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.

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

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

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
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:



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.

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1989 300CE Astralsilber/Schwarz
1992 300CE Schwarz/Schwarz

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.

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Norm in NJ
Next oil change at 230,000miles

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

Check out this link:

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

Click on "Interior Updates"

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1989 300CE Astralsilber/Schwarz
1992 300CE Schwarz/Schwarz