2005 CLK 500 trans will not return to park.
 

Start vehicle and shift into D without problems, drive, when you want to put the trans into R or P it will not allow you to shift past N.

If you take your foot off the brake, you can then shift into R or P

I suspect the brake light switch, but the switch has only two contacts and the brake lights are working when the pedal is pressed indicating that the switch is working....

Any ideas???

Its not the brake lamp switch, its the shift selector itself. Was anything spilled on it by accident?

do you see the gear indicator in the gauges?

No signs of the typical "Starbucks Shifter Mod"

All gear indication on dash is correct and the lights on the shifter function properly.

What is odd is that at times it will function normally, when it does fail you can no longer shift put the shifter in R or P without taking your foot off the brake and when in this condition you can not toggle between 654321 using the left and right motion while in drive. Shut it off and wait a few minutes and it will function normally for a time...

In my experience when the shifter itself fails or is damaged it will stick in a gear or in P and not indicate gears on the dash. It will also not allow you to move the shifter into R and P with your foot off the brake....