I had shifter bushings done on my wagon today and what a difference! my shifter is tight and doesn't wiggle about and the best thing... the horrid rattling is gone! it even seemed to shift better (I dont know how..) but if your shifter is loose... Change the bushings, it makes all the difference.

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hum.....
1987 300TD 311,000M Stolen. Presumed destroyed

My 300D is good, but the 280CE needs its bushing replaced, I've got the bushing sitting on my bench, now to find the time. Sometimes I get stuck in 2nd because it drops right past D it's got so much play.

Glad to see your post! Mine's in the shop right now getting those bushings replaced. After 222,000 miles, it's been rattling up a storm....always around 1500 rpm. Can't wait to see the difference!

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14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

Yea, when I first got my car, I was dumb and figured the rattle was a bad rear end, but the forum put me straight. Last weekend I pulled the shifter assembly and replaced 3 of the 4 bushings. The rear bushing on the trans shifter rod was completely gone. Replacement with the assembly out of the car was very easy. When I drop the trans this Spring, I will replace the front one.

Just doing the rear one made a world of difference.

How much time does this job take? Just trying to figure out how much my mechanic is going to charge me....

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14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

is it DIY at least for some of them?

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Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (113k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1993 300SD (291k)
1993 300D 2.5T (338k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K)
1985 300D (233K)

It was the first time I had the console out so it probably took me longer because I like to gawk at stuff and see how it works. Plus I broke a coupe of terminals on the hazard switch due to corrosion and had to jerry-rig the repair.

I would guess that to do 3 of the 4 bushings that can be reached from the inside, a mechanic would charge for 1.5 to 2 hours. The one on the front of the transmission would add more time, maybe another hour, especially if the mount had to be loosened to get clearance.

Search around. There are a couple of very good DIYs with pictures, if you want to do it yourself.