Hi guys.

I'm writing with my 1983 300TD wagon. The gear selector has become increasingly sloppy, allowing me to move it to other positions while it is still actually in "drive". I've ignored it for long enough, and would like to tighten whatever it is that needs it. I'm assuming I need to tighten some sort of linkage somewhere. Does anyone have any experience with this? Would I tighten underneath the car at the tranny, or right at the actual gear selector? Thanks for your input.
Damon

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1984 300TD Wagon--Astral Silver--Retired
1983 300TD Wagon--Dark Blue--Retired

there are little plastic bushings that need replaced...........should be very cheap fix....I read about it here but have not needed it on either car yet.

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Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
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Section 609 MVAC Certified
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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

While I was underneath my wagon doing motor and tranny mounts a few weeks back, I noticed my shifter linkage, and the large gap where a bushing used to be. I didn't have a bushing, but used gas line to go over the shaft and through the hole. If you see it you will understand.
You do have a bushing issue, though. Search the forum, someone did a good write up on it.

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

Here is what you need:
http://catalog.eautopartscatalog.com/mercedesshop/sophio/quote.jsp?clientid=catalog.mercedesshop&cookieid=1EH0TL2AI1I70MWV61&baseurl=http://catalog.peachparts.com/&partner=mercedesshop&year=1985&product=J4070-44817&application=000245578
These bushings get brittle with age. One bushing is located at the lower end of the gear selector, the other is at the shifter on the left side of the transmission. Until you fix the problem, set your parking brake whenever the transmission is in "Park." More than a few parked MB's have rolled away because of worn bushings.

When replacing my bushings I found it easier to remove the horizontal linkage and install them while the rod is out. BUT be careful of the Neutral safety switch. It can break easily. The lever in the switch is very sensitive so do not force it in any manner.

Dave

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1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car

Shift Bushing Replacement DIY

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Bill Wood - Retired Webmaster
My Personal Website
1998 Mercedes E430
2010 Toyota Sequoia
My Photo Albums

Would this fix apply to this problem here? When I shift my 300D to the drive selector, sometimes it doesn't fully shift to drive, it's still in neutral, but just a little movement of the shifter, and you'll feel it go into drive. Same thing? Or not?
-Joe

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

Possibly the same thing. When the bushings go south, you have lost motion between the selector and the moving parts attached thereto. So you don't get what you select. Like eating at a Chinese restaurant, when the waitress does not speak English any better than you speak Chinese.