Gear Shifter cover came off..warranty?
#1
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Gear Shifter cover came off..warranty?
So I've had my used 2005 for about 6 months and this is what happened over the weekend. There are 4 tabs that hold the cover in place and the rear and right side broke off. I noticed it lifting up before but eventually the plastic tabs broke. Can this be covered under warranty?
![](http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n162/aznmode/IMAGE_080.jpg)
#2
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'04 Mars Red C230K Sport Coupe (not Coup-EH)
I would think so. A similar thing happened with my brother's manual; I pulled up to go into reverse, and the whole knob plus surrounding plastic came with it
They replaced the entire assembly under warranty. It shouldn't be a problem.
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#3
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Great. Thanks for the reply. I will take it in tomorrow. The part itself is $77 from the dealer. Still not too bad if they don't wanna cover it.
#4
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Midnight Blue 2004.5 C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan. 2002 w210 E320, 2009 w211 E350 Sport
If you're still under warranty, that should be covered. That's the weirdest thing I've seen. The clips must've broken off.
#5
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Ya the clips on the rear and right side broke off. Looks to be 4 total including front and left side. At first the rear started lifting. Pushed down on it and thought I fixed it. Then eventually it lifted off completely and when it did I noticed the right side clip was breaking off. Rear was completely broken off already.
#6
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2005 C Wagon (No snickering please!)
Those bezels break all the time, and are covered under warranty. Make sure when they replace it the switch still says C and S. The cause is the leather shift boot is a bit stiff. A little hyde food (or other leather conditioner) should soften it up, unless you can find an Eskimo woman to chew it for you. Those with wood interiors will find that the area around the bezel cracks as well, but might not be visible on the surface for quite a while.
That Aquamarine interior in the photo is cool. Reminds me of a 55 T-Bird.
That Aquamarine interior in the photo is cool. Reminds me of a 55 T-Bird.
#7
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2002 C230 coupe , NOt THE AVATAR!!
yup, my is broken too.. for the front tab tho, they are made of cheapest and thinnest plastic so MB can save a few more buck on making a C-class
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#9
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Ya those 4 tabs are really thin. It will break again once I get it replaced. Moviela is right in that the leather is very stiff and I think they didn't put enough to give it more slack when shifting from P to D and vice versa. I might try to get something to soften it up to prevent this from happening after I get it replaced. Or maybe try to stretch it out.
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2002 C230 coupe , NOt THE AVATAR!!
#13
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This small issue among others has been driving me nuts.
All but one tab had broken, (and now there are none)
Had a little time on my hands the last few days,
and here's the result.
![](https://mbworld.org/forums/attachments/c-class-w203/127546d1207202479-gear-shifter-cover-came-off-warranty-shift-bezel-repair.jpg)
As you can see, I used ordinary paper clips...well, I wandered through the hardware store at first looking for a suitable material.
In the end, I drilled some very small holes in the back plastic piece holding the boot, and threaded paper clips through, bending the ends outward, and putting a little super glue on them to keep them in place in the holes.
At 1st I was trying to make it so it woul pop off, but in the end, I abondoned that idea. To remove the bezel, you know have to remove the shift knob, and the trim panel, which is no biggie.
Saved myself 100 bucks. It's nice and tight now, sits flat and I can remove it if I need to. Lexol'd up the boot so it doesn't pull too hard. I resisted the urge to glue the bezel to the trim piece.
Happy Motoring!
All but one tab had broken, (and now there are none)
Had a little time on my hands the last few days,
and here's the result.
![](https://mbworld.org/forums/attachments/c-class-w203/127546d1207202479-gear-shifter-cover-came-off-warranty-shift-bezel-repair.jpg)
As you can see, I used ordinary paper clips...well, I wandered through the hardware store at first looking for a suitable material.
In the end, I drilled some very small holes in the back plastic piece holding the boot, and threaded paper clips through, bending the ends outward, and putting a little super glue on them to keep them in place in the holes.
At 1st I was trying to make it so it woul pop off, but in the end, I abondoned that idea. To remove the bezel, you know have to remove the shift knob, and the trim panel, which is no biggie.
Saved myself 100 bucks. It's nice and tight now, sits flat and I can remove it if I need to. Lexol'd up the boot so it doesn't pull too hard. I resisted the urge to glue the bezel to the trim piece.
Happy Motoring!
![drive](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/driving.gif)
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; 04-03-2008 at 02:18 AM.
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DFWdude (12-15-2019)
#14
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
This small issue among others has been driving me nuts.
All but one tab had broken, (and now there are none)
Had a little time on my hands the last few days,
and here's the result.
![](https://mbworld.org/forums/attachments/c-class-w203/127546d1207202479-gear-shifter-cover-came-off-warranty-shift-bezel-repair.jpg)
As you can see, I used ordinary paper clips...well, I wandered through the hardware store at first looking for a suitable material.
In the end, I drilled some very small holes in the back plastic piece holding the boot, and threaded paper clips through, bending the ends outward, and putting a little super glue on them to keep them in place in the holes.
At 1st I was trying to make it so it woul pop off, but in the end, I abondoned that idea. To remove the bezel, you know have to remove the shift knob, and the trim panel, which is no biggie.
Saved myself 100 bucks. It's nice and tight now, sits flat and I can remove it if I need to. Lexol'd up the boot so it doesn't pull too hard. I resisted the urge to glue the bezel to the trim piece.
Happy Motoring!
![drive](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/driving.gif)
All but one tab had broken, (and now there are none)
Had a little time on my hands the last few days,
and here's the result.
![](https://mbworld.org/forums/attachments/c-class-w203/127546d1207202479-gear-shifter-cover-came-off-warranty-shift-bezel-repair.jpg)
As you can see, I used ordinary paper clips...well, I wandered through the hardware store at first looking for a suitable material.
In the end, I drilled some very small holes in the back plastic piece holding the boot, and threaded paper clips through, bending the ends outward, and putting a little super glue on them to keep them in place in the holes.
At 1st I was trying to make it so it woul pop off, but in the end, I abondoned that idea. To remove the bezel, you know have to remove the shift knob, and the trim panel, which is no biggie.
Saved myself 100 bucks. It's nice and tight now, sits flat and I can remove it if I need to. Lexol'd up the boot so it doesn't pull too hard. I resisted the urge to glue the bezel to the trim piece.
Happy Motoring!
![drive](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/driving.gif)
#15
MBWorld Fanatic!
The only problem for me, might be if I take for service somewhere and they don't know to pull the trim panel and the shift knob (which takes all of 30 seconds)
#16
Question
My clips broke off. I have a 2005 C230. The pic you are showing is the plastic gear shift cover and the console area it sits flush on? Or is that the whole cover and its different from the 2005?
This small issue among others has been driving me nuts.
All but one tab had broken, (and now there are none)
Had a little time on my hands the last few days,
and here's the result.
![](https://mbworld.org/forums/attachments/c-class-w203/127546d1207202479-gear-shifter-cover-came-off-warranty-shift-bezel-repair.jpg)
As you can see, I used ordinary paper clips...well, I wandered through the hardware store at first looking for a suitable material.
In the end, I drilled some very small holes in the back plastic piece holding the boot, and threaded paper clips through, bending the ends outward, and putting a little super glue on them to keep them in place in the holes.
At 1st I was trying to make it so it woul pop off, but in the end, I abondoned that idea. To remove the bezel, you know have to remove the shift knob, and the trim panel, which is no biggie.
Saved myself 100 bucks. It's nice and tight now, sits flat and I can remove it if I need to. Lexol'd up the boot so it doesn't pull too hard. I resisted the urge to glue the bezel to the trim piece.
Happy Motoring!
![drive](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/driving.gif)
All but one tab had broken, (and now there are none)
Had a little time on my hands the last few days,
and here's the result.
![](https://mbworld.org/forums/attachments/c-class-w203/127546d1207202479-gear-shifter-cover-came-off-warranty-shift-bezel-repair.jpg)
As you can see, I used ordinary paper clips...well, I wandered through the hardware store at first looking for a suitable material.
In the end, I drilled some very small holes in the back plastic piece holding the boot, and threaded paper clips through, bending the ends outward, and putting a little super glue on them to keep them in place in the holes.
At 1st I was trying to make it so it woul pop off, but in the end, I abondoned that idea. To remove the bezel, you know have to remove the shift knob, and the trim panel, which is no biggie.
Saved myself 100 bucks. It's nice and tight now, sits flat and I can remove it if I need to. Lexol'd up the boot so it doesn't pull too hard. I resisted the urge to glue the bezel to the trim piece.
Happy Motoring!
![drive](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/driving.gif)
#19
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I drive a Toyota Hybrid...
#20
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Same thing happened to me, i was quoted 127 just for the part. I almost did it but I tried super glueing it and it was perfect after. Its been going good with no issues for 5 months now.
#23
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2016 E350 Sport
This small issue among others has been driving me nuts.
All but one tab had broken, (and now there are none)
Had a little time on my hands the last few days,
and here's the result.
![](https://mbworld.org/forums/attachments/c-class-w203/127546d1207202479-gear-shifter-cover-came-off-warranty-shift-bezel-repair.jpg)
As you can see, I used ordinary paper clips...well, I wandered through the hardware store at first looking for a suitable material.
In the end, I drilled some very small holes in the back plastic piece holding the boot, and threaded paper clips through, bending the ends outward, and putting a little super glue on them to keep them in place in the holes.
At 1st I was trying to make it so it woul pop off, but in the end, I abondoned that idea. To remove the bezel, you know have to remove the shift knob, and the trim panel, which is no biggie.
Saved myself 100 bucks. It's nice and tight now, sits flat and I can remove it if I need to. Lexol'd up the boot so it doesn't pull too hard. I resisted the urge to glue the bezel to the trim piece.
Happy Motoring!
![drive](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/driving.gif)
All but one tab had broken, (and now there are none)
Had a little time on my hands the last few days,
and here's the result.
![](https://mbworld.org/forums/attachments/c-class-w203/127546d1207202479-gear-shifter-cover-came-off-warranty-shift-bezel-repair.jpg)
As you can see, I used ordinary paper clips...well, I wandered through the hardware store at first looking for a suitable material.
In the end, I drilled some very small holes in the back plastic piece holding the boot, and threaded paper clips through, bending the ends outward, and putting a little super glue on them to keep them in place in the holes.
At 1st I was trying to make it so it woul pop off, but in the end, I abondoned that idea. To remove the bezel, you know have to remove the shift knob, and the trim panel, which is no biggie.
Saved myself 100 bucks. It's nice and tight now, sits flat and I can remove it if I need to. Lexol'd up the boot so it doesn't pull too hard. I resisted the urge to glue the bezel to the trim piece.
Happy Motoring!
![drive](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/driving.gif)
#24
MBWorld Fanatic!
Yeah, that's one thing I haven't had to worry about in more than 10 years....
And Ive had the panel out several times, to tap into power
or do stuff related to the stereo...
And Ive had the panel out several times, to tap into power
or do stuff related to the stereo...