Retro fit multifunction steering wheel on Fiat x250/290

[Terry Gill]

Hi all,

Apologies if this has been discussed before but has anyone had any success with retro fitting a multifunctional steering wheel, one with radio controls, to a Fiat Ducato x250/x290?

Any info or links or a company you could recommend for help would be most welcome.

Thanking you in anticipation

 

[Garfields]

Not tried this but some thoughts came to mind
Easy bit is the wiring on Fiats is standard so that should be there
Difficult bits
You are likely to need to change settings on the ECU
You are also messing with the airbags
If you have a retro fitted radio you will need a interface so the steering controls and radio speak to each other
Have fun

A decent voice control radio may be a easyer option

 

[Mark and Mindy]

Our 2019 FIAT Ducato PVC van is as luxurious as I like but for 1000's of miles (or km) of driving I have to grip to the circle of hard plastic steering wheel and I am desperate to swap for a luxurious FIAT OEM soft padded steering wheel. I don't know if our Zenec Z-E3756 head unit makes the job easier or harder and I don't mind if if the steering wheel is is not multi-function as I only want comfort.

I have researched changing the steering wheel and it does get a little complicated.

From my notes...

The steering wheel air bag can be a problem and not just for the air bag but also the control system for the air bag. Fitters are wary of touching anything connected to the airbag.

It is stated that the multi function steering wheel is a factory fit item and as such cannot be retro fitted as it is controlled by the ECU CAN bus system which will need to be reprogrammed/updated. There may be a way round it but it's not a straightforward plug and play swap.

There are a number of FIAT OEM steering wheel options/parts to choose from which may or may not be compatible.

This steering wheel is listed on eBay here Genuine Fiat DUCATO Type 250 Leather Steering Wheel OE 53289387 - no controls From <https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Genuine-Fiat-DUCATO-Type-250-Leather-Steering-Wheel-OE-53289387/628128312>

A part that may be required is CITROEN RELAY FIAT DUCATO AIRBAG SQUIB CLOCK SPRING PEUGEOT BOXER 3-WIRES Broken Link Removed

Coastal Motorhomes Limited at Ringwood may be a useful supplier.

Located to rear of Coastal Motorhomes is a company called Benneton Motortec and I spoke to them and they could try to see if they could fit the steering wheel and the first step would be to take the van to them to connect to their new diagnostic reader might deduce what is possible (this is the ECU CAN bus system stuff).

I spoke to a FIAT Professional dealership and had some difficulty explaining my requirement and the service agent was very reluctant to look into the possibility due to there were so many options/parts to consider and compare to my specific van build. Eventually they did quote me £465.32 for parts and fitting. The reluctance to engage did not give me much confidence but hat price seems like a bargain to me now.

I am still very keen to pursue this and perhaps we can pool resources, knowledge and experience.

Mark

 

[DiggerJon]

Crikey! That's expensive if all you are wanting is a bit more comfort as a priority. Why not a humble steering wheel cover and forgo the luxury of volume control from the steering wheel? Maybe sometime the old ways are more practical?

 

[DJT]

Our 2019 FIAT Ducato PVC van is as luxurious as I like but for 1000's of miles (or km) of driving I have to grip to the circle of hard plastic steering wheel and I am desperate to swap for a luxurious FIAT OEM soft padded steering wheel. I don't know if our Zenec Z-E3756 head unit makes the job easier or harder and I don't mind if if the steering wheel is is not multi-function as I only want comfort.

I have researched changing the steering wheel and it does get a little complicated.

From my notes...

The steering wheel air bag can be a problem and not just for the air bag but also the control system for the air bag. Fitters are wary of touching anything connected to the airbag.

It is stated that the multi function steering wheel is a factory fit item and as such cannot be retro fitted as it is controlled by the ECU CAN bus system which will need to be reprogrammed/updated. There may be a way round it but it's not a straightforward plug and play swap.

There are a number of FIAT OEM steering wheel options/parts to choose from which may or may not be compatible.

This steering wheel is listed on eBay here Genuine Fiat DUCATO Type 250 Leather Steering Wheel OE 53289387 - no controls From <https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Genuine-Fiat-DUCATO-Type-250-Leather-Steering-Wheel-OE-53289387/628128312>

A part that may be required is CITROEN RELAY FIAT DUCATO AIRBAG SQUIB CLOCK SPRING PEUGEOT BOXER 3-WIRES Broken Link Removed

Coastal Motorhomes Limited at Ringwood may be a useful supplier.

Located to rear of Coastal Motorhomes is a company called Benneton Motortec and I spoke to them and they could try to see if they could fit the steering wheel and the first step would be to take the van to them to connect to their new diagnostic reader might deduce what is possible (this is the ECU CAN bus system stuff).

I spoke to a FIAT Professional dealership and had some difficulty explaining my requirement and the service agent was very reluctant to look into the possibility due to there were so many options/parts to consider and compare to my specific van build. Eventually they did quote me £465.32 for parts and fitting. The reluctance to engage did not give me much confidence but hat price seems like a bargain to me now.

I am still very keen to pursue this and perhaps we can pool resources, knowledge and experience.

Mark

We have used these guys Three times and had great service check out their website for full info and lots of photos on gallery.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Geo]

I simply use a padded cover
Because I know messing with SRS systems can cost thousands to put right.
Imagine one spike and you need new dash board, full airbag system seat belt tensioner steering wheel complete then were into control modules etc
And you wonder why I decline a couple of hundred pounds profit to play with a customers steering wheel

 

[DJT]

Our 2019 FIAT Ducato PVC van is as luxurious as I like but for 1000's of miles (or km) of driving I have to grip to the circle of hard plastic steering wheel and I am desperate to swap for a luxurious FIAT OEM soft padded steering wheel. I don't know if our Zenec Z-E3756 head unit makes the job easier or harder and I don't mind if if the steering wheel is is not multi-function as I only want comfort.

I have researched changing the steering wheel and it does get a little complicated.

From my notes...

The steering wheel air bag can be a problem and not just for the air bag but also the control system for the air bag. Fitters are wary of touching anything connected to the airbag.

It is stated that the multi function steering wheel is a factory fit item and as such cannot be retro fitted as it is controlled by the ECU CAN bus system which will need to be reprogrammed/updated. There may be a way round it but it's not a straightforward plug and play swap.

There are a number of FIAT OEM steering wheel options/parts to choose from which may or may not be compatible.

This steering wheel is listed on eBay here Genuine Fiat DUCATO Type 250 Leather Steering Wheel OE 53289387 - no controls From <https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Genuine-Fiat-DUCATO-Type-250-Leather-Steering-Wheel-OE-53289387/628128312>

A part that may be required is CITROEN RELAY FIAT DUCATO AIRBAG SQUIB CLOCK SPRING PEUGEOT BOXER 3-WIRES Broken Link Removed

Coastal Motorhomes Limited at Ringwood may be a useful supplier.

Located to rear of Coastal Motorhomes is a company called Benneton Motortec and I spoke to them and they could try to see if they could fit the steering wheel and the first step would be to take the van to them to connect to their new diagnostic reader might deduce what is possible (this is the ECU CAN bus system stuff).

I spoke to a FIAT Professional dealership and had some difficulty explaining my requirement and the service agent was very reluctant to look into the possibility due to there were so many options/parts to consider and compare to my specific van build. Eventually they did quote me £465.32 for parts and fitting. The reluctance to engage did not give me much confidence but hat price seems like a bargain to me now.

I am still very keen to pursue this and perhaps we can pool resources, knowledge and experience.

Mark

Attached is a photo of the wheel in our IH J1000 that Jak at Royal Steering Wheels done.
4 years ago the price then was about £150 to do your own wheel.
what I did was buy a standard wheel of Ebay and post that to them to cover or send your own.
To avoid SRS problems I disconnected the battery before removing the wheel then had no problems.
About an hours job!

 

[BusyBuilder]

I just get ask SWMBO to fiddle with the radio.

 

[63720]

I bought a wheel cover from a car shop for a few quid, looks great with red trim, when it wears out I'll buy another. First officer looks after navigation, catering, entertainment and climate.
Remember - aviate, navigate, communicate