Center console shifter opening
 

My project to retrofit heated seats has hit a snag in that the opening for the shifter in the center console wood trim from the donor car (a '92 S124) is larger than the opening in my car, a '91 W124 sedan. The opening in the donor car's panel is 89 mm x 134 mm, and mine is 81 mm x 121 mm. I need this panel because the heat switches are in it. Another user has offered to sell me a panel from an '88 W124 coupe, but it is also the larger size.

Complicating matters is that I want to also fit a manual trans. So maybe it won't matter. So I guess I have 2 questions:

1) Why is my car's shifter opening smaller than those from both an older car and a younger car's?

2) If I do the manual swap, which size will I need?

There is a wider peice of trim that goes around the shifter for some W124s to hide the gap.

Never seen one of those. Thanks!

Yep, my '92 300D has that version of the shifter trim. You should be able to find one in the wrecking yard. If you have trouble finding one, I should be able to source one for you.