If you really want your lubricant to last, try silicone grease (such as Sil-Glyde). Not only will it never dry out, it doesn't collect dust, it doesn't become gummy in the presence of water, it doesn't react with rubber, and it doesn't soften/crystalize nylon (which I'm pretty sure those plastic bushings are).

Do it once, do it right, never have to do it again.

__________________
Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

Thank you -I'm an utter novice in the world of grease.

__________________
1981 240D 4sp manual. Ivory White.

Don't get me wrong, white lithium grease is an EXCELLENT lubricant for a lot of applications, some are just screaming out for silicone grease (window sliders and door checks are another great example)

__________________
Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

Not sure which trans you have. I had this aluminum one piece in my 240d

https://www.benzworld.org/forums/attachments/w123-e-ce-d-cd-td/255004d1250651715-question-manual-trans-guys-34-speed-3-alu.jpg

See the link arms? There was a hex bolt, like 6mm or 7mm down those bores going into the trans. One of mine was loose. Caused the car to lock up the gear shift.

I got the car cheap because I jammed up the shifter on the test drive and the po admitted there was an issue. He sold it to me cheap because he thought it needed trans work. For weeks after I bought the car he kept emailing me pestering me if I’d figured it out.

It took me a month to figure it out. It took two minutes to fix.

Edit - oops it sounds like it’s the floor shifter mechanism like others have said if it is binding in the side to side motion. Time to disassemble the floor shifter mechanism from the cabin side and take a look if some trash has been dropped in there.

__________________
79 300TD “Old Smokey” AKA “The Mistake” (SOLD)
82 240D stick shift 335k miles (SOLD)
82 300SD 300k miles
85 300D Turbodiesel 170k miles

Not my issue, but useful all the same. Not sure how different they are but my 240d's equipped with the iron 4 speed. It's a beast.

__________________
1981 240D 4sp manual. Ivory White.

'Dustless' grease is wonderful stuff indeed .

The Mercedes siding sunroof grease is very $pendy but excels .

I use Lubriplate rifle grease, available military surplus cheaply for things that often get gummed up with dust...

White Lithium grease is a long fiber grease and so great for heavy sliding applications like suspensions, door latches etc. .

Short fiber greases are for wheel bearings and so on .

Others here more articulate than I will clue you in .

Agreed that silicone grease is marvelous but tends to creep onto glass so I don't use it on window lifts .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better