Does anyone know how to remove the shift knob from a 97 c280?
I tried twisting that little colar like on a momo knob but nothing happens.
My friend said I there is a screw that is below the shift gate that I have to undo. If this is true anyone know how?

------------------
My name is Joey and I drive a silver car.

Alright Joey, I'll try to help. I have no idea what your shift knob looks like. I have to imagine it is the same design as my '99 SLK was. I replaced mine with as aftermarket real carbon fiber knob.

First, that little "collar" at the bottom of the knob does twist and this is the first step of removal, however, it ony "twists" a quarter of a turn. Counter-clockwise looking down on an installed knob. At this point the collar seems to "hang". you need to push down on this collar (pretty forceibly) as if you are trying to push it down the shaft. The collar will then "snap" off the knob and slide down the shaft. Now simply pull straight up on the knob to remove it, remove the collar from the shaft, and Viola! Please post and let me know if this procedure worked for your knob or if you can help clarify my explanation based on your experience. Paul

------------------
'99 SLK230 (Bahama Blue)
17" O.Z. Racing "Vela" Modular wheels
Real carbon fiber interior
AMG sideskirts
Custom rear wing

'96 Impala SS (Black)
17" Boyd's "Phoenix" wheels
Custom exhaust
Full custom interior(black and purple) with real carbon fiber
Custom intake

'94 Firebird Formula (Turquoise)
17" Antera "Opus One" (three spoke) wheels
Full custom interior
Vortech Supercharger
Other Misc Craziness

Paul,
Thanks for the tip. I'll try it in the morning and let you know if it works.
I guess I was just a little scared to put some force on that little colar deal.
Thanks,

------------------
My name is Joey and I drive a silver car.

So I tried to twist that colar thing off and it wouldnt move. Even tried going the other way and nothing. Looks like im just have to break it in 2 to get it off. Oh wells I'll save that for next time.
Thanks for your help paul.

------------------
My name is Joey and I drive a silver car.

Wait! Dont break anything yet!

There are two "lines" that go around your shiftknob. One is "curvy" and kind of follows the contours of the knob. This is what I was originally trying to pry loose or twist before I figured out how to properly remove the knob. Just below the curvy line there is a straight line. This is actually the break line between the collar and the knob. The collar itself is slightly less than an inch tall. This is the part that needs to be twisted and snaped down the shaft. Before removing it the first time, mine was a little stubborn too. Please let me know if what I'm descibing looks like your shifter. I don't know if my description is unclear or if we have two completely different designs of shiftknobs.

I don't want you to have to change your signiture to "My name is Joey and I drive a silver car without a shiftknob". Paul

paul,
Thanks for your help. I've posted a pic and if you can tell me which one I should be twisting off that would be great. Ive been twisting number 3 but all it seems stuck. I can barely get it to turn either direction. I know a shift knob should be this hard. I could just be missing something.



Once again thanks for your help

------------------
My name is Joey and I drive a silver car.

[This message has been edited by nokia8860 (edited 07-08-2000).]

Yup, definetly two different designs and yup #3 is definetly what you should be twisting if you had an MB knob.

Stupid me, you don't. you have a "Sport". Tell me if I'm wrong, but I think you have an AMG Sport specific knob. At any rate, the shaft design is the same from your car to mine. I know how the MB knob locks onto the shaft and I know that #3 is the lock (although the seperation between the knob and the collar may be between #1 and #2 this would not be my first guess). Try putting a standard screwdriver blade between #2 and #3 and twisting. Do it as far in back as you can with the car in "Low 1" so if the surface gets marred a little bit it won't be so noticeable. The "twist" is not nessecary to execute the lock but the "snap" is. I'm hoping you can get the collar to snap down the shaft. Please post your results. Paul

Paul,
Finally had some time to take the shift knob off. Yup, I just had to twist #3 till it budged then it gets out of the way so you could just pull the shift knob straigt up.
#2 and #3 are both one piece. I think they just put that line there for decoration.
Thanks for you help.
Oh yeah I put on a Momo Alu Comp knob. I had this knob since 92 and just been moving it from one car to the next. Guess you could say it reminds me of my 16v. Ah memories.

------------------
My name is Joey and I drive a silver car.

SUCCESS!!!!!!!

Great! I was begining to think you had given up. You know...after looking at the shot of your interior, I think a Momo "phantom" carbon fiber look and leather knob would look perfect with your Sports' carbon fiber look interior (they are almost a perfect match). I have been using a phantom or a similar design since '94 and think they are the most comfortable. Like I said, I use a real carbon fiber phantom style knob in my current car, so my old Momo is just lying around. I think I could let it go for cheap (free is cheap, isn't it?). Also (because I purchased a whole sheet for my knob) I have little silkscreened AMG logo's to apply to the top of the knob in either charcoal silver or white. If you'd like it, simply email me your address. Either way, I'm glad I could help and enjoy your new look. Paul

Paul,
Free huh? YOU GOT MAIL. hehehehe. Thanks alot for your help.

------------------
My name is Joey and I drive a silver car.

[JOEY] -- You said the Momo knob has been around since your 16V days. I've been looking into changing my stock (1986 2.3-16V) knob for a Momo. However, the stock 16V knob and leather boot are 1-piece. Can you tell me what you did to use the aftermarket Momo knob, and was it a "clean" installation? I was told that I could replace my shifter with an 8V unit, then I could install any aftermarket knob. But, what about the boot? If you don't mind, could you please detail what YOU did?

[PAUL] -- Where did you get your AMG logo decals?

Thanks guys!

Brian

Hey Joey glad to hear you finally got that thing off. Since youve got your old shifter off.I was wondering if how much you would want for your original one if indeed your selling it.I've looking around for ones like that. Please reply a price if your planning to sell it.

Thanks
FA22

Hey Brian,
You're not going to believe this. I was actually looking for some D2 Privat graphics for my SLK, but since I had only done a "limited" amount of bussiness with these folks, they refused to send me some. I began to search for some on my own and ran across a Mercedes CLK GTR Lexan race car R.C. body kit. Since I am familiar with the hobby I already knew these graphics would permanently bond to anything and are as durable as having the graphics silkscreened directly on the piece. The kit (it's just the body and vinyl graphics) is made by a company called "HPI" and the kit # is 7046. It was $24 bucks. The little AMG graphics were a bonus I wasn't expecting. My shift knob has worn one for about 9 months now with no ill effects. 90 degree heat, my sweaty palm, cleaning with Windex all have had no effect. They are about one inch long and three sixteenths tall. You get two of each white, black, bright silver, and smoke silver. Oh, by the way, I mounted the D2 graphics on some adhesive backed real carbon fiber plate and sprayed them with a urathane and they look better than anything D2 themselves would have sent me. I also hand cut some vinyl graphic tape to make a large AMG logo (maybe 2 inches by three quarters of an inch) and mounted it the same way. If anybody is interested in this tedious, time consuming, money gobbling, but satisfing procedure please post and I will try to elaborate. Paul

Brian:Whoops I should have been more clear in my post by 16v I meant my 16v veedub.
As for my OEM knob, Im going to hang on to it. Never know when I'll need an OEM knob.
Paul:Once again many thanks.

------------------
My name is Joey and I drive a silver car.

Would the same procedure apply to the 98 ML?

thanks
steve