I looked at the shift linkage on my C280 and it does not look like what has been described in previous posts. I was wanting to replace the bushings, but could not see anywhere the nylon bushings would be located. Has anyone replaced them on a C280 with the 4 speed transmission? If not, I guess I'll have to resort to taking to the dealer for replacement.

You probably can't locate them because they are not there anymore. Once worn out they usually brake off. Locate the shifter opening in the shaft tunnel. The bottom of the shifter is connected to a bar with a small clip. There should be a bushing right next to the clip. Same goes for the front just follow the bar it connects right above the start/safety switch on the transmission. This is not an easy job the bushings are stiff and difficult to put in. There are some tricks to installation that comes with experience.

Vin

Thanks vinamg!

I'll give it another look.

Did you get them in? I'm facing the same job and would appreciate some pointers

-Tad

I have to do the same on my 95 w124. When in drive the shifter is not solidly in place it can move, so assuming busshing...

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1995 E320 smoke silver / parchment

There are 2 bushings for the shifter and they are both VERY difficult to replace. One is actually easier, IF you consider removing the center shift console to get access and leverage, easy. I tried going underneath without luck on that one.

The other one you had no choice but to do it undernneath. That one a special method (tool i jury rigged) for one of them. The dealer here will do it for about $120 for both. That might be reasonable. You might as well do both because i did the one that was broken and then had to do the other one when that one broke 6 months later. Other postings say they pushed in the bushing with "a little soap or lubricant". Beats the hell out of me how they did that.

Consider this recommendation from someone who took the entire dash apart to replace the vacuum actuators for the climate control. That was less an ordeal. Tedious and took a long time but less frustrating.

Damn, the one hour labor the local shop quoted me isn't bad then. F it, I might as well pay them one hour's labor...

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1995 E320 smoke silver / parchment

nazrat,

No, believe it or not, I've not done it yet. All of the comments from others scared me out of it, however, I think I might go ahead try it. I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks

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Joel Bain/Sewanee Tennessee
1994 C280

I did them on my 94 c280 and it was pretty hard to do. For those of you who got them in with some soap or lube or whatever I'm amazed because I tried everything. Then again, there are 2 sets of shifter bushings one set with no lips, they're just small cylinders that slide right in and then there are the ones I put in that I had to make a press in tool to get in and on top of that, I have to thank my parents for passing on their skinny forearm genes to me