1967 200D Column Shifter
 

I have noticed that my shifting linkage is very loose. I grab it at the floor and it has a lot of play. It is also very loose at the shifting lever. I figure the bushing and spacer are probably bad. Is it an easy project to take the linkage apart to replace the bushing? The car shifts good other than being loose. I noticed that when I put it in 4th, the lever moves up a little, but never slips out of gear. I am worried that it may break and leave me stranded.
Where is a good place to purchase the bushings?

Hope I'm wrong but you might have to tighten up nylon ball-joint shift linkages forward of the firewall using creative solution of soft epoxy and bailing wire. I was looking to buy west coast 200D last Summer and seller had an extra set, telling me the parts were no longer available.

Still available and cheap...:
http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.asp?TP=1&F=110116&M=621%2E918&CT=F&cat=226&SID=26&SGR=001&SGN=01
Do a search with the part numbers on the fastlane....

Replace the bushings in the ends of the shift lever linkages connecting the column shift to the transmission (under the car). Also replace the bushing in the pivot ball of the lever itself (unscrew the chromed hex nut). These are made of a plastic material and fall apart with age. Easy jobs for the DIY'er. Available through the Mercedes dealer, or try the Buy Parts tab above. This should take care of most if not all of the slop.

Mercedes used to call the material 'Vulkolan', best described as a soft nylon.
Also common but much more complicatd to fix, is failure of the upper column shift-shaft bushings under the steering wheel. Requires removing the steering wheel, horn switch, and the aluminum upper steering shaft bearing holder. As for the lower shift-shaft bushing, if it's very loose where it goes through the aluminum firewall plate, you can bite the bullet and continue to dissassemble the lower column-shift housing / firewall plate. Or,try what I did on one many years ago and jury-rig a thin piece of plastic (the type used in antifreeze jugs is ideal) around the lower shift-shaft and try to slip it into the gap between the shaft and the firewall plate. You'll need to devise some way to secure this bushing - perhaps a hose clamp around the shaft, or (what I did) a retainer bracket fabricated to attach to one of the firewall plate bolts.

Happy Motoring, Mark