MB Medic Mercedes-Benz Repair Guides, Service, How To DIY
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Removing the shifter knob or selector lever handle on Mercedes-Benz is very easy. We will show you how to remove the shifter knob in less than 5 minutes. Step-by-step instructions are below, including a how-to video on removing the shifter knob on a C-Class W203, E-Class W211, and S-Class W220.
If your Mercedes-Benz has a boot (for example, W211, W209, W203), you must pop up the boot to unlock the shifter knob. In case you have a boot, use Interior Trim Removal Tool to remove the trim without damaging the bezel or wood.
Over time, the shifter can get dirty, deteriorate, and wear out, making your Mercedes-Benz interior look unattractive. Changing the knob is quick work once the trim is up. At the end of the article, you will also find the Top Alternatives for a new shifter knob.
Step 1
The knob comes off more easily with the lever out of Park, so move it to Neutral. Know what that changes before you do: in Neutral the transmission is not holding the car at all and the parking brake is the only thing that is. Park on level ground, set the parking brake firmly, and chock a wheel first. If the car is on any kind of slope, move it before you start rather than trusting the handbrake of a twenty year old Mercedes.
Step 2
Remove the shifter boot if you have one. In some models, you may need to remove the wood surround. The boot is clipped in place and can be lifted. In the case of the E-Class W211 and CLK209, it will lift with the wooden piece. Once you lift the trim, unplug the gear shift indicator PRND wires to get some room.
Step 3
Locate the bottom of the shifter. You see a locking ring/nut; turn it counter-clockwise to unlock the shifter knob/gear selector handle. By twisting that bottom part of the shifter, you unlock the knob, and you can easily pull it off.
Step 4
Lift the shifter knob straight up. Avoid rotating the shifter knob. Rotating the knob will cause it to feel loose when you reinstall it.
Video: How to remove Mercedes-Benz gear shifter knob/gear selector handle.
IMPORTANT: Do not rotate the shifter knob itself to remove it. This is very critical if you have a shifter with a START button. If you rotate the knob, you will brake the pins inside the shifter knob. Sometimes, you may need to remove the screws holding the ashtray to lift the center console wood piece. Always set the emergency brakes before you start removing the shifter knob.
Putting the knob back on
The steps above stop at the knob coming off, which is only half the job for most people reading this. Going back together: slide the knob down the lever squarely, without twisting it, until it stops, then turn the locking ring the opposite way to the way you unlocked it so the collar grips. Give the knob a firm pull upward before you refit any trim. If it moves at all, the ring is not fully home, and a knob that comes off in your hand while you are changing gear is both alarming and avoidable.
Reconnect the PRND indicator plug you unplugged in step 2 before the boot or the wood goes back down. It is easy to forget with the trim loose in your hand, and the symptom afterwards is a gear display that stays dark, which looks like a much bigger electrical problem than it is. Check the display lights and shows the right gear before the trim clips in, not after.
On buying a replacement knob, the alternatives listed below cover a wide spread of model years, and the knobs are not interchangeable across all of them. The cars with a leather boot use a different arrangement from those without, and the lever diameter and collar changed between generations. Match the listing to your own chassis code and year before ordering, and if a listing covers a long list of models at once, treat that as a reason to check rather than a guarantee of fit.
Mercedes-Benz Shifter Knob Top 4 Alternatives
Here is a list of our favorite gear selector shifter knobs on Amazon.
Before you buy parts, scan every control module, not just the engine. It shows the root fault behind the warning lights and tells you whether the problem is still active. See how to do a full health check.
