Rather than struggle with removing the air bag and steering wheel I finally gave in and took my '97 E320 with the flopping turn signal/cruise control unit to my local MB indie shop. What he found is that the bracket that attached the shroud to the column was broken in two places. To correct it by the book would require R &R of the shroud and big bucks for parts and labor. He was able to secure the shroud to the back of the dash with two screws. Sorry, I don't know exactly where he put them because I can't get head down under the dash anymore. You can't tell anything different in appearance and the turn signal and cruise control are solid and work normally.

Sorry I can't be any more precise and offer more detail.

Russ Anderson