The picture is to small I can't make out the numbers. The shift rod goes through the bottom of the shifter and their is a bushing in their. Thats your problem.

If you want yank the shifter and replace all the bushings. It feels great, best $20 I spent really.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Success!! You guys are the best

Everyone was right - the bushings on both ends of the shift linkage (under the car) were gone. They simply weren't there, and the shift linkage rod was dangling on both ends, just held in place by the locking pins. After I figured out how to undo the locking pins, the rest was pretty straightforward. It also helped to put the gear selector in "2" because it pushes everything on the underside forward and gives more clearance.

A note about which bushings to use. From the electronic parts catalog (EPC), I got a part number 115 992 03 10. I called the local MB dealer's parts department, and they had them in stock. They are off-white colored, and they charged me about $2 for each. But the parts guy also said that there is another kind of AT shift linkage bushings made for "older models". They are green, and their part number is 202 992 00 10. Since they were about a buck each and he had them in stock, I decided to get them as well.

When I was putting the bushings in today, it turned out that the white bushings (115 992 03 10) were very tough to seat unless you come up with some sort of a press tool. So I decided to give the green bushings a try. They were tight also, but since they were a bit more flexible than the white bushings, I was able to get them in with the help of a flathead screwdriver. They fit perfectly and snugly, without any play. The mold of these bushings is analogous in structure to the white ones - they simply have somewhat of a smaller lip which takes some pain out of installing them. The shift linkage rod fit snugly into the green bushings as well.

So it turns out that the parts guy at the stealership saved me some pain. I hope this information helps someone else who needs to replace shift linkage bushings on their W126.

Again, thanks to everyone who responded - the shifter feels tight and well-defined now!

Fortunately, you resolved the problem before something happened. There was a factory service bulletin written about this because folks would leave their car in "Park" only to return and find their car somewhere else!

Also, a knowledgeable dealership parts guy is a good thing.

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )