hopodia

Aloha all, I've got an 07 E63 AMG and the UP paddle shifter (on the right side of the steering wheel) keeps popping out from the steering wheel. Has anyone else experienced this? Any information on how to fix this? Mahalo in advance.

green1212

i believe there is a small screw from the inside of the steering wheel that holds the paddle shifters secure. you will have to remove the airbag to have access to see if indeed that screw has come out from the inside of the steering wheel. there are 2 screws that holds the airbag onto the steering wheel. remove the screws and airbag will come out with leads attached. you may want to disconnect the battery if you see you will need to remove the airbag to have more room to work.

WHTEVO

/\ Pretty much what this guy has said.

mister2d

Good thread. This has happened to the 07 E63 that I just purchased. It was like this before I bought it. Was an issue I was going to visit later.

hopodia

Green1212 mahalo again for the info! Any idea what type of screw head is hold the airbag to the steering wheel. Also do you think that the paddle shifter screw is still inside the airbag area? If not do you know what type of screw it is?

green1212

man sorry i just got to work and i do have the torx bit just for those screws. i work all night from 9pm to 7am. first thing i get home, i will post the bit size for you. what i did was i purchased just this bit for the steering wheel, its a pita with the various tools i had, either 1 tool was too long or another was too short but this bit i can take a 1/4 in wrench to one end and place the torx head on the screw inside the steering wheel and loosen very easily. but i know others have done it without anything special by 1) moving the steering wheel as far away as you can with the switch from the gauge cluster (towards you) and this will actually free up some room to get back there. now for the screw inside the steering wheel: it may just be right there in its position and just wasn't screwed in tightly. especially if you dont hear it rattling around in there when you turn the wheel back and forth. the way the screw is, its "buried" behind the rubber in the steering wheel and "screwed" into the shifter. so it is likely that it just wasnt screwed in too tightly. and when i say too tightly, be careful not to "over-tighten" the screw, once you get inside you will see what i mean. its not a lot of room for error on that shifter and the screw is rather small too, so just tighten...snug. and if by chance, hope not the case, the screw seems to "stripped"??? then you will have to source a screw just 1 size bigger and hope it catches to get that snug fit. i will place what size torx you will need in the morning. sorry. hope maybe someone else can chime in and give that size torx but if not, i will by. good luck!!!

hopodia

Thanks green1212, for the further info and advise. Ill be waiting for the torx size.

green1212

torx size is: T-30. about 3 inches long and "skinny". do not buy those thick ones, it wont fit inside the steering wheel hole. take your time and you will be just fine!

hopodia

Mahalo again green1212. just happened to have a Craftsman T-30!

green1212

you are set man!!! just take your time and dont forget to disconnect the battery if you need more room to work. take care

hopodia

Will do! Ill let you know how it goes.

hopodia

Well green1212 I got into my E the day after you gave me the tork size to give the paddle shifter a good look before starting the repair and I found the paddle hanging off the steering wheel by its 2 wires. Upon closer examination I discovered that it wasn't a screw issue but that a green plastic circuit board looking piece (without any printed circuit) had broken and that's what actually caused the paddle to dislodge from the steering wheel! What was causing it to pop away from the steering wheel was a small spring. So for now I just removed the spring and the paddle stays on the steering wheel. By the way as far as I can tell the shifting isn't affected by any of this.

green1212

man i really dont know how "that" piece could have broken off??? that circuit board sits right behind the airbag and its a squared circuit board with the connectors in the middle of back of airbag..... i am all about safety and although everything seems to be working well, i dont know how things will work if you got into an accident???? i hate to say this but..... 1) either try and source another airbag once you have opened the steering wheel up to make sure nothing else is "broken" or 2) take the car into dealership and have them run diagnostics on the airbag, airbag system to make sure everything is communicating and working as it should..... sorry, but i would hate for your airbag not to deploy when needed......

latemodel21

the plastic base of the paddle assembly is known to break. This usually happens where the retaining screw enters the base. Cause is generally an off-angle blow from the knee, etc. If this breaks completely, it is not unlikely to find the paddle hanging by it's two wires. However, the spring which you describe lives between the plastic base and the cast aluminum paddle AND if it is prohibiting your paddle from staying in place, it might suggest that the paddle pivot/retaining pin has broken it's mount in the base or the paddle WHICH would presumably leave the base and wires in the wheel rather than hanging.

If you wanted to post a pic of your broken paddle, I could tell you more ... but the bottom line is you need to buy a set of paddles and replace one of yours. Part number 171 267 0046 is for the pair and they are $111.75 including shipping from oediscountparts.com

cheers,
Chris

green1212

he stated that the shifters are working?? would he need to buy another replacement??

latemodel21

"another" replacement? (has he replaced it once already?)

this paddle is a basic assembly. There is a base, a paddle, the pivot pin and spring (plus the printed circuit switch). if it cant stay together ... it is broken

If he posts a pic we could better understand the failure ... but the fix seems pretty straight-forward

Cheers,
Chris

green1212

yes you are correct and i am way off base here and wrong!!! man i was getting a little too technical and thought he was saying something from the "inside" of the steering wheel was "hanging out" and now i realize just the paddle switch has "broken" apart.... my mistake!! hopodia- please disregard all that i was saying about the replacement airbag etcetc... i feel so stupid! your paddle just snapped apart and exposed the circuit board. easy fix but you will have to take steering wheel off to unscrew the paddle and disconnect. sorry about that!

green1212

thanks latemodel21 for the clarification man. my fault. but i agree, a pic would be very helpful. thanks latemodel!

hopodia

Mahalo all, I'll try to post a picture of, the paddle shifter, internal plastic part that's broken.

2007E63-AMG

I also have a broken right paddle and not sure how it happened. Picture attached. Not too clear though (will be better during the day !). Can anyone advise if this looks like DIY fix or one for the mechanics only ? Half of the paddle is fixed in place but the back end has broken free, as if someone has just pulled it back too hard too often.

latemodel21

Should be a relatively simple to DIY.
air bag needs to come off (2 T30 screws from behind wheel)

paddle is held in place by a single screw (its electrical connection is a simple plug).

Many will suggest you disconnect the battery before you start to eliminate the possibility of an SRS (airbag) code, but as long as you keep the key out of the ignition and keep any keyless go keys a good distance away, you can't get into trouble here. If you do mess up and create an SRS code (SRS light will be stuck on) it can be easily cleared with a star tester.

Cheers,
Chris