Thank you everyone. I stand humbled and corrected. I would have gladly bet a beer that there were no shifting linkages or bushings on the w210 and that all gear selection was done electronically, but
I was completely wrong!
KarTek, thanks for the part number, the local dealer actually stocked the part @ $2.64 all taxes in. The old one was completely gone, not a trace left!!
Thought that I could get better access underneath and started to remove the heat shield, sheared off the first nut and bolt, rounded off the second so I worked around it. Hand soap didn't lubricate enough so I used anti-sieze and after 10 minutes got it to pop in using side cuter electrical pliers. What can I say it fit and worked. Most of that 10 minutes was spent finding the bushing on the driveway after it dropped several times. Reassembled it all. Gorilla glued the heat shield. Any ideas on a more permanent fix for the shield?
Will test drive in a couple of hours after the Gorilla glue sets.
Thanks again, members here are amazing!!!