the gear selector lever on our '87 300Td has started making an odd sound, like a whirring, or sewing machine-like sound. i first noticed this when i had the middle console cover removed, so the base of the shifter was more exposed.

the sound is like a whirring feint rattle-y kind of sound. there is also a feeling in the shifter, it feels like the far end of the shift linkage is in light contact with something that is spinning and if you move the shifter while the car is in gear, the sound changes slightly and the feeling in the lever changes also. it can get louder or softer and all the while you feel like the far end of the linkage is rubbing lightly on a spinning object. the sound and feeling are not extreme, but there is something wrong somewhere for sure and this seems like something to me that could get worse. the sound is not loud, you can barely hear it on the highway, and in the city it is almost inaudible.

the transmission is in otherwise perfect condition. it was rebuilt by a mercedes specialist shop about 5 years ago and has performed flawlessly since we have owned the car. in the past few years i have replaced a few of the linkage bushings and the NSS.

i have paper manuals and CD's for the car but nothing i have seems to have any reference to the transmission, so i don't have a clue what the linkage looks like once it goes inside the transmission, or where to begin finding this issue.

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punkinfair

A couple of things to check:

Loose feeling shifter is likely shift bushings.

Vibration from the shift lever might indicate a bad flex-disc or two, possibly the mid-shaft bearing.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

thanks for the input. the shift bushings are good, so is the driveline. also WRT the driveline, the noise/feeling is present with the car stopped. it is related to the linkage for sure, but my instinct is that it has something to do with the linkage inside the transmission.

does anyone know where (online) to get schematics of the transmission?

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punkinfair

never mind, found one.

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punkinfair

Are you sure all of the bushings are intact?

I replaced all of the shifter bushings on my '93 W201 for the second time a few years ago and I had an extra new bushing along with a retaining clip. I was searching through my MB spare parts last week and came across the new spare bushing and it crumbled in my hand. So....I guess these bushings have a short shelf life.

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1993 190E 2.3
2001 SLK230
1971 LS5 (454) Corvette Convertible