35 replies to this topic

[Midas Mk1]

Buy cheap buy twice.

[Tamworthbay]

Buy cheap buy twice.

I generally agree with this BUT steering wheels are one of those 'fashion' things. I want a decent steering wheel but don't want to pay over the top just for the name. I ended up getting a NOS Momo, more than three times the cost of the cheapy eBay ones, any better? Still open for debate it seems.

[Mini 360]

Definitely better than a cheap eBay wheel.  At least you have the confidence its not going to snap when you least want it to.

[59 Speed]

Keep an eye on eBay for genuine steering wheels. I recently got a brand new Sparco leather wheel off a company having a clear out for £53.

Excellent quality and it came in the original packaging.

All it need to do now is finish the rest of the car!

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Edited by Smackfiend, 31 December 2013 - 11:33 PM.

[mab01uk]

So people buy cheap fakes and then wonder why it becomes increasingly difficult to buy safety tested decent quality parts and accesories for Mini's. Personally I would not cut corners on a steering wheel.....in most Mini's there is no airbag and your first major point of contact in a serious impact is likely to be the steering wheel even when wearing belts, a decent genuine brand will have been tested and approved, a fake may leave you impaled on a sharp sheared off spoke made of cheap re-cycled Chinese aluminium of the wrong grade and spec. I am a mechanical engineer, shiny metals may look the same but there are many grades and compositions which have widely varing properties and are selected depending on their fitness for the purpose intended........I doubt the fake back street producers worry about such details or submit them for inspection and testing to destruction.

Edited by mab01uk, 01 January 2014 - 01:15 PM.

[Tamworthbay]

So people buy cheap fakes and then wonder why it becomes increasingly difficult to buy safety tested decent quality parts and accesories for Mini's. Personally I would not cut corners on a steering wheel.....in most Mini's there is no airbag and your first major point of contact in a serious impact is likely to be the steering wheel even when wearing belts, a decent genuine brand will have been tested and approved, a fake may leave you impaled on a sharp sheared off spoke made of cheap re-cycled Chinese aluminium of the wrong grade and spec. I am a mechanical engineer, shiny metals may look the same but there are many grades and compositions which have widely varing properties and are selected depending on their fitness for the purpose intended........I doubt the fake back street producers worry about such details or submit them for inspection and testing to destruction.

Perhaps if the major brands didn't rip people off senseless then people wouldn't be tempted by cheaper alternatives. The original question was not 'write an essay on material science' it was asking for people's personal experiences. What your 'reply, fails to note is that most of the genuine steering wheels are tested for 'non impact' crashes, I.e for racing where full harnesses are used and there is no chance of contact between human and wheel. Most however are fitted in road cars where they are no more type approved than a cheap Chinese one (as opposed to an expensive Chinese one as made by some of the makers) In such cases a cheap ally wheel may be safer that a stronger steel one. Anyway it's all immaterial as you would have realised had you read all the thread. My shiny new Momo is already fitted.

[mab01uk]

 

So people buy cheap fakes and then wonder why it becomes increasingly difficult to buy safety tested decent quality parts and accesories for Mini's. Personally I would not cut corners on a steering wheel.....in most Mini's there is no airbag and your first major point of contact in a serious impact is likely to be the steering wheel even when wearing belts, a decent genuine brand will have been tested and approved, a fake may leave you impaled on a sharp sheared off spoke made of cheap re-cycled Chinese aluminium of the wrong grade and spec. I am a mechanical engineer, shiny metals may look the same but there are many grades and compositions which have widely varing properties and are selected depending on their fitness for the purpose intended........I doubt the fake back street producers worry about such details or submit them for inspection and testing to destruction.

Perhaps if the major brands didn't rip people off senseless then people wouldn't be tempted by cheaper alternatives. The original question was not 'write an essay on material science' it was asking for people's personal experiences. What your 'reply, fails to note is that most of the genuine steering wheels are tested for 'non impact' crashes, I.e for racing where full harnesses are used and there is no chance of contact between human and wheel. Most however are fitted in road cars where they are no more type approved than a cheap Chinese one (as opposed to an expensive Chinese one as made by some of the makers) In such cases a cheap ally wheel may be safer that a stronger steel one. Anyway it's all immaterial as you would have realised had you read all the thread. My shiny new Momo is already fitted.

 

 

Immaterial or not I stand by what I said and hope it helps others decide, discussion threads like this are not just for the benefit of the op......other useful related information often comes out that others reading might not have considered, like in this case some basic 'material' facts behind a shiny steering wheel (hardly a material science essay!). I read all the thread and am aware you bought a Momo.

It is possible to have quality products made in countries like China but as with any manufactured product this needs regular independent testing and inspection to check and maintain the standard and quality of goods supplied......charging the right price for a producing a quality product with the extra overheads entailed is not ripping people off.......unlike the back street fake producers who often rip people off with poor quality unsafe, untested products and threaten the reputation and livelihood of those who produce the genuine article.

Edited by mab01uk, 01 January 2014 - 07:42 PM.

[The Matt]

I've got an RMD one in the Mini, it's pretty solid and I'm not exactly lightweight.

 

I've got an OMP Superleggero in the 205, same dish (75mm), same diameter (14" IIRC) and it's actually not as comfy.  Being dished obviously reduces its likelihood of being bent easily though.  Flat ones are going to be far more prone to that.

[The Matt]

Is it just me that'd rather hit me head on the wobbly one that the rigid one if I had to make the choice?

[mab01uk]

Is it just me that'd rather hit me head on the wobbly one that the rigid one if I had to make the choice?

 

The more rigid one may be designed to bend while the wobbly one might split or snap and leave sharp pointy bits!

Edited by mab01uk, 01 January 2014 - 07:45 PM.

[Tamworthbay]

Is it just me that'd rather hit me head on the wobbly one that the rigid one if I had to make the choice?

That was the point I was making to Mab but I don't think he was listening. Yet again there is a blanket assumption that Chinese made = rubbish, anywhere else made = great. I have seen plenty of 'well engineered' products made all over the world that show poor quality. I wouldn't mind if it was based on personal experience but just claiming they are dangerous purely based on where they are made is bordering on engineering racism.

[The Matt]

Some Chinese stuff is rubbish, some German stuff is, some British stuff is....as for French  

 

Unless something is properly designed AND made fit for purpose, then you may as well get a cheap one.  As you said, race steering wheels from any manufacturer MAY not comply with the relevant standard for impact testing. Whatever BS that is?  It's like the jeans I buy, might as well pay £6 for Tesco ones as £100 for Armani ones.  Probably made in the same place anyway. 

 

As the OMP Superleggero I've got has very little padding, I'd rather hit my head on the RMD one I've got.....based on the assumption that neither of them are designed for road use as such.

[Tamworthbay]

Some Chinese stuff is rubbish, some German stuff is, some British stuff is....as for French  
 
Unless something is properly designed AND made fit for purpose, then you may as well get a cheap one.  As you said, race steering wheels from any manufacturer MAY not comply with the relevant standard for impact testing. Whatever BS that is?  It's like the jeans I buy, might as well pay £6 for Tesco ones as £100 for Armani ones.  Probably made in the same place anyway. 
 
As the OMP Superleggero I've got has very little padding, I'd rather hit my head on the RMD one I've got.....based on the assumption that neither of them are designed for road use as such.

That is exactly the point, especially about where stuff is made, I make my mind up based on what I can determine regards fitness for the job. In the case of these wheels I would like to get one in my hands to see how they feel. I don't like paying just for a 'badge'. If these are so dangerous then I am sure we would have heard of incidents involving them by now.

[The Matt]

You're not a million miles away from me.  I'll be in the 205 at Bingley if you're going and I can chuck the Mini's RMD wheel in the car so you can cop a feel if you want? 

 

I quite fancy doing some destruction testing on the RMD one now.

[Tamworthbay]

You're not a million miles away from me.  I'll be in the 205 at Bingley if you're going and I can chuck the Mini's RMD wheel in the car so you can cop a feel if you want? 
 
I quite fancy doing some destruction testing on the RMD one now.

I have a spare old Momo that I would be happy to test. I have a setup at work in the lab I could use