I did go under the car. As you said on this model you can see (from the top) that the shift structure is held by two flat head bolts. However when I went under the car all I see in that area is the exhaust pipe. What I don't understand is why the German manufacturer would make it so difficult to change such a little sensitive item??
Since nobody seems to know how to do this I think I'm gonna end up doing the "redneck" thing and cut that plastic blocker off.