F430 Steering Wheel Crease

That crease is in the airbag. It’s probably the seam where the two halves split apart when the airbag deploys.


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That is also a custom wheel, I wonder if they caused the crease when they tried to wiggle the airbag off the wheel; pulled too hard on one side or the other causing the 2 halves to move a bit.

Actually, I don't wonder. I am confident is what happened. I have not seen a crease in any F430 I saw before with stock steering wheels.

 

It either happened during the wheel swap or someone mashed the center in thinking it's where the horn was. Should only be cosmetic but a little heat or steam may help relax it back. Small chance the break point was compromised so it will always be like this. Safety speaking, that doesn't affect deployment.

 

Hello,

I disagree, this is not a custom wheel.
My F430 has the factory carbon fiber driver's zone package and my wheel is identical to the one being discussed here.
I am 100% positive that it is original and has never been replaced.
It also has the crease mentioned here but I never even noticed it until I took the attached picture a few minutes ago.

Regards,

Les
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That looks identical to the MAcarbon wheel, I still don't believe it. I also have that option, and it's only related to the areas around vents and stereo being CF.

EDIT: The thickness of the top area looks very un-natural for a factory wheel, they would never design that. I think Exoticcargear have the most natural looking CF wheels, with thickness following the OEM design.

 

that being said, I would not hesitate to buy that car if that's the only issue!

 

Hello,

Once again I respectfully disagree.
I too have carbon fiber around the vents and stereo.
But I also have the steering wheel carbon fiber as we have discussed and the instrument cluster and paddle shifters are also factory carbon fiber.
Again, I am 100% positive that all these items were factory installed and have never been changed.
Perhaps there were two options available, what is on your car and what is on mine.

Regards,

Les

 

Maybe option was different depending on model year.


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.... that seals the deal. No F430 outside Scuderia came with carbon fiber paddles to my knowledge, hence your car is not original, hence the Steering wheel is not original, and who knows what else on your car.

 

... just kidding. Enjoy it , who gives a f**k if those are oem or not, great cars to have!

 

The carbon wheel with red 12 o'clock stripe was part of the MY2008 (at least in England) optional full carbon driving zone pack. The 'full' pack comprised of steering wheel, vents/hvac/radio, and paddles.

 

Since there's a bit of a debate going on, I'll add my 2c here — those are genuine Ferrari F430 carbon steerings wheels.

They formed part of the "Upper Carbon Driver Zone" (option code CIDZ) which also included carbon shift paddles and carbon instrument cluster inlay. There was also a much rarer "Lower Carbon Driver Zone" (CILZ) which consisted of a complete carbon fibre centre console structure (similar-ish to the Scuderia's). These extended carbon-fibre options were available under the "Carrozzeria Scaglietti" personalisation programme.

@Mario Andretti what you're thinking of is the more common carbon fibre dashboard and centre console inserts which fall under the TRIM option code, seperately. Initial buyers had the choice of either silver aluminium or carbon fibre for these touch surface pieces. Understandably, most F430 buyers around the world opted for the carbon fibre look, since the painted silver trim can look a little "Fischer-Price", but I digress.

OP, in regards to the crease itself: it is the airbag tear seam and a cosmetic issue only. Judging by your username; you may already know that Porsche 997 gen steering wheels suffer badly from this too; particularly the round airbag of the 3 spoke sports wheel, where they crease down the middle and around the crest. Again, a cosmetic issue only.

Tbf I've never seen one go that bad, but I suppose it could be a batch issue with the leather. Perhaps climate has an impact here, I don't know. But if it bothers you that much, you could always replace the airbag unit entirely for one in better condition. That said, I certainly wouldn't turn down a car because of it! The carbon driver zone is a rare option and looks very cool.

 

It seems to be more pronounced in the picture from the OP than my 2009 which I know does have the factory carbon wheel with stripe and carbon paddles. I also never noticed there is a line where the airbag changes angles, it's very subtle but seems to no be so subtle on the OPs picture. My guess is the leather shrank on that airbag and made it very obvious.

Here is a pic of my OEM wheel before I put my CF cup holder in, so this is all factory carbon and as per my window sticker, I have both "Carbon Fibre for Driving Zone" and "Carbon Fibre for Lower Cabin Zone"

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Good shot. You can see the centre console is entirely CF as opposed to just the top inlay. Also forgot to mention you get carbon inner door mouldings and door entry strips as part of the Carbon Lower Cabin Zone package. Lovely interior that CoreyNJ! Extended carbon works so well with Nero leather. Compliments, rather than clashes imo.

 

I think what is included in the package must have changed over the years. My 05 has the “CARBON FIBER FOR DRIVING ZONE CIDZ” and that’s just the vent/radio surround - no wheel, cluster or paddles. I also don’t see “TRIM” on the 2006 options sheet either.

Perhaps they split the option out into two separate options in later years.

 

Did they offer “Carbon Fibre for the lower cabin zone” in the 2005/2006? Maybe that is what came with the steering wheel center console top and the door threshold pieces.

 

yes. At least it’s on my 2006 options order sheet but I don’t know what pieces it may have included.

 

My spec sheet says (it's a 2005) "Carbon fiber for driving zone" , they might have changed it later years ? or added the "lower" option. I always thought the cars I see with CF wheels have them done aftermarket...

 

They did change the pack over the years. The wheel and console for example came later on.

 

Thanks, here is another older money shot. I really love the OEM carbon door sills. I really need to take new interior pics, these are like 3 years+ old now....

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The options list I have is for the UK from March 2006 onwards. It’s not uncommon for Ferrari to revise their packages over the years, so I agree it could just be a change like that. AFAIK, the carbon sills, steering wheel etc were not available in 2005.

Sorry for the confusion, just to clarify here; you wont see "TRIM" as an option code anywhere or listed on your US spec stickers. It’s an internal code on Ferrari's Modis system.
A bit like “INST” is the internal code for which color Rev counter the initial buyer chose (Rosso, Giallo, Bianco). As an example; a European VIN 2007 blue F430 with tan leather would show on Modis like this:

• Exterior: Blu NART
• Interior: Cuoio (4609)
• Carpets: Nuovo Cuoio
• CALY: Yellow brake callipers
• CCMD: Carbon-ceramic brake discs
• CDCH: 6-disc CD changer
• EXT1: Fire extinguisher
• INST: Giallo rev counter
• LOGO: Scuderia Ferrari shields
• RUF1: Leather headliner
• SHF2: Leather rear shelf / door mould
• TRIM: Carbon-fibre dashboard inserts

 

OK, back to the OP question.

Here are close ups I took yesterday, ignore the dust I haven't driven the car or taken it out of the garage in over a week while I was on a short vacation. While in some light you can see the transition line in the air bag, you can't see it most of the time and it's barely perceivable when you run your hand over it other than the change in angle of the airbag shape. I hope that makes sense how I'm describing it.

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