one of those. It has bottons at both sides.

This is pretty much a short intro to Polo airbags, good luck

[Ubar]

Thank you for the detail iichel.

To clarify, is the rim tickness the same on the Basic plastic and Premium 'leather' wheels?

[iichel]

the thickness of all the round wheels is indeed comparable. leather or plastic

[Tooks]

I swapped a friends plastic steering wheel for a leather one in her 6R, along with the gear knob, and although a similar thickness the leather one is so much nicer to hold and look at.