Ha! Reminds me of my first 220D.

The shifter mechanism gets sloppy and can drop the arm that moves the rod to the trans, leaving the lever on the side of the tranny selecting 4th gear.

Get under the car and manipulate the 3-4 lever to the neutral position.

Jim

__________________
14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles