GLK-Class (X204) Produced 2008-2014

Paddles or Buttons with a Column Shifter?

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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 12:53 PM
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Paddles or Buttons with a Column Shifter?

If the 2013 GLK has a column shifter, will it have shift paddles or buttons on the steering wheel? How is this implemented on the ML or other models? I wouldn't buy any model if it only allows upshifts & downshifts using the column shifter. Actually, even with buttons or paddles, I still probably won't buy a model with a column shifter.
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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 01:51 PM
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As far as I know all S-class, CL-class and M-class AMG models have paddles with the steering shifter.

We don't have a GLK here in South Africa
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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 01:55 PM
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Originally Posted by slk55er
If the 2013 GLK has a column shifter, will it have shift paddles or buttons on the steering wheel? How is this implemented on the ML or other models? I wouldn't buy any model if it only allows upshifts & downshifts using the column shifter. Actually, even with buttons or paddles, I still probably won't buy a model with a column shifter.
All current M & GL Class models have shift buttons, the stalk is only there to select PRND

Manual mode allows for Up and Down shifting via the steering buttons on the rear of the steering wheel.
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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 02:08 PM
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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 02:24 PM
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What happened to paddle shifters on the 2012 model year? Anyone know what you were supposed to order to get them? I had all packages available for a Canadian model, except navigation, yet no paddles!
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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 02:28 PM
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Originally Posted by slk55er
...Actually, even with buttons or paddles, I still probably won't buy a model with a column shifter.
Don't let the thought of "the column shifter" bother you. It has nothing to do with the shifters of old cars as it is fully electronic and not mechanical. Take a look in any ML, GL, and R. I don't believe you will be disappointed. Also as others have pointed out, you also have upshift/downshift buttons in addition to the stalk. In fact, it isn't possible to upshift/downshift using the stalk.
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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 03:31 PM
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Originally Posted by aggst1
Also as others have pointed out, you also have upshift/downshift buttons in addition to the stalk. In fact, it isn't possible to upshift/downshift using the stalk.
Thank you all for the comforting clarification. I had steering wheel shifters on my SLK55's steering wheel and really appreciated them.
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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 07:08 PM
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Originally Posted by jonnyrt
What happened to paddle shifters on the 2012 model year? Anyone know what you were supposed to order to get them? I had all packages available for a Canadian model, except navigation, yet no paddles!
The sport package is a limited availability time only and I think it was the first 2 months since the the 2012 went into production (nov. to december). It usually cost $765 cad and includes the AMG wheels + the paddle shifters. I am not sure if you can get the paddle shifters now after that promo date.

hope that helps.
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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 09:43 PM
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Originally Posted by jonnyrt
What happened to paddle shifters on the 2012 model year? Anyone know what you were supposed to order to get them? I had all packages available for a Canadian model, except navigation, yet no paddles!
The paddles are coming on the 2013 MY similar to the pic above. You can just make out the paddles just behind the steering wheel in the picture above, which is the new CLS by the way.
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Old Jan 4, 2012 | 08:59 AM
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Originally Posted by MBRedux
The paddles are coming on the 2013 MY similar to the pic above. You can just make out the paddles just behind the steering wheel in the picture above, which is the new CLS by the way.
What am I missing? There are no shift buttions in the photo above. I do see the stalk behind the wheel. The buttons on the wheel match what I have for controlling the phone & volumne.

Wayne
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Old Jan 4, 2012 | 02:10 PM
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Originally Posted by shotgun_banjo
The sport package is a limited availability time only and I think it was the first 2 months since the the 2012 went into production (nov. to december). It usually cost $765 cad and includes the AMG wheels + the paddle shifters. I am not sure if you can get the paddle shifters now after that promo date.

hope that helps.
Hmmmm...that is interesting. My GLK was just made 11/2011 and at the time of picking options, there was no sport package. In Canada, all 2012 GLK's come standard with the AMG appearance package, the only additional option was the AMG rims. Even the Mercedes Benz Canada website says nothing about paddle shifters on the options/specifications eBrochure .....German manufacturers sure do funny stuff like this...

Too bad, this is something I miss from my MkV GTI DSG.
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Old Jan 4, 2012 | 02:52 PM
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Originally Posted by jonnyrt
Hmmmm...that is interesting. My GLK was just made 11/2011 and at the time of picking options, there was no sport package. In Canada, all 2012 GLK's come standard with the AMG appearance package, the only additional option was the AMG rims. Even the Mercedes Benz Canada website says nothing about paddle shifters on the options/specifications eBrochure .....German manufacturers sure do funny stuff like this...

Too bad, this is something I miss from my MkV GTI DSG.
I am sure of it as I helped my coworker buy her GLK and there was a sport package that was offered to us by my salesperson. This package was even advertised on local newspapers when they have the 125th anniversary year promos. All local merc dealers here we called has this package only for those months. I know on the website it doesn't say anything about it but maybe it is a area thing that merc is doing....who knows.....

I think the paddle shifter is just plug and play....so if you really want it you can buy the steering wheel on ebay and just replace yours. You just have to reset the airbag by the dealer.
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Old Jan 5, 2012 | 01:34 PM
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Originally Posted by shotgun_banjo
I am sure of it as I helped my coworker buy her GLK and there was a sport package that was offered to us by my salesperson. This package was even advertised on local newspapers when they have the 125th anniversary year promos. All local merc dealers here we called has this package only for those months. I know on the website it doesn't say anything about it but maybe it is a area thing that merc is doing....who knows.....

I think the paddle shifter is just plug and play....so if you really want it you can buy the steering wheel on ebay and just replace yours. You just have to reset the airbag by the dealer.
More work than it is worth...I really dislike the idea of tearing apart a brand new dash/changing components on a brand new MB. I remember back in my college days, I had an old Cavalier Z24, I must have had that dash apart 10+ times over the years changing/repairing items...no matter how methodic I was putting it back together, something always rattled...
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Old Jan 5, 2012 | 01:44 PM
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Originally Posted by jonnyrt
More work than it is worth...I really dislike the idea of tearing apart a brand new dash/changing components on a brand new MB. I remember back in my college days, I had an old Cavalier Z24, I must have had that dash apart 10+ times over the years changing/repairing items...no matter how methodic I was putting it back together, something always rattled...
Amen Brother! The passenger window on our GLK stops about a 1/4" above the rubber seal. It has been reported to the Dealer. I'm inclined to leave it alone until/unless the door needs to come apart to fix something else. Door panels never seem to back together exactly as they were before removal. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Wayne
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Old Jan 5, 2012 | 04:43 PM
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I do not think the removal of the steering wheel consist of removal of the dashboard check the C-class forums as there are a few threads there about the removal of the steering wheel which is the same steering wheel as our GLK.
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Old Jan 5, 2012 | 05:18 PM
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Originally Posted by shotgun_banjo
I do not think the removal of the steering wheel consist of removal of the dashboard check the C-class forums as there are a few threads there about the removal of the steering wheel which is the same steering wheel as our GLK.
Nope...a lot of the C-class forums that talk about removing the steering wheel also requires a new centre display and wiring modules, which both require disassembling the dash...
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Old Jan 5, 2012 | 05:19 PM
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I think only if you do not have the 3.5 liter engine. I am sure I saw it somewhere there when I was looking at the c-class forum while driving a c-class loaner.
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