Help! How do I replace shift knob on '86 300E (Automatic) ?
 

My dog literally chewed off half of the shift knob. It looks terrible now, and will probably make the car hard to sell. How do I replace the knob? It feels like it may be molded onto the shift lever... please tell me it isn't! What should I do?
Mika

It is molded on to the shaft. To replace it you have to get a knob/shaft combination and then take out some stuff on the console to get to the bottom of the shaft, which is held on with a nut. But there's a much better way - just get a conventional after market gear shift knob - wood or leather - and fasten it on the shaft. How to fasten it? - many ways to do it, I use spacer shims from the hardware store and JB Weld and have never had one loosen on me yet. This is also the cheaper way to go in all likelyhood, unless you find the original style in a salvage yard, and you get a nicer knob. Those original knobs were a strange and dreadful shape.

Check out this link:

http://www.2phast.com/190E/default.htm

Click on "Interior Updates"

You might want to get one of those "rawhide" ones, for the next time your dog is in the car... :vbac47679

Its really not that hard to take of the shifter. The description is on this forum somewhere. It start with two screws underneath the center console carpet. The carpet is not glued on or anything it just comes off.

Once you go through all the steps the nut is at the bottom of the shaft...make not of the orientation of the kink in the shaft, you'll need to remember it when you pu the new one in. It doesn't sit the way you thin it should sit.

You can buy a replacement shaft that accepts any mercedes shift knob from 97-2000 from www.************************ its not on their website you have to call them up. The part #SK33210 but confirm with them. If you want the original you can find it in many places including Ebay cheap.

You're right Yal :thumbsup: :scholar:
I never knew you could do that! Newer shifters are definitely the way to go. So many choices! I have a wood one right now, but always wanted one like this:

http://img99.exs.cx/img99/9414/13363...utblkletha.jpg

I just called them and Richard said that the sk-33210 is for the 1990 and up W124. For the 1989 and under W124 it's part #sk-33124 and it's $15.

Hey Mika,

I just replaced the original knob (and shaft) in my '87 260E with a purty wood one. The original is sitting in the garage doing nothing. It goes with a grey interior. If you'd like it, you can have it for postage cost.

Email me at nglitz @ optonline . net Leave out the anti-spam spaces.

Just went out to the garage to see if I could still find it. I did. It's closer to black than grey. It's worn a little shiny on the top but otherwise it's in good shape. At least there's no tooth marks on it and the price will be right. :)

Thanks, for the part number correction Lino :) Thats a nice shift knob, there are some carbon fiber ones out there that look good too :cool:

Yal:

I wasn't able to find you a carbon fiber shift knob so I made you a custom one
http://img61.exs.cx/img61/2218/13363...202auto1xz.jpg

LOL :D :D :D :cool:
I'll take one!

Not to sound ignorant...but you can really get a wood shift knob for 15 dollars?

$15 is for the adapter (shaft) that you can use to be able to install newer Mercedes shift knobs into the older cars.

That's what I paid for mine :rolleyes: ... on eBay. The seller bought the knob & then sold the car. He didn't seem to care that he lost $ on it. It even came with the shaft, no adapter needed. It's a pretty close match to the Zebrano. I've seen others like it go for $60.

Um yeah..I already told the original poster that if you would read. Lino and I were just providing info for another option if they choose. Especially when changing the ship knob is an involved and risky (if you count the possible cracks in the wood) procedure. If he changes to the shift adapter and the dog decides to chow on the knob again he won't have to go back in there to change it. Logical? Or no?

Its good to know your options wouldnt you say? :rolleyes:

Thanks to everyone, expecially Nglitz who sent me his old shift knob. I got the knob replaced last night without too much trouble. It looks much better now, and I didn't break anything in the process :-)
Mika