On the Mercedes Benz Owners Web Site there is a short artlcle entitled "Making Your Steering Brand New Again." I know there have been a number of threads about this here, but they all seemed to concern the adjustment of the steering box. This article says to remove the steering column itself and replace the two or three bushings in the column, which are different from the connection in the engine compartment. The column says that repacement of these bushings will make the biggest difference of the several possible adjustments. (The others are the steering box, idler arm and steering shock, and flexi disc/ujoint in engine compartment.)

This is the first I've heard of these bushings as affecting steering play. Has anyone replaced these, and with what result?