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I have a 98 GS400 but previous owner installed a 2001+ wood wheel. With that said, the radio controls DO NOT work with my factory radio and of course I do not have the E Shift buttons either.
So the questions are.....#1 Was there ever a wood grain with E shift that I can purchase, #2 Can I get creative and install a paddle control and tie into the wiring harness #3 Am I stuck looking into getting a blah grey wheel so I can have E Shift?
#1 2001-up GS300 Sports Design have woodgrain with E-shift.
#2 Haven't seen anyone in this forum tried it but the G35/350z guys are using Works Bell paddle shifter, google it for more info.
#3 Check the classifieds, occasionally there are people who sells 98-00 GS400 steering wheel.
First off...if I am not mistaken no wood wheel (with e-shift) ALONE will work on a GS400; the airbag portion of the steering wheel will be different. You cannot simply take an '01-'05 GS woodgrain steering wheel w/airbag and slap it on a '98-'00 GS400 the plugs for the airbags are different and I wouldn't suggest modifying something that could one day save your life!
The ONLY way to make this work is to buy a '01-'05 GS woodgrain steering wheel (harder to find ones have e-shift) and install an '03-'05 (?, please verify) RX300 airbag! Yes, the airbag from the particular year(s) RX300 plugs into (complete plug 'n' play) the '98-'00 GS AND fits the new(er) styled '01-'05 GS woodgrain steering wheels! So, this combo will work 100% as it's meant to and look completely OEM.
The only thing that prevents MANY from doing this...is cost. The woodgrain steering wheel usually runs around $600-$800 bucks and even a USED RX300 airbag could run up to $400 bucks. So there is a potential of $1200 bucks; just for a new steering wheel. This is what prevents many from doing this mod...where they simply send their wheel in to get it re-wrapped with leather (if it's in bad condition).
Rock is right, I forgot about the airbags. 98-00 GS are single stage while 01+ are dual stage. You can install an 01+ steering wheel using 98-00 airbag but it won't look right. The only single stage airbag that would work on a 01+ steering wheel is from a 2001 RX300.
Here is my wheel and airbag setup inside my 98GS400. What do I have and how do I alter it for Eshift? Im wondering now if my airbag is hooked up......hmmm
First off...if I am not mistaken no wood wheel (with e-shift) ALONE will work on a GS400; the airbag portion of the steering wheel will be different. You cannot simply take an '01-'05 GS woodgrain steering wheel w/airbag and slap it on a '98-'00 GS400 the plugs for the airbags are different and I wouldn't suggest modifying something that could one day save your life!
The ONLY way to make this work is to buy a '01-'05 GS woodgrain steering wheel (harder to find ones have e-shift) and install an '03-'05 (?, please verify) RX300 airbag! Yes, the airbag from the particular year(s) RX300 plugs into (complete plug 'n' play) the '98-'00 GS AND fits the new(er) styled '01-'05 GS woodgrain steering wheels! So, this combo will work 100% as it's meant to and look completely OEM.
The only thing that prevents MANY from doing this...is cost. The woodgrain steering wheel usually runs around $600-$800 bucks and even a USED RX300 airbag could run up to $400 bucks. So there is a potential of $1200 bucks; just for a new steering wheel. This is what prevents many from doing this mod...where they simply send their wheel in to get it re-wrapped with leather (if it's in bad condition).
GL!
Now hold the phone there, Rock. Since he already has the correct airbag, all he would need is the wheel right?
Now the only problem is, I've NEVER seen an 01+ wood wheel with E-Shift in Tan. I've only seen them in Black.
If I remember correctly e-shift was only avail on GS300's for 01+. I dont remember if any non SD GS3's were sold with a woodgrain wheel, but it sounds like you've got a pretty good search on your hands. The wheel itself shouldnt be too expensive if you're buying used, Id guess 300-500 max. The airbag is usually the most expensive part, but lets cross our fingers that the prev owner sourced a single stage bag.
Id even consider recovering a SD wheel if the wood is the right color. Just get a shop to restitch the leather. Looks like that may be my only option or go back to a stock ugly wheel. But Im not putting out no $$$$ for a stocker.
Now hold the phone there, Rock. Since he already has the correct airbag, all he would need is the wheel right?
Now the only problem is, I've NEVER seen an 01+ wood wheel with E-Shift in Tan. I've only seen them in Black.
Well, that is an assumption if you are talking about the pic above. It is a correct sized airbag for THAT steering wheel but if that airbag isn't from an '01 RX then most likely it is (was) simply from a '01+ GS which then in turn isn't a single stage airbag (which the '98-'00 GS needs).
Everything "looks" OEM in his pic above because theoretically everything bolts (hardware) up just fine.
It is a REAL PITA to get it all looking and working right. IIRC, there was a CL member about 1-2 years ago selling a COMPLETE black leather/wood steering wheel in mint condition WITH e-shift AND WITH the appropriate single stage RX airbag for, I think, $1300 bucks. I was salivating, but it was too expensive for me at the time.