solaraxis

I have a C240 classic. And it has the cheap plastic feeling shift knob. I was wondering if anyone knows where I can get an original OEM leather wrapped shift knob for cheap. I think that the boot of the knob has to be replaced as well.

Francis

shtatc

I think it depends on if you have an automatic or manual. I beleieve you can easily replace the shift knob on the automatic. However, if you have a manual, like I do, it may be a little tougher. It seems as if the boot and knob are one unit. So, you cannot replace the knob itself.

solaraxis

My C240 is an automatic.

thanks
francis

timorgan

http://www.oberklasse.com/stores/

Do a search for "shift knob".

Tim

pocholin

So, you want to get rid of the cheap plastic shift knob, to buy an OEM leather wrapped cheap too???

oggle

Do you guys have more links to such sites? I tried http://www.oberklasse.com/stores/ but the pictures on that site aren't very good.

Darkman

http://www.formymercedes.com/mb_resu...=Shift%20Knobs

oggle

Don't they have pictures with the knobs at different angles?

CitronC230K_03

the OEM leather wrapped knob may be not the highest quality, but if you wanna keep the OEM look then this is probably the way to go. i would assume that the OEM leather would be a direct replacement. go to the parts dept. and ask them!

TXTiger

Is it even possible to modify the shift knob on a manual transmission? I look at mine and the boot leather goes right up to the shift knob. Has anyone with a manual changed their shift knob?

shtatc

TXTiger,
IMO, I think you cannot replace the shift knob on the manual. I have looked at mine and it seems like the boot and knob are connected as one.

TXTiger

shtatc,
The only way I can see it working is either cutting the current boot and fashioning some way for it to mate up with the new knob, or finding someone that sells a boot designed to work with one of those knobs. I wonder if someone could post a pic of the boot on the automatic with their knob off so we could see what it looks like. Could give us ideas how to make it work?

shtatc

TXTiger,

I think if we took off the centre console, the knob and boot may unscrew off as one piece. Provided the boot is easy to take off from the console. Then we would need to find something that is a one piece unit to replace it. May be more of a hassel, then what it is worth. You know?

Matt230K

Pull up on the boot where it attaches to the console (the rectangle part) until it unsnaps. Then pull it up over the shift knob until you can see a black circle piece below the knob. Turn this piece to loosen it, it doesn't have to come off, just turn it a little bit and it will loosen from the shaft and you can pull the knob straight up and off. Reverse this to put it back on. Then, if you can find a knob with a boot attached then you could replace them both.

pocholin

Cool, at least somebody knows the formula

Matt230K

The automatic on your E55 works the same way, you can see the black knob on the bottom because it isn't covered by the boot. But I know they are now putting a boot even on automatics, so I'm not real sure if it works the same way as the manual. It probably does.

pocholin

it works the same, turn the black piece on the bottom and that's it, except mine doesn't have the boot.

Matt230K

I know yours is the same, i meant i'm not sure if the ones with the boot are the same. I think you have to snap off the boot along with the PRND part and that should have wires attached to it for lighting, so the manual or the automatic without boot are probably easiest to change.

Lynn

tommy's Renntech shift knob and custom boot:

CitronC230K_03

this is the same way the shift knob attached to my stick in my VW. i had to remove the boot. pull it up over the knob as it was attached to the knob and look as if it went underneath. there was a clip i cut from the knob that attached it the stick. the knob and boot then came apart. the replacement knob had a new clip to reattach the boot to the knob this was locked in place when the new knob and boot were back on the stick

TXTiger

Now that we know how to take the boot and knob off........

Anyone have any ideas for how to make a new knob work? Or anyone know a source for a boot to go with a new knob?

Matt230K

There's probably a way to separate the two parts after you take them off, kind of like Citron described on his VW. I haven't tried this, but I would think you could do this and then keep the original boot but with a knew knob. Good luck trying to figure it out. I don't have a problem with mine, so I'm keeping it stock.

Matt230K

I just noticed you have a C240. For you and those with non-C7 coupes, the knob could be a little better in my opinion. But I like the C7 knob. It's just like an SLK knob and feels better.

CitronC230K_03

after i removed the knob and boot from my VW, when i put them pack together, it was pretty much the opposite. you tuck the old boot back under the knob, place the new clip around it and then tighten both the knob and boot to the stick. then you place the boot back in place to the console. thats how i did it in my VW. my friend has an Audi it went the same way. it was an odd set to me when i changed out the knob 2 years ago. i was used to unscrewing it. granted VW and Audi are generally the same it may be worth a look to see if MB has the same kind of set up.

tonewheel

This was a piece of cake on my 04 C230K SS. Replaced the stock knob on my 6-spd with a Momo carbon fiber knob, and kept the stock boot. While everything appears to be in one piece on the stock unit (and is sold that way by MB - knob/boot), the two black nuts under the knob simply twist to unlock; the first nut decures the knob, the second nut secures the boot. Took me all of 15 minutes, and required a pair of large jawed pliers to back off the nuts. Everything else was by hand.

Now the shifter has entirely new feel, with the smaller, smoother knob...and looks much better and harmoniuos with the black and alumnum interior.