This is an informative post about how the keyless go shifter works and how to replace it with other shifters!

First of all, the keyless go shift knob and shaft are very dedicated design.
The shaft dimension is identical to other regular Mercedes shift shaft but there are 2 tiny holes as female connector.


The keyless go button is actually a toggle switch, there are 2 golden pins underneath the switch to plug into the shaft





To install the Keyless Go shifter is simple and easy, just make sure your don’t twist around the shaft before the pins plug into the holes.



After the jaws grip the notch on the shaft, turn the knob at the bottom to hold the shifter

Dammit, this would have been nice before they broke the 2 pins off mine 2 weeks ago! How do you remove the button portion from it? Gonna try and attempt a repair.. I now have the remains of the 2 wires lodged inside the 2 holes.. Any suggestions on how to get them out???

samething happen to me, anyone have an idea how to repair this?

What we do to remove broken pins from a socket is take a piece of 22 awg tinned buss wire and solder it to the pin/wire thats left. Then pull the pin out of the socket. Soldering skills required with heat applied to the buss wire.

If you use too much heat you will be in more of a mess, then drilling the socket will be required. When you drill the socket you remove the tension device in the socket then the new pin will most likely have to be slightly "S" bent to provide proper contact. Good luck.

thanks!

I'd be interested in getting this but I'd have to somehow get a Canadian Keyless-Go button (instead of "ENGINE START | STOP", the button is iconic).. From the pictures it seems like it's possible to separate it from my existing knob and re-use it, but exactly how does one do this?

keyless shifter was fixed and now working after new pins were solder at local shop.
thanks again!

Glad you got her fixed ;-)

OK, youve showed us how to R&R a shifter. Now show us how to R&R a steering wheel.

How do you R&R the keyless go button from the knob?

Glad I'm not alone on this one.

I twisted my keyless go knob off aswell following another MB DIY article...
my pins broke off and now my knob will not secure to the shaft its kinda lose.

Any suggestions? please help

On the second and on the third picture, the KG button is removed from the knob. How do you do this?

I have two knobs, but the button on the better looking knob looks kinda worn, so I want to replace it with the button from the other knob. However, I've no idea how to remove the button from the knob.

the button removal mystery continues..

I have removed and repaired keyless go shift knob on my clk 500 w209
the actual button can be removed from the shift knob through the
top without removing the shift knob, I used a small flat head screwdriver
to pop it out, it pops out from the front of the car side.
Underneath the start button is an actual switch which can be removed
by pressing in the plastic tab using the flat head

if your pins broke off you will need to remove the entire shift knob
to take the pins out of the shifter shaft and carefully saldern them to the
switch then replace the shift knob first and put the switch and button in through the top.

How does this R&R change for a non keyless go SL55? I assume it would be easier...Ivan can you list the steps here. Thanks

does anyone know where i can get the keyless go toggle switch? or rather jus the actual silver button on top if possible?

The "regular" shifter is simple and easy,
1 pull up the boot
2 twist the bottom knob clock-wise
3 Pull up the whole knob

that is it!

Sounds a little tricky.

Does that mean the from the side that faces the COMAND? Just want to be sure, before I try it myself...

Ivan, Thanks
for the post Love my new wheel, great vendor, good guy too

Got the items in and thanks for everything.

i got the shifter... i read the post on how to replace it but have some questions... do i just pull the old one straight out? what about the leather boot, how do i separate it and then attach it to the new knob? help!

You must remove the ash tray first
than lift the panel which the keyless go shift
knob is attached to from the front side (close to stereo)
lift it straight up with some force, there are 2 clips
holding it in. The shift knob is retained by a plastic
piece underneath the shift knob panel. Twist the plastic price
but DO NOT twist the shift knob itself. Then the knob pulls
straight up, the boot is clipped in underneath the panel.

I wish I understood what you were talking about here. Do you need to pull the entire knob to get the push to Start button out? The button itself looks to be about an inch and a half deep with clips on it. It would seem to me that one would have to pull the entire know off in order to remove the button. Can someone provide a more detailed description on this? I just need to replace my button.

did you figure out how to get the button out

I have broken the pins on my CL class

Does anyone know if a Keyless go shifter knob for a newer SL, say 07-+, will work with a 2003 SL55?