Auto Selector Knob removal-- help! W126 500sel

[Def_Fid]

:lol:
I have a nice shiny walnut gearshift knob to replace on my W126 500sel (87), but I cant see how the existing black plasticky leatherette thing comes off. Do you have to prise it open? it seems securely intact at the moment.

 

[Spike]

Manual or auto?

[EDIT] Doh! must read before posting - sorry cant help, I know how to w=swap the manual but not auto.

 

[andy_k]

gear shift

here's how it works on a W124

the leatherette part is moulded to the shaft and can't be removed easily - you have to take the whole shaft out.......

http://www.andykay.org.uk/gearshift/gearshift.html

however, if your new shift has a thread the old shaft can be modified - to do this you'll need access to a bench drill or lathe.

1, find a bolt that matches the thread of the shift - the one I fitted to mine was a metric very fine thread

2, drill the centre of the bolt out to the same diameter of your shaft - this needs to be precise

3, cut the head off the bolt to leave you with a threaded tube

4, remove the leatherette gear shift by whatever means you can - usually a stanley knife and/or blowtorch etc - the top of the shaft will have a flat plate on it which the shift knob is moulded around

5, cut the shaft to the right length and slide the drilled bolt onto it - how you attach this is up to you some decent araldite will hold it perfectly especially if you get the stuff designed for metal bonding

6, screw your nice shiny wooden gear knob into place - you may have to try a couple of times placing small spacers on top of the threaded shaft to make sure it tightens to exactly the right position

HTH

Andy

 

[Def_Fid]

Auto shift knob removal

Thanks Andy, stanley knife and angle grinder did the trick.