Didnt look to see which car you have, but, to disengauge the lock on the W201 and most W124 cars that I know of is a simple cable system. SO, without electricity is should still work. The brake pedal arm is the mechanism that actuates the cable that allows the lock to disengauge in the shift housing....so...if you remove the valance panels and trim that is under the steer wheel and in the foot well under the dash, you can get at the cable end that lets you release the cable. If you cant just step on the brake and it releases, maybe you can disconnect the brake pedal end of the cable to actuate the cable lock release. I hope this works for your car, I know it works for all W201 190E cars that are 1989 and newer, my 1986 can has no trans shift lock system at all. I can take it to any gear with or without the key. Nice, but easy to steal I guess. I keep her in the garage most the time.
Good luck

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Christopher Henkel
1990 190E 2.6 - Arctic white SOLD
1986 190E-16v - Blauswartze
1993 300CE - SOLD
2003 W208 CLK 320 Cabriolet - Magma Red

Ahh, just checked your car in question....YES, pull the trim under the steering wheel and you can get at the cable that controls the lock on the trans shifter.

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Christopher Henkel
1990 190E 2.6 - Arctic white SOLD
1986 190E-16v - Blauswartze
1993 300CE - SOLD
2003 W208 CLK 320 Cabriolet - Magma Red

Just to be clear... the ignition switch is only the back end of the steering lock / bracket... it is screwed into the steering lock by screws that are conceled under the plug connector ~which cannot be removed without the tumbler in position 1...
I am thinking the screws you cut out are the ones in the side of the assembly where the steering lock meets the ignition switch, and you are left with an ignition switch dangling from the wireing. Are you saying the slot in the buisness end of the ignition switch cannot be rotated with a screw driver?

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-Marty

1986 300E 220,000 miles+ transmission impossible
(Now waiting under a bridge in order to become one)

Reading your M103 duty cycle:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showpost.php?p=831799&postcount=13
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showpost.php?p=831807&postcount=14

Yep, those 3 screws that were covered. When the two halves were pulled apart there were a few small, but significant, metal pieces that fell out! Just to be on the safe side I am ordering the entire assembly which I'm finding is going to cost a little more than $300.00.

And anytime any of you are in or going to be in the Tacoma area, drop me a line...for all of your help I'll buy the first round!