When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I just read the thread about the gear shift surround and found your post say that you have developed a paperclip method... I am interested as the clips have broken on my 2006 C280. Please provide any info you can...
Funny how no one likes my paper clip trick.
Highly preferable to epoxy! At least I can remove it.
Hello There.
Read a thread just now and I could use your advice suggestion, tutorial on repairing withthe paper clip method.
Can you send me or direct ,me to any more info please.
I just read the thread about the gear shift surround and found your post say that you have developed a paperclip method... I am interested as the clips have broken on my 2006 C280. Please provide any info you can...
Lift up and remove the gear shift surround. You will see the broken tabs. Using super glue/ gorilla glue, attach paper clips to the surround where the broken tabs are. After the glue sets, you will need to experiment with bending the paper clips so that they hold in place.
It may be easier to remove the entire center console (flat surface) and adjust the paper clips to ensure the surround is held in place.
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort (What the heck, it gets 38 mpg!)
I used a drill and drilled very small holes. Used a tiny bit of glue to keep the clips in the holes. Yes, I removed the shift knob and surround and trim piece. Trim piece just pops out.
I used a drill and drilled very small holes. Used a tiny bit of glue to keep the clips in the holes. Yes, I removed the shift knob and surround and trim piece. Trim piece just pops out.
Thanks C230. I used the paper clip method and it worked well enough so that I wont need to spend the $$ on a new shifter chrome plate.....so it can break again.
It was not without a bit of tweaking, because I hadnt enough plastic to drill into since the original tabs snapped quite low down.....BUT, with only 4 clips, it's in and holding and much better than the 'free floating' that I had before. Thanks again.
One tab broke off in my wife's W203, luckily I was able to retrieve the broken piece.
Superglue is no use, it broke at the same place when I tried to put it back.
Then I found some JB Weld (2 part epoxy) in the tool drawer, have been there for years. Drilled a small hole through the tab (used superglue to hold both pieces together), cut a small section off the paper clip and insert in the hole to increase its strength, mixed some JB Weld and glue them back together. Make sure epoxy covers the metal rod insert (from paper clip) completely, epoxy will cure within 5 min.
It has been holding fine for the last few days in 100+ deg weather, saved $150+ from buying a new one.
The tabs on my c230 were broken as well. Tried the paperclips. I guess mine were weak, it popped back up on the first try. So I got 3 cotter pins for $.69. No problems!
Extremely grateful for the forums already. The same problem popped up (or should I say off) on my wifes C240. Looked it up on here, took me more time to get the tools out than it did to do the actual repair. Only one clip was broken, so I just drilled a small hole, and used a small screw (as pictured above) to repair it. Fits nice and snug, and looks great. Beat spending 160 bucks on Ebay for a part that is likely to break anyway.
01-29-2011, 06:57 PM
