Follow up on my previous post... fortunately I have a good friend working in the parts department of the local M/B dealership that certainly has proved helpful on several occasions, this being one of them. Turns out there are no alternatives to replacing the original shaft/handle combination on my vehicle with an aftermarket. No one makes a bayonet based shaft required in my configuration. So I have to use an original replacement part. As far as removing the existing lever, there is supposedly "trick" to the process and he is having one of the techs in the shop call me with the details. If anyone is interested in more information concerning the project, I'll be glad to share them when I complete the task. The shaft/handle combination has to come from Germany so it will take at least a week to get the parts.

W J Kinney