What are some good options for redoing the leather on the steering wheel? Are there any covers that even look good? Or any new aftermarket steering wheels that also retain the airbag?

 

I think your best bet is just a wheel cover. I personally wouldn't DIY a job which included airbag replacement, etc., and I am very hard-headed with what I try to DIY. I really am not a fan of my 06 steering wheel. Seems too thin, and if your hands are sweaty at all it is very slick.

 

Over the years, the leather dries and it thins out significantly.


I purchased a brand new OEM steering wheel about 6 mos ago that I snagged for $200. The leather is softer and MUCH thicker than the currently worn out leather on my '06's steering wheel that is starting to peel.

Here's a brandy new OEM wheel


I was going to swap it out come spring time, after the winters's mess is over. Airbags aren't that big of a deal to work with. Unplug battery, go have lunch, and then it's just two screws and unplug the harness and off it comes.

Another alternative i was thinking of was to buy an aftermarket wheel cover like "wheelskins" wraps, and then cut off the OEM leather and then recover the wheel in it. I was going to purchase a used wheel off Ebay (sub $50) and then cut the leather off and measure the thickness of the hub so that i could order an appropriate sized leather cover. I've wrapped a few steering wheels before and it's something you def want to do off the car as it took me nearly two hours of carefully wrapping around and tightening the draw strings.

As for brand new OEM wheels...they are discontinued. I got VERY lucky and found one NIB. It showed up an an old, tattered box, but the wheel itself is in great shape. I have yet to see another for sale.

 

+1 for the new steering wheel