I ordered a new one today. the shop manager/mechanic said it is just a simple install. I think in the Alldata, it refers to the specific one, L5 of the two, if you have more than one sensor, and if it is "Crankshaft Position Sensor Function, w/Increment Control", it is a single unit, not 2 seperate ones, it is a simple plug and play. In mine anyway, it is just an install.
It's funny, this dealer/shop said the last one he ordered in and installed was 2 years ago. This is a smaller city, so I am thinking maybe there was only 4-5 of this year and model around. Mine is a '99 ML320.
I will try my OBD2 tonight, see if it shows a stored code for this sensor, and yet it might not , will see.
Thanks again!

What was the part# of you CPS? I too have a 99 ML 320.

I can post the part # tomorrow night, should have it by then. So far, after the plug change, it hasn't missed a beat, but will change the CPS anyway, now that I have one coming. If the problem comes back following the install, I will post again. Again, I have a few misconceptions about this shop I am forced to deal with, since if he (shop manager) knows his stuff, why hasn't he heard much of this issue? Or was he a Lada salesman before this job? It's nice to find more realistic input from a good forum such as this!

I took mine out to look at the part numbers and they are as follows:
bosch# 0261210171
MB# 003 153 27 28

Alldata shows # as 003 153 28 28
Mercedes dealer say new number is the same one Alldata shows.

Edited

I just put my CPS back in. I've read where people have trouble with the fastner falling out of the socket. Well I had no trouble, got it in on first try. I use a product called Quicksilver to hold the fastner in the socket. It's anti-corrsion grease and it's the stickiest stuff I've ever seen, I just put a tiny amount on one place on the fastner, if it was a liquid I'd say one drop. The stuff is non-conductive, nonelectrolytic, non-corrosive, and insoluble in both fresh and salt water.

It intended to be used on linkages and boat propeller nuts and the like. If you get it on your hands it's hard to get off.

Ok, I received mine today.and guess what? The F____ING CLOWN SENT THE WRONG ONE!!!!! I am so peeeeed right now, I feel like phoning the owner of the place right now at home, at 10pm and telling him to shoot the shop foreman and his parts guy! Alldata shows it as part # 003-153-28-28, and I got a 003-153-96-28. The connector does not come close to fitting right. I drove the car this evening first (going to the bus to pick up the new part), and it just died coming to a stop sign. Waited 10-15 minutes, away it started and got it back home in my shop. Got the new part, car started before I pulled the sensor, ended up putting the old one back in, and it doesn't start now.
Will try it in a bit, maybe it will at least flash up.
MB Doc, do you have a part # for the '99 ML320, or is the 003-153-27 (28)-28 the same thing as far as connecting it again?

Ok, dealer agreed that the one I have is not what originally was installed, and tryingto get the 28-28 version.
Lets see what happens toay!

Your symptoms sound very similar to what I experienced. Changed CPS and troublefree since then. this thread had some part numbers.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=102905

b.t.w....if you go to the BoschUSA website you can find the Bosch number for the CPS for the MLs.

Good luck

__________________
Jim