This is the switch I changed out and it is not the NSS. If a drink has been spilled into the gear selector area then that is where I'd look first.

gear recognition switch

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Jim

mpolli, so I understand better, will the OBDII scanner detect a communication problem between the ignition switch and the computer, or can this only be done by a Dealer scanner?

the OBD-2 plug under the dash cannot do that for you, the 38 pin round connector in the fusebox will show you such information. To get that to work you need to visit the dealer or find a shop who has good diagnostic tools with the respective equipment, e.g. the personality keys that go with snap-on scan tool and the 38 pin adapter cable.

I have used the launch x-431 on the round connector and albeit being incredibly slow to communicate with the car, it will show you deeper details.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

What we are looking for is that the engine computer is waking up. ( look at sensor data and see if it is believable. ) A generic OBD2 scanner will tell you that.

On my 97 C280 / E320 / SL320 a Snap on "red brick" scanner with Mercedes SW will tell me if the DAS chip in a key module is locked to the engine computer. However this is a generation prior to your car.

Happy to say - my MB tech found the problem. It was a defective K40 relay.
Back on the road again !