6.9 Steering Oddity

[Oversize]

Hi all,

While running the younger sister today & noticed something peculiar. The face of the steering wheel doesn't seem parallel with that of the instrument cluster. I began to panic thinking she'd had a big hit at some point in her life, but when I looked at her older sister, they are the same! Has anyone else noticed this? In order to see the speedo symmetrically, it must be viewed closer to the centre of the car, rather than the normal seated position. It is possible that MB compromised with the L to R conversions, or is it to do with access to the ignition switch (or something else)??

Mark

 

[TJ 450]

That sounds about right, as the alignment needs to account for the seating position as well as where the driver should be looking, etc. They are never in perfect vertical alignment for this reason. Also, the steering column is also positioned at an angle from the central position.

Tim

 

[s class]

I grew up driving RHD 116's and 107's, and I'd not noticed this phenomenon until I got some LHD 116's - where everything is mirror image. It was obvious to me in the lefties that the column is offset at an angle. Armed with that discovery, I got back in the righties, and sure enough, its obvious too. I just hadn't really noticed it before because I was so familiar with the cars.

 

[Styria]

I have never noticed it, but I made a point of looking at it today - still none the wiser. Everything looks honkey dorey to me. Regards Styria