Replacing leather boot on a 2005 C230
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 323
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles, CA. USA
2013 c250
Replacing leather boot on a 2005 C230
I can't believe I can't find a simple DIY for this. From what I gather, you need to lift the hole freaking gear box out by prying it off from the ashtray. I don't wanna do that! I've cut the leather skirt pretty much off, and I know how to remove the gear shifter ***. Is there a way to reattach the new leather boot to the bottom of the gear shifter?
Thx,
Thx,
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,067
Likes: 11
From: Westwood, NJ
2004 Civic Si. FWD for the Win!
Sure, there are lots of ways to redo your boot. Anything you do will have to be custom, though, if you're not just replacing with another oem piece. One way to avoid this would be to put an aftermarket knob on that is available with a boot that can attach directly to it.
If you're trying to connect an aftermarket boot to the stock knob, good luck. Depending on the job that it is done, it will look from somewhat sh*tty to completely sh*tty.
I have no idea why you would be afraid to lift the center console trim, it just lifts up from in front of the ashtray - you don't need to do anything other than lift it, and it doesn't affect anything else. If you don't, attaching the bottom of the boot to it and have it be a successful operation will be nearly impossible.
What I have is a boot that has a finishing plastic trim piece at the top, so that it doesn't attach to the knob, but looks fine. But I also have an aftermarket knob that is lower than stock, so it kind of hides the gap between the knob and the top of the boot.
No matter what, you'll have to be creative with things. But there have been posts about peoples' solutions (including a long one on the "paper clip method" for reattaching your boot at the bottom, so maybe you didn't use the best search terms?
). And I know that I've responded to questions like yours time and time again here. But the answer is you'll probably have to take a couple of cracks at it until you get a solution that works to your aesthetic. Good luck.
If you're trying to connect an aftermarket boot to the stock knob, good luck. Depending on the job that it is done, it will look from somewhat sh*tty to completely sh*tty.
I have no idea why you would be afraid to lift the center console trim, it just lifts up from in front of the ashtray - you don't need to do anything other than lift it, and it doesn't affect anything else. If you don't, attaching the bottom of the boot to it and have it be a successful operation will be nearly impossible.
What I have is a boot that has a finishing plastic trim piece at the top, so that it doesn't attach to the knob, but looks fine. But I also have an aftermarket knob that is lower than stock, so it kind of hides the gap between the knob and the top of the boot.
No matter what, you'll have to be creative with things. But there have been posts about peoples' solutions (including a long one on the "paper clip method" for reattaching your boot at the bottom, so maybe you didn't use the best search terms?
). And I know that I've responded to questions like yours time and time again here. But the answer is you'll probably have to take a couple of cracks at it until you get a solution that works to your aesthetic. Good luck.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 323
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles, CA. USA
2013 c250
I've read the paperclip method. NOPE.
I've got a leather boot pretty close to OEM so I'd think there was a mainstream way of doing this. Apparently, taking the whole part off is step one. Actually, is disconnecting the battery a necessity here? I feel like the bottom of the boot should snap into the gear box around it right? Otherwise, F it, I'm going w/ crazy glue.
I've got a leather boot pretty close to OEM so I'd think there was a mainstream way of doing this. Apparently, taking the whole part off is step one. Actually, is disconnecting the battery a necessity here? I feel like the bottom of the boot should snap into the gear box around it right? Otherwise, F it, I'm going w/ crazy glue.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 54
Likes: 1
From: Portland, Oregon
W203 C320, W208 CLK 320, w209 CLK 500
From what I'm understanding you don't want to take the plastic gear selector indicator out? If you do that then reassembling the whole thing with the new boot will be much easier. You can remove the whole center console trim piece that it is attached to by just prying up from the front of it and it pops right out, the gear selector plastic piece then just pops off of the trim piece and the electrical connector needs to be unplugged. You can then put the whole thing together and stick it back in the way you pulled it out. The battery does not need to be disconnected to remove this, I'm pretty sure the only thing that piece does is light up to show you what gear you're in.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 323
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles, CA. USA
2013 c250
Okay everything is set BUT the knob has a plastic piece that I cannot get off- it's NOT the plastic piece you twist to release the knob. It's what sandwiches the leather boot to the knob- how the heck do you get that off???? With that piece off I can join the knob and boot perfectly at the top and then snap in the bottom
