[jnash]

Anyone got a good fix for the leather transmission shift knob. Mine is on tight and the chrome bezel is rotated fully to lock it in place but the knob itself is still a bit loose. I can rotate the shift knob about 15 degrees.
I think the black plastic grips inside the chrome bezel at the bottom of the knob that tighten when you turn the bezel are worn. The gear selector shaft seems fine.

anyone?

 

[Skylaw]

By your description I assume the problem is rotation of the knob on the shaft, rather than rotation of the shaft itself. The shaft has a lock nut at its base.

Check your PM.

 

[jnash]

Correct, the chrome shaft seems very secure. It's the actual gear knob that has play it in. It makes me a bit nervous since there is a 2 pin connector at the top for the KeylessGo button, so continued movement could start to be a problem.

 

[fisherman123]

MB dealer do not have it

MB dealer do not have a replacement part for this worn out black plastic insert inside the shifter knob.
I did a quick fix before on mine(Non KeyleesGo),I don't know if this procedure will apply to the cars with KeylessGo button so don't flame me now

Time required-----5 minutes
Cost----------------$0.05
Tools required-----None
Material -----------10" long and 1/2 inch wide of masking or blue painters tape

1) Ignition off,car in park,brakes on.Unlock the shifter knob by Turning left/conterclockwise on the chrome part of the knob until it stops,only 1/4 of a turn is necessary.
Lift the knob straight up off the shaft. Do this in N position if you have large hands so when the knob is coming off of the shaft you don't hit the COMAND screen and center console.
2) Wipe the shaft clean so the tape will stick.Wrap the tape around top portion of the shaft(over lapping one or more times as you wrap)depends on how loose it is.
***I cut the tape in the middle to about !/2 inch wide because my tape was too wide to work with and it's much much easier to wrap it TIGHTLY with a narrower strip***
3) Press the shifter knob down on the shaft to check fit(add or remove tape) until it snugs before locking it.
4) Rotate the chrome bezel back to lock it.

Mike

 

[jnash]

Mike, thanks for that. Appreciate the details. I tried a similar approach and wrapped blue painters tape around the area where the grip occurs where the chrome bezel is but it didn't work out too well. It kept folding over even with one wrap.
I will try your approach tomorrow night at the top. KeylessGo would be the same. The connection (2 pins) is on the very top of the shaft. The knob presses down with two pins into the top of the shaft that connect the KeylessGo switch. I assume in your wrapping you did not wrap over the top of the shaft correct?

 

[fisherman123]

AaaaaaHaaaaaa! Jnash,I think we can fix it.

I went out took the knob off and made a video but couldn't upload it on the forum.I have seen videos here before,how you guys do that,no Hi-Def? if someone can show me how to do it, I will post it here later.

Blue tape is fine, that's what I had used.
Do not wrap anything around the chrome bezel area, it won't do anything but stop the knob returning to it's original locked position. ONLY wrap the top part of the shaft. I don't even think you have to wrap as high as I did.(Flat part of the shaft) I just wanted to finish using my whole 10" No,I did it because I don't want to take a chance if the tape ever comes off and get stuck inside the shifter knob.

Try to use one continues narrow strip and wrap as tight and smooth as you can,the idea is to build up some thickness on the shaft right below the top flat section,white dot in the middle of the blue tape.

Mike

 

[Skylaw]

jnash, let me know how it works out; I'll hold off on mailing until I hear.

 

[mcmurf]

Did this fix end up working? I have the same issue. I have a 1999 C280. The shifter knob rotates slightly, but the shaft is solid. I'd love to find a way to fix it as opposed to buying one on ebay (wouldn't be sure that it doesn't have the same problem) or spending silly amounts on a new one.

 

[jnash]

I ended up using super-glue on the shaft. Seems to have worked well forover a year. I tried caulk type but it was two spongy.

 

[bshoreman60]

MB dealer do not have it

MB dealer do not have a replacement part for this worn out black plastic insert inside the shifter knob.
I did a quick fix before on mine(Non KeyleesGo),I don't know if this procedure will apply to the cars with KeylessGo button so don't flame me now

Time required-----5 minutes
Cost----------------$0.05
Tools required-----None
Material -----------10" long and 1/2 inch wide of masking or blue painters tape

1) Ignition off,car in park,brakes on.Unlock the shifter knob by Turning left/conterclockwise on the chrome part of the knob until it stops,only 1/4 of a turn is necessary.
Lift the knob straight up off the shaft. Do this in N position if you have large hands so when the knob is coming off of the shaft you don't hit the COMAND screen and center console.
2) Wipe the shaft clean so the tape will stick.Wrap the tape around top portion of the shaft(over lapping one or more times as you wrap)depends on how loose it is.
I cut the tape in the middle to about !/2 inch wide because my tape was too wide to work with and it's much much easier to wrap it TIGHTLY with a narrower strip
3) Press the shifter knob down on the shaft to check fit(add or remove tape) until it snugs before locking it.
4) Rotate the chrome bezel back to lock it.

Mike

Thanks for posting this. I just fixed mine