Shift Gate Light?

[n/a]

I have literature and manuals on order, but have question in meantime about the shift gate (selector)... is there suppose to be a bulb that illuminates the gear selector plate at night? How do you remove/disassemble to gain access?

I "need" to see this at night as I'm still getting accustomed to the "reverse intuitive" (at least to this American) shift pattern.

Instruction greatly appreciated.

Cheers!

Nervious Newbie `68 280sl

[n/a]

I am not a technician like others, but yes, there should be a bulb.
take off the carpeting around the chrome shift cover, you will see screws at each corner. Of course unscrew the black "ball" onntop the stick, you will be able to take off the chrome part that way. There you will find the plug for the bulb. Make sure you look first how it is placed, because there is also a rubber cover to replace correctly.

Fabrice
Silver 1971 280 SL
New York City

[Cees Klumper]

The way to unscrew the black ball on top of the shifter handle - is this by separating it into a top and bottom half? I have not done this, but I don't think it just comes off by rotating counter-clockwise ? Anyway maybe it's not necessary to fully remove the chrome shift gate in order to get to the light bulb.

Cees Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[rwmastel]

1.  I don't think all W113's had the light, maybe just 280SL?
2.  I think you simply pull the round knob straight up off the shifter.  Wait for confirmation on this.

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[n/a]

The shift knob is interference fit onto the shifter. I would make a fork shaped wooden tool to around the shifter onto which I would tap with a hammer to remove the Knob.
It is not neccessary to remove the knob to change the bulb. Just remove the 4 bolts holding the chrome cover. However, you need to be careful not to break the plastic insert which becomes brittle with age.

Regards,
Stan

[n/a]

Thanks, all.

Knob was interference fit. Covered a plyers in cloth around the stick and frimly tunked up against the knob with a mallet, and boing, off came the knob.

It was unneccessary to remove knob to change bulb but I wanted to clean the gate and replace the partially broken plastic guide/lens.

Let there be light!

PS: One of the SL books I got said that the shift position was shown in a lighted display in the dash instruments... was that an option or a misprint?


Nervious Newbie `68 280sl

[hands_aus]

The BBB and Haynes both cover many cars of the same era.

Bob (Brisbane,Australia)
early 250 SL, RHD