Padleshift conversion
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,155
Likes: 14
From: Sydney, Australia
Vath ML63 Brabus C63 SL63 CLK63BS C63BS
Padleshift conversion
After being inspired by a guy on the R63 forum I am going to attempt the conversion of the ****ty gear buttons on the back of my 2007 ML63 steering wheel to much more ergonomic paddleshifters. I have ordered the paddleshifters from MB (A$350) and will be getting them fitted over the next two weeks by the guys at Ramspeed in Sydney, Australia.
Will post the outcome, fingers crossed.
Will post the outcome, fingers crossed.
Last edited by Maverick1975; Jan 27, 2010 at 06:03 AM.
Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 205
Likes: 3
From: Philippines
08 C63, 07 ML63, 92 500E, 70 300SEL 6.3, 63 220 SEB Conv. Sold 02 G500, 97 E50,92 C280,71 280SE 4.5
I was able to do this using paddle shifters for a C63 had to use a rotary tool to enlarge the cavity for the paddles in the steering wheel and had to drill a hole for the securing screw. although i didnt take pictures of the process it was quite doable pm me is you need more info
Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 205
Likes: 3
From: Philippines
08 C63, 07 ML63, 92 500E, 70 300SEL 6.3, 63 220 SEB Conv. Sold 02 G500, 97 E50,92 C280,71 280SE 4.5
go to your C63, close your eyes and make believe your in the SUV 
its the same ! PM reply sent too. good luck'......
its the same ! PM reply sent too. good luck'......
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Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 205
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From: Philippines
08 C63, 07 ML63, 92 500E, 70 300SEL 6.3, 63 220 SEB Conv. Sold 02 G500, 97 E50,92 C280,71 280SE 4.5
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Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 205
Likes: 3
From: Philippines
08 C63, 07 ML63, 92 500E, 70 300SEL 6.3, 63 220 SEB Conv. Sold 02 G500, 97 E50,92 C280,71 280SE 4.5
Hello,
I ordered the Paddles (same as on C63) 204 267 0046 from my local mercedes parts dealer, I then got help to remove the Steering wheel and enlarged the cavity in the steering wheel to accommodate the longer and slightly wider paddle base. I used a dremel rotary tool to remove the excess foam and a little from the aluminium frame of the steering wheel for the base of the fulcrum of the larger paddle.
I then had to drill a hole in the wheel frame to be able to screw and secure the paddle on to the wheel. You will have to use a gum to secure the 2 multi function buttons on the wheel as the hole for the screw to lock this to the wheel are in the same area for the hole for the paddles. This wasn’t a problem to do as the gum and the airbag kept the switches secure ant tight. It took about 4 hours to complete the job. Unfortunately I did not take pictures of the step by step but have pictures of the finished product.
It is definitely worth the time and effort
Good luck
I ordered the Paddles (same as on C63) 204 267 0046 from my local mercedes parts dealer, I then got help to remove the Steering wheel and enlarged the cavity in the steering wheel to accommodate the longer and slightly wider paddle base. I used a dremel rotary tool to remove the excess foam and a little from the aluminium frame of the steering wheel for the base of the fulcrum of the larger paddle.
I then had to drill a hole in the wheel frame to be able to screw and secure the paddle on to the wheel. You will have to use a gum to secure the 2 multi function buttons on the wheel as the hole for the screw to lock this to the wheel are in the same area for the hole for the paddles. This wasn’t a problem to do as the gum and the airbag kept the switches secure ant tight. It took about 4 hours to complete the job. Unfortunately I did not take pictures of the step by step but have pictures of the finished product.
It is definitely worth the time and effort
Good luck
Last edited by jafores; Feb 3, 2010 at 09:53 AM. Reason: added info
Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 92
Likes: 5
Hello,
I ordered the Paddles (same as on C63) 204 267 0046 from my local mercedes parts dealer, I then got help to remove the Steering wheel and enlarged the cavity in the steering wheel to accommodate the longer and slightly wider paddle base. I used a dremel rotary tool to remove the excess foam and a little from the aluminium frame of the steering wheel for the base of the fulcrum of the larger paddle.
I then had to drill a hole in the wheel frame to be able to screw and secure the paddle on to the wheel. You will have to use a gum to secure the 2 multi function buttons on the wheel as the hole for the screw to lock this to the wheel are in the same area for the hole for the paddles. This wasn’t a problem to do as the gum and the airbag kept the switches secure ant tight. It took about 4 hours to complete the job. Unfortunately I did not take pictures of the step by step but have pictures of the finished product.
It is definitely worth the time and effort
Good luck
I ordered the Paddles (same as on C63) 204 267 0046 from my local mercedes parts dealer, I then got help to remove the Steering wheel and enlarged the cavity in the steering wheel to accommodate the longer and slightly wider paddle base. I used a dremel rotary tool to remove the excess foam and a little from the aluminium frame of the steering wheel for the base of the fulcrum of the larger paddle.
I then had to drill a hole in the wheel frame to be able to screw and secure the paddle on to the wheel. You will have to use a gum to secure the 2 multi function buttons on the wheel as the hole for the screw to lock this to the wheel are in the same area for the hole for the paddles. This wasn’t a problem to do as the gum and the airbag kept the switches secure ant tight. It took about 4 hours to complete the job. Unfortunately I did not take pictures of the step by step but have pictures of the finished product.
It is definitely worth the time and effort
Good luck
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,155
Likes: 14
From: Sydney, Australia
Vath ML63 Brabus C63 SL63 CLK63BS C63BS
I got them from Sandersons MB in Sydney, such a great conversion. Paddles are soooo much better!! I ordered C63 paddles, cant remember the part number
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 288
Likes: 2
From: Brisbane, Australia
RR Evoque Dynamic, Benz Valente (work hack)
I found out today my ML63 has rocker buttons installed, even though it's an
AMG and has the + and - little icons on the front of the wheel.
This is why it's changing up and down gear on both sides of the steering wheel
like a normal Benz .
Not sure what I'm going to do as when you do the conversion, you use the existing button but install the new silver shifter on top of it?
AMG and has the + and - little icons on the front of the wheel.
This is why it's changing up and down gear on both sides of the steering wheel
like a normal Benz .
Not sure what I'm going to do as when you do the conversion, you use the existing button but install the new silver shifter on top of it?
Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 205
Likes: 3
From: Philippines
08 C63, 07 ML63, 92 500E, 70 300SEL 6.3, 63 220 SEB Conv. Sold 02 G500, 97 E50,92 C280,71 280SE 4.5
My ML had single function buttons I discarded the old ones enlarged the cavity of the original hole and fitted the new silver paddles worked perfectly I guess you can use the same and just use the downshift wires for the left and upshift wires for the right good luck
Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 85
Likes: 4
08 ML63, 00 ML320
Hey everyone, loving all the information i been looking at about this. I see some of you have done it already to your ML63 but i just wanna make sure i got everything correct before i pull the trigger on this job. I have a 08 ML63 with the plastic up and down shifters on the back and want to ungrade to the aluminum ones, as i see i will need Part #1712670046. To install, remove battery, then i get a long T.30 screwdriver to remove the airbag from the back. Disconnect airbag, remove old shifters....dremel the hole a bit to make new shifters fit right. But when i Plug it in, Does it have the same connecters?. and when i finish is there anything i have to program? Thanks again for all the help guys.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,187
Likes: 239
From: Santa Clara, Ca
2003 SL55 / 2002 SLK32
Hey everyone, loving all the information i been looking at about this. I see some of you have done it already to your ML63 but i just wanna make sure i got everything correct before i pull the trigger on this job. I have a 08 ML63 with the plastic up and down shifters on the back and want to ungrade to the aluminum ones, as i see i will need Part #1712670046. To install, remove battery, then i get a long T.30 screwdriver to remove the airbag from the back. Disconnect airbag, remove old shifters....dremel the hole a bit to make new shifters fit right. But when i Plug it in, Does it have the same connecters?. and when i finish is there anything i have to program? Thanks again for all the help guys.
look at this ebay add and see if this is your wheel
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercedes-W16...1609b4&vxp=mtr
if it is, I can send you some pictures detailing the process (which involved adding a mounting boss for the radically relocated mounting screw).
if it isn't your wheel, you can send me a pic and I will be happy to give you some input.
Cheers
Chris
P.s. the 171 267 0046 paddles that you mentioned are the pair that I recommend. Best price is $110.25 for the pair at oediscountparts.com
EDIT:
here is one pic of the ML wheel I modified for AMG paddles. The round boss is part of what I had to add to mount the AMG paddle. The u-shaped trough (hard to see, it is directly below the new paddle screw hole in this pic) is what located the original shift-button screw.
the challenge did not end there as the screw that mounts the small switch pack above (steering wheel mounted controls) nearly intersects the path of the new paddle screw.
Last edited by latemodel21; Dec 20, 2013 at 12:03 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,187
Likes: 239
From: Santa Clara, Ca
2003 SL55 / 2002 SLK32
this is what that particular wheel looked like when it was done ... better than "new" some might argue.
https://mbworld.org/forums/5494678-post222.html
Cheers,
Chris
https://mbworld.org/forums/5494678-post222.html
Cheers,
Chris
Last edited by latemodel21; Dec 23, 2013 at 01:21 PM.
Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 85
Likes: 4
08 ML63, 00 ML320
wow thanks for all the replies; this is why i love these forums. The carbon fiber steering wheel looks AMAZING!!! but the paddle shifters are around $150 while the whole steering wheel especially the carbon fiber one runs around $1000, unless you guys have found it cheaper. I know my way around cars a bit and thought maybe adding the paddle shifters, especially at $150, wouldn't be that hard. The newer '09 steering wheel sounds a bit better if its around $300-400 which i doubt. I just wanted to keep the budget low but now seeing maybe this isn't a low budget feature. I do have a dremel and have done custom items in the past but is this job really that hard?
Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 85
Likes: 4
08 ML63, 00 ML320
this is what that particular wheel looked like when it was done ... better than "new" some might argue.
https://mbworld.org/forums/5494678-post222.html
Cheers,
Chris
https://mbworld.org/forums/5494678-post222.html
Cheers,
Chris
This steering wheel is hella bad a**!!! but on ebay they go for around $1000!
Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 85
Likes: 4
08 ML63, 00 ML320
You may have a tough time with this wheel. While I have converted over 100 mercedes wheels to paddles, I have only done one ML wheel. This was for a customer who was putting it in an R63 (so I didn't know the model year of the ML wheel supplied for conversion). However, being curious (as to what your 2008 ML63 wheel looks like inside), I looked on ebay and found a wheel for sale that appears be identical to the ML wheel I converted for the R63 (which really turned out to be a challenging one).
look at this ebay add and see if this is your wheel
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercedes-W16...1609b4&vxp=mtr
if it is, I can send you some pictures detailing the process (which involved adding a mounting boss for the radically relocated mounting screw).
if it isn't your wheel, you can send me a pic and I will be happy to give you some input.
Cheers
Chris
P.s. the 171 267 0046 paddles that you mentioned are the pair that I recommend. Best price is $110.25 for the pair at oediscountparts.com
EDIT:
here is one pic of the ML wheel I modified for AMG paddles. The round boss is part of what I had to add to mount the AMG paddle. The u-shaped trough (hard to see, it is directly below the new paddle screw hole in this pic) is what located the original shift-button screw.
the challenge did not end there as the screw that mounts the small switch pack above (steering wheel mounted controls) nearly intersects the path of the new paddle screw.
look at this ebay add and see if this is your wheel
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercedes-W16...1609b4&vxp=mtr
if it is, I can send you some pictures detailing the process (which involved adding a mounting boss for the radically relocated mounting screw).
if it isn't your wheel, you can send me a pic and I will be happy to give you some input.
Cheers
Chris
P.s. the 171 267 0046 paddles that you mentioned are the pair that I recommend. Best price is $110.25 for the pair at oediscountparts.com
EDIT:
here is one pic of the ML wheel I modified for AMG paddles. The round boss is part of what I had to add to mount the AMG paddle. The u-shaped trough (hard to see, it is directly below the new paddle screw hole in this pic) is what located the original shift-button screw.
the challenge did not end there as the screw that mounts the small switch pack above (steering wheel mounted controls) nearly intersects the path of the new paddle screw.
Don't know if there is a big difference between that steering wheel and mine but this is mine exactly http://www.ebay.com/itm/Real-AMG-ML-63-Black-ML-Mercedes-Steering-Wheel-W164-ML63-ML350-OEM-Authentic-/221338455010?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3388cccbe2&vxp=mtr I would really appreciate it if you have a PDF how you did it. Thanks Chris.
