First, sorry English is my second language, so its probably gonna be hard for you guys to understand, but i'll try my best to explain the situation.

A few of you might know that i was trying to convert to the newer paddle shifters, so i purchased the paddle shifters from SLK AMG's, and started the project by modifying the left button shifter housing. After a while, i gave up on the modification because I realized it required lots of work, and its impossible for me to get it done. I'll just purchased the paddles from VRUS. But, since the my left button shifter has already been cut, it can no longer be used, so i figured i'll just get a new pair of button shifters.

I was wrong.

I went to this MB dealer (in Automall, Richmond B.C.) and told them i needed a pair of the shifters. They ran my VIN number, and their computer showed the paddle shifters which i was trying to retrofit into. I told them thats not what i want, and showed them the right button shifter that was untouched. They started asking me if I bought the car brand new, and have I swapped the steering wheel by any chance. I told them i bought the car new from them, and i never changed the steering wheel. They said that was strange, according to their computer, I should have had the paddles instead of buttons. They said give them a few days, they'll have to E-mail their headquarter in Toronto and ask them what happened.

Earlier today, i received a phone call from them. They said they have no idea whats going on. And now this is the ****ty part. They told me that the button shifters cannot be ordered separately, because it is as a part of the steering wheel. The only way i'm going to get the button shifters is to order a new steering wheel, which costs CND1700.

I'm going to try another dealer tomorrow and see if they can order the button shifters separately.
Do you guys have any suggestions on what i should do?

 

Wait so the system says your replacement part is a paddle shifter?

 

Thats what they told me

 

I would like to know how they knew that seems like they are snooping on us.

 

This is correct. If you look up the part in the Mercedes EPC system, the paddle shift is the only available part number. The OE button is not listed by part number or description, nor referenced in the picture.

Just continue with the install - it's beautiful when completed. Hopefully you didn't booger the housing too bad - but otherwise it's not too bad of an install.

 

I dont know.. I dont think i have the skill required to make this mod.. plus, once i touch the steering wheel there's no going back!

 

Just to clarify: the 2005 and 2006 model year C55 were the only 2 years the C55 was sold in N. America, and both years came with shifter buttons on the back of the steering wheel.

For the 2007 C55 (sold in the rest of the world only), MB/AMG upgraded to the paddle shifters (like they did for the 2007 SLK55 AMG, and new 2007 E63 AMG).

 

So if this is the case what is different about the steering wheels between the Euro MY07' and the USA MY05,06? Could we perhaps buy the Euro paddles and retrofit?

 

Apparently MB Canada didnt know that.. and now they want to charge 1700 when the part i need only costs like around 100

Does anybody have an extra housing for the left side? I can remove the IC board from the housing, and use the paddles from VRUS when they're out.. dont really want to spend 1700 to get what i had originally.

 

I know my dealer did a SLK55 030 package steering wheel sway with buttons on a C55 here. Saw it in person, was so jealous.

I knew that, but when a model gets upgraded, does MB usually update the parts along with it? Especially if the updated model isn't even sold in the US?

 

or MAYBE i should get the 030 steering wheel

 

Damn for 1700CAD you could get a MB Design Sport steering wheel and VRP paddles..

 

I think i e-mailed them before.. no MP design wheel for C55s/SLK55s

 

That sucks...does the 030 steering wheel fit the bill?

 

I have no idea.. i'll ask another dealer tomorrow for prcing on 030 steering wheel.

 

Did you try Steve from MBenzNL?

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2005-...2em118Q2el1247

 

Wow nice find! thanks! Weird i was looking at Ebay yet i didnt have this on my list

 

This thread is retarded. I installed them without a single issue. I believe the part number I used were of cls shifters. I used the part number mentioned in the e55 thread for the install. No problems whatsoever-

 

Umm.. First of all.. its really no point calling my thread retard. U could've just ignored it, or if you thought its worth your time to post a reply, why not share a part number?

 

this topic has is replete with links if you do a simple search- that's why it is retarded

 

Again, there's no point calling it retarded.

And, I DID search, and thats how i get the idea of swapping the buttons, but I only searched in C55/SLK55 sections, as i thought E55/CLS55 use different steering wheel.

But thank you for informing me to search in E55 section.

 

guess you didn't find the original thread which points there... NP

 

I didn't find your thread either, might be helpful to point it out rather than to bash someone don't ya think?

 

By the way, by this:
Do you mean you didnt do any kind of modification on both the steering wheel and the original button shifter housing?