03' SL500 gear stuck in Park!
 

Hi, I would appreciate any info or help regarding a stuck gear in park. I read in other forums that there is a cheap plastic piece that breaks which causes the shifter to get stuck. I am hoping someone could give me a step by step to do this, or info to help me through this. I just can't justify the $1,000 it's going to cost me if I have to take it to the dealer.

and also if there are any tech guys that can confirm that I have to take it to Mercedes, because they have to do a calibration that can only be done there.. can someone confirm this?

The piece that breaks is in the shifter and cannot be replaced separately.
To repl. the shifter it has to be unlocked and sync'ed to the veh. Either the dealer or a high end independent that has the proper computer to do this.

Its gonna need the shifter. I have had people take the knob off and whack it with a hammer to at least get it out of park so they could drive it, but it damages the shifter shaft in the process.

new one will cost parts wise anywhere from like $450 - $600 for the part depending on the year.

usually ends up being about $900 to $1000 with labor at the dealer on average.. some cars are more expensive some are not...

labor is usually 2 - 3 hours based on my experience

thank very much for responding whipplem, I just have 1 more question. Can the broken piece be the only cause of a stuck shifter? or could there be another reason the shifter is stuck? if anyone else wants to respond, please feel free, I need all the help I can get.

thanks ashman, the dealer is my only option? I read in other forums that they did a DIY project, but I can't see this happening if it needs to be calibrated at mercedes

the shifter has to be replaced.mercedes designed this as part of the vehicle security so that thieves couldn't go to a wrecking yard and get a shifter and then go and steal a car.after it's replaced the electronics in it have to be coded to your vin# by mercedes.i bought a shifter assembly for a client,fitted it and then had to tow to dealer to be coded.

I don't understand who's going to own these cars as they age - rich people who like to fix things? It's not that big a segment.

You should check the stop lamp switch first. It is still needed for shifter release.