Shifter bushing replacement
 

The shifter bushings in my '01 E-320 4Matic are rattling/worn. They will be replaced under warranty. As they do this, does it require the removal of the shifter? If so, I guess this would it be the right time to replace my shifter handle with a nice wood one. Your help is appreciated. :) Dennis

Is two(?) hard rubber bushings on linkage beneath car.

bushings
 

I did both of mine from under the car, pain in the butt to change.

Are you guys saying the shifter does NOT need to be removed when you replace the bushings? Thanks, :) Dennis
PS. The dealer is doing this under warranty.

No it does not. The bushings are under the car.

There is special tool to do this on a 124 chassis car. I borrowed the tool from my friend. It is a pliers that forces the bushing into place when you squeeze it.

Once the car is on a lift and in the air it's takes less than 5 minutes to pop off the spring clip, push out the old bushing (which maybe be gone), install new bushing, and install a new spring clip. The new spring clips are real easy to install.

Bushings
 

I put mine in the microwave until they were soft and then put them on the car before they got hard again, dont put them in too long.

Thanks guys, I guess I'll do the shifter replacement sometime later myself. :) Dennis

I grease them and lube with ATF, its doable with channel locks, but a real pain the ass, the special tool helps alot.

Well, I am in the middle of this and can attest it is a PITA and a little preturbed that even my mechanic thought I could do it in a few minutes. Really tough to get the rear bushing in.

Let me update and say that even after I partially mangled the back bushing by overheating it, I was able to reheat it again and with some dishwashing detergent got it in the second time with little trouble. I also found that replacing the old clips made it much easier to pop them back on.

Photo of end of special tool. Frankly I don't see how anyone can install new bushings without the special tool. You are probably stronger and are more patient.

Yep a PITA but it's done under the car; no need to remove the shifter.

Removing the linkage and doing that bushing on the bench makes it a bit easier. From some old postings, you rig sort of a threaded rod with nuts, washers and sockets to press in the bushing. The bushing on the drop down tang from the shifter requires a shorter rod but is done with the same principle. IIRC the bushings on my w124 were a PITA but the (green) ones on my W202 were softened in hot water and just pressed in by hand.

glenmore
1991 300CE
2000 C280

Yes the w123 w124 bushings are super hard and almost impossibloe without the tool, that tool is from v8 tools, they are 40 dollars, i have a couple available.

The microwave trick works (I've done it four times), but it's very difficult to gauge how much time is "right". Too much and you will turn the part to mush and it will set that way. Microwaves work from the inside out, and the inside of this part can be soft and the outside can still be fairly cool. If you are going to try out the microwave, heat in 5-7 second increments and buy spares (if you need two, buy four).

In the long run, I worry that the reason that these parts heat up in a microwave is that they contain moisture (water), and if they are microwaved, they may fail prematurely. Of course, the OLD ones were probably OK for 20 years...