So, I was putting the Z's A4 into gear when the shift button "pops" out and flies somewhere outside of the car. Minutes later I find the spring, the shift button and some other pieces of plastic, but now I can't shift the car. Have any of you dealt with this before? I don't see how I could fix this properly without removing the whole shifter assembly. How far does that white plastic rod go into the shifter? How do I replace/fix it? As of this writing, I'm shifting by sticking a pen into the shifter itself, simulating the presence of the shift button that's now broken off. You guys have any ideas on what to do with this? Thanks in advance...

 

Pull the retainer clip out of the front of the handle & remove it.
Buy a replacement, used, new, whatever, ...
That white plastic rod goes way down into the shift mcehanism.

 

Also I believe that plastic piece just gets pushed down to shift...so you could use a screwdriver or something in the meantime.

And the retainer clip is on the front side of the shifter ****