Thanks, yeah, access to the screw would be possible if you drilled a hole thru the plastic collar....that would have been much easier.

I'll look at our '02 to see if it has an access port.

I have many more pictures which I will post when I have a chance.

 

The '02 car has no access port.

 

So, are you suggesting there might be no need to remove the steering wheel, but instead (carefully) drill a hole in the bottom of the housing to gain access to the bolt(s) we need to tighten?

 

A purist would never drill holes in his Mercedes Benz.

It might be difficult to drill the hole in the correct location...