Ok thanks. Not arguing but just surprised since my other higher mileage cars never did this.

I was mainly concerned that since it is extremely position-sensitive, that somehow the linkage for the lever was connected to the speedometer cable or some rotating/moving part, as that's the kind of noise it seems like.

But a fraction of a millimeter is all the difference it takes.

__________________
Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (116k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
2008 ML320 CDI (199k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (267k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K), 1985 300D (233K), 1993 300D 2.5T (338k), 1993 300SD (291k)