stizo

Hi guys,
My 1997 e420 sport does not have the wood cover that surrounds the gear shift gate. All 97 w210 seem to come that way. I tried to see if the 98 wood insert would fit but the gear movement in 98 and later model is differnet from the 97 models. In the 98 you just have to pull the gear south and you go from gear 3 to 2. In the 97 you move the gear lever one notch to the right then south. Does any one know if i can find an after market wood trim just for the gear shift gate. Im thinking of ordering the 98 wood trim and doing some chizelling but that sounds messy and I would rather not. Help

E-Klasse

You need one more like the older Benzes have. Look for a wood cover for an older S class W140 or even an older SL or maybe an E class W124 type or W202 C class. They are the same shape. The 98 and newer models changed the shape of the shift notches and the opening for the gear position lense.


This is the shape of a 98+ shift surround...

This is more like the shift patern but the lense for the shift position is not correct unless you have the W/S switch...

stizo

thanks for the help E-Klass

jimmydagreek

Well, all MY97's do not come that way. I believe it was the MY98+ that came that way. Here is a pic. of mine that's black with the added chrome shift surround...

stizo

Lovely gear knob you have there. I have the exact same one but in a lighter shade of grey as my car has very light grey leather. I was considering the crome gate surround too, like the one you have. I have seen a few on ebay but I was not sure how it was going to look. I think the crome gate picks up the crome bottom of the gear knob very nicely. I may go for it if installation is a breeze. How did you install the crome gate. Thanks

Air Marshall Eldritch

Hey, more people with the chrome surround. I see more chrome stuff on ebay alot, such as for the air vents, but I can't tell from the photos if they'd be too cheesy.

jimmydagreek

Thanks for the comps. I bought my chrome shift surround plate from ebay for like $20 bucks. It comes with 3M adhessive tape and installs in a few seconds over the existing black trim without having to take anything apart. I also purposely chose that specific shift knob because of the chrome surround for a nicely matching set...

Air Marshall Eldritch

Jimmy, mine is the same grey, with the chrome piece, and a complete burlwood shiftknob I got right from this forum.

jimmydagreek

Good stuff! Although, mine is really not grey as it looks in the pic. It's actually black (also excuse the dust) like my interior.

Whitey

The chrome on the knob compliments the chrome surround perfectly!

Jimmy, end of the week coming up? How's the bumper looking?

jimmydagreek

I am a little busy this weekend so I think I will have it installed next weekend when it's ready. Will keep you posted...