I have a 2005 LS430 UL with the Black interior and dark wood trim. I noticed the steering wheel appears to be a lighter shade of wood than the other trim pieces. I did a search on the web for more photos and found a similar car with a similar configuration.

Do any CL members notice the same thing on their cars?

Image from:
http://www.automotive.com/auto-shows...-interior.html

 

the photo above is a NEW car from the autoshow in California back in 2005. My steering wheel looks like that one.

 

As far as I know the steering wheel wood trim was a dealer option, like in the RX models, so the wood grain/color isn't the same as it's not from the same tree.

 

The wood steering wheel, if option, was on every single LS430. I've never seen one single LS430 without wood steering wheel. I think it was just an issue with Lexus (and still happens to this day) with not varnishing the wheels the same as the other trim. I have the same interior and my wheel matches okay, but my passenger's side trim is off color.

Bad on Lexus, but it's common and well document here on the forum. There are many out there with this "issue." Nothing much you can do short of going around and swapping the wheel out with another LS. Getting a new one won't guarantee a color or texture match either.

I read where someone removed the polish and revarnished to get it to match better, but that would probably be only solution at this point.

 

It happens to alot of the UL's your steering wheel was'nt replaced lexus for some odd reason can't seem to get the match right or just don't want to...or maybe it's a problem with which plant manufactured your car.

Don't worry your not the first & not the last....my perspective is that they turn due to sun rays but hey that's just my guess.

Check the link.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...installed.html

 

Replacement is not usually the problem. This is a common problem found in MANY, and i mean MANY Lexus wooden wheels (i have it on both my current GS, and previous LS.)

It might be due to production procedure where the wheel is added later, causing the slight mismatch. It might also be due to the nature of the wheel being most exposed to the sun and other elements (like your hands) on a constant basis.

I must admit that sometimes its more obvious then others where it can take a few weeks, months for you to spot the slight shade difference.

 

Thanks for the link. Mine looks JUST LIKE THAT. The replacement in that thread looks 100x's better! Didn't see a price or source of the replacement steering wheel however...

 

That wheel is $600 prior to domestic shipping inside japan & then another $50 to ship from japan-minus tax & paypal fees...i was a split second from getting it for myself but i decided it's not worth it.

What you can do if it bothers you that much is get someone to do a water transfer so they can get it close but even that's not a gauranteed soloution.

 

I think my steering wheel and shift **** are slightly different colors than the trim.

 

you all need to check out car-parts.com and get a wood steering to match for half of what a dealer charges and less then that company in Japan. Get your VIN number and they will be able to tell you if it is a match or not. that is how I got mine.

good luck
tkh

 

Yes, dont listen to anyone that is the original steering wheel, for some odd reason even when it was BRAND NEW they never really matched up the wood 100%, if you search you'll see that many other people have that same question/problem!

 

Funny how the one poster immediately figured your car was in an accident and your wheel had to be replaced.

Bonafyd's reference to Rev1's post is right on. My steering wheel doesn't match the rest of my trim as well. Because of that, I too got a similar replacement steering wheel that Rev1 posted but instead a Grazio&Co one, so unfortunately I had to pay a little more.

I personally like the feel of the new one.

 

I have the white interior and gray wood. My steering wheel is not quite gray either.

 

Just bought a new Lexus wheel, replacing a 22 year old wheel. Wondering if the wood on the wheel fades from the sun over time as the new one more closely matches my California Walnut interior wood.

 

There are a lot of Dubai suppliers with the darker wood on eBay