Fortunately, these new ISMs are cheap from the dealer (My cost is under $400), but its protected by their security program and cant be purchased without having a registered license with Benz for whatever it is like $5K per year. There are a ton of these used online, but I assume they have to be coded to the VIN of the car they are going into in order to work. Does anyone have experience with anyone that has coded/programmed a used one and been successful? I have an autel elite, not sure if I can Re-program a ISM. Im more versed in the older W220 and this w221 issue is new to me. trying not to waste time and money experimenting. Thanks!

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nobody?

there are hacks to write your code on the work bench before fitting - but the software for single use costs more than a dealer will charge to fix one car

the dealer kit with the right people helping will get you there - lots of people know ways around but on this techie type fix no one shares the how you really do it

eastern Europeans seem to know how to acquire free cars and do all this work fixing stuff for themselves but never share outside their own community

Wait, if my ISM fails it has to be fixed at a dealer??

See attachment.

Wow that is more involved than I expected. So I guess the key is to source one (provided someone will sell a new one) and then the rest is in STAR.

yes, im looking to figure out how to change the coding in a used module from another car to work in my car/vin. This is what I'm looking for.

the idea is isn't easy - in merc world its what they call a theft dependant part - this means you can't buy one from the parts counter, and even if you get one, the car won't start if you fit it

if you know how to use merc dealer tools you can fit secondhand parts - (not sure exactly) I think by pretending its a blank new one and starting afresh - but not sure if its supposed to be online to find the correct data to write to the part

I still don't get the theft thing. Was it to prevent cars being stolen because the transmissions were being resold out of chop shop activities? Turns out cat theft would be a much more rampant issue...

exactly - sold as a benefit - we care about crime - your pride and joy - trying to make it hard to steal - reality - was make you pay for designed in failures at franchised silly money dealerships

lots of bits like this

Electroplate (gearbox brain)
ISM (gear selector)
EWS (ignition switch)
Kombi (cluster)
Comand (radio)
CGW

@BOTUS summarized it well.

And no dealer will sell you a new $400 for an installation by yourself or your mechanic, I've tried several dealers across USA. You must tow the car to a dealer and pay for both the part and the labor to replace it.

But some people sell equivalent ones on the internet, I bought one for something like $600 and had it installed by an independent mechanic, so it's possible to bypass the dealer.