E-Class (W124) 1984-1995: E 260, E 300, E 320, E 420, E 500 (Includes CE, T, TD models)

W203 gearshift mod on the W124

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old Jul 14, 2007 | 07:48 PM
  #1  
ReZzZ320's Avatar
Thread Starter
Banned
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 483
Likes: 0
W203 gearshift mod on the W124

hey guys I was bored and I came across some crazy ideas to modyour W124's interior

Lately I've been reading many threads about people spilling coffee on their shifters so one cool idea that came across was using a shifter boot jus like the W203 C-class. Not only will it improve the car's interior appearance but it will also protect the electronics of the car


I know most of you will have negative replies ready for me but hey I guess I'm being the adventurous guy here willing to butcher his ride to discover new mods for our outdated cars (besides we should be thankful our cars are built to last if kept in proper condition)
Reply
Old Jul 14, 2007 | 07:58 PM
  #2  
Garfunkle_W124's Avatar
Super Member
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 941
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta
1995 S14
Originally Posted by ReZzZ320
hey guys I was bored and I came across some crazy ideas to modyour W124's interior

Lately I've been reading many threads about people spilling coffee on their shifters so one cool idea that came across was using a shifter boot jus like the W203 C-class. Not only will it improve the car's interior appearance but it will also protect the electronics of the car


I know most of you will have negative replies ready for me but hey I guess I'm being the adventurous guy here willing to butcher his ride to discover new mods for our outdated cars (besides we should be thankful our cars are built to last if kept in proper condition)
Not a bad idea. Where can these be found? Just today I dropped 50 cents into the "grand canyon" as I like to call it.
Reply
Old Jul 14, 2007 | 09:20 PM
  #3  
ReZzZ320's Avatar
Thread Starter
Banned
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 483
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Garfunkle_W124
Not a bad idea. Where can these be found? Just today I dropped 50 cents into the "grand canyon" as I like to call it.
like ur sense of humor
Reply
Old Jul 14, 2007 | 09:51 PM
  #4  
Garfunkle_W124's Avatar
Super Member
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 941
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta
1995 S14
Originally Posted by ReZzZ320
like ur sense of humor
Thanks chief. I like your creativity
Reply
Old Jul 14, 2007 | 09:53 PM
  #5  
DarkHand's Avatar
Super Member
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 520
Likes: 0
1994 White an Grey E320 "Shado"
Had to go digging in mine after the few dimes that spilled from the ash tray.
So would be intrested in a "non-lethal" design idea to keep out the errant change, dustball, crumpled straw paper etc etc...
Reply
Old Jul 14, 2007 | 10:18 PM
  #6  
ZedStyle's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,647
Likes: 8
Youngtimer
did this on my previous car. it worked great, because on the dash it had a display of what gear i was in. on the w124 though, if you cover the area up with a boot you cover up the only way to see what gear you're in. not a huge problem since by now we know how many 'clicks' before you hit 'D', but something to keep in mind.
Reply
Old Jul 15, 2007 | 07:43 AM
  #7  
ReZzZ320's Avatar
Thread Starter
Banned
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 483
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by ZedStyle
did this on my previous car. it worked great, because on the dash it had a display of what gear i was in. on the w124 though, if you cover the area up with a boot you cover up the only way to see what gear you're in. not a huge problem since by now we know how many 'clicks' before you hit 'D', but something to keep in mind.
care to share more details???

Actually there is a simple way around it. Usually involves installing copper contacts on each gate to light up an external display.

I'm currently trying to get past the initial design stage and see how it should look.
Reply
Old Jul 15, 2007 | 10:33 AM
  #8  
Garfunkle_W124's Avatar
Super Member
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 941
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta
1995 S14
Well i am interested as soon as someone gets all the details.
Reply
MB World Stories

The Best of Mercedes & AMG

story-0

7 Craziest Things AMG Gas Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jul 15, 2007 | 02:41 PM
  #9  
ZedStyle's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,647
Likes: 8
Youngtimer
Originally Posted by ReZzZ320
care to share more details???

Actually there is a simple way around it. Usually involves installing copper contacts on each gate to light up an external display.

I'm currently trying to get past the initial design stage and see how it should look.
okay, it looks crap in these pics, this was when i first started trying (i made the shift boot myself from scratch using a sheet of vinyl that was the same color as my leather), but sold the car soon after so don't have how it looks when it was totally done, but you'll get the idea:




also, the car came with a big double-din, so when i put in the new head unit instead of getting one of those cheap kits with a pocket underneath i retro-fitted cupholders from another car:




also routed a cable from the aux input to the ashtray for mp3 players etc.:




i cut out the space behind the arm rest and put my sub in there, used to sound sweet (of course this can never work in our cars with the fuel tank):








i'm all about doing this type of thing but so far haven't on the benz. your idea of the contacts will work, maybe one of these days when i get time i'll mess with doing something like that too... i've become very lazy these days!

Last edited by ZedStyle; Jul 15, 2007 at 02:46 PM.
Reply
Old Jul 15, 2007 | 08:26 PM
  #10  
ReZzZ320's Avatar
Thread Starter
Banned
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 483
Likes: 0
that gearshift must be really cold to get this much cladding lol

I guess the interest in the W124 forum is more obvious but both have the same gearshift design

if anyone can help me source a used w203 gearshift controller I could get cracking
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2007 | 05:23 PM
  #11  
2PHAST's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,213
Likes: 5
From: Kirkland, WA
500E Signal Rot
I have a W203 knob on a W202 shift shaft. I originally had the entire W203 shifter assembly, looked into trying to reto the entire setup, no go. Looked at a retro of just the shift boot, again, no go. These items are just too different to be usable on the W124. Other shift boots though, might be a better choice.




More pictures here on the retro-fit.

http://www.2phast.com/500e/interior.htm
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2007 | 11:15 PM
  #12  
ZorroAMG's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,491
Likes: 2
From: Vancouver, BC
Enzo, my Benzo
No offense but I HATE the look of a leather shift boot on an auto...the simple factory design is MUCH nicer....that makes it look cluttered and bloated.

My $0.02
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2007 | 06:27 PM
  #13  
ReZzZ320's Avatar
Thread Starter
Banned
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 483
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by 2PHAST
I have a W203 knob on a W202 shift shaft. I originally had the entire W203 shifter assembly, looked into trying to reto the entire setup, no go. Looked at a retro of just the shift boot, again, no go. These items are just too different to be usable on the W124. Other shift boots though, might be a better choice.




More pictures here on the retro-fit.

http://www.2phast.com/500e/interior.htm
wow nice man what was the reason that didn't make the mod work???

and what other shifter boots do you reccomend that we can use instead??

Last edited by ReZzZ320; Jul 17, 2007 at 06:31 PM.
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2007 | 08:13 PM
  #14  
2PHAST's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,213
Likes: 5
From: Kirkland, WA
500E Signal Rot
The boot is tapered to fit the gear frame of the W203 and thus is not the right size for the W124. Plus, there is really no way to attach it.

The W203 gear frame is all electronic and no way to use it on our cars. Of course, where there is a will, there is a way, but it would not be a easy mod.

I don't have any suggestions for boots. With the W202 shift rod and W203 knob, there really isnt enough space for a boot.
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2007 | 05:43 PM
  #15  
ReZzZ320's Avatar
Thread Starter
Banned
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 483
Likes: 0
that would be the challenge
Reply
Old Jan 19, 2013 | 05:41 AM
  #16  
ermal1's Avatar
Newbie
 
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
C CLASS W203
Hello!
I'm a new user here
please can you tell me where did you bought this set of gear cover for W203?
thanks
Reply

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:22 PM.

story-0
7 Craziest Things AMG Gas Ever Built

Slideshow: Sometimes AMG builds fast sedans. Other times, it builds twin-turbo V12 land missiles and six-wheeled off-road monsters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 17:59:58


VIEW MORE
story-1
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes-AMG's new electric GT 4-Door Coupe trades combustion for software, synthetic noise, and more than 1,100 horsepower.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 20:08:15


VIEW MORE
story-2
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-3
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-4
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-5
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-6
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-7
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-8
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE