Conductor plate
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 606
Likes: 208
W221 S500
MB or a workshop. Who will buy it from MB.
It's considered a Theft Relevant Part, so you need to provide title and proof of ID to be able to order it.
MB provide reconditioned ones for ~$1,200 and new for ~$1,700.
Budget for a trans service kit as well.
What makes you think you need one?
It's considered a Theft Relevant Part, so you need to provide title and proof of ID to be able to order it.
MB provide reconditioned ones for ~$1,200 and new for ~$1,700.
Budget for a trans service kit as well.
What makes you think you need one?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 5,350
Likes: 1,690
S500
you can get yours partially refurbished, then you have no aggro with getting the car to recognise it and start again - that brings one reliable fix for one of two deliberate failure modes Merc gave you - the issue is the other fault is not repairable - and whilst rare, at this age I wouldn't bother with trying to get an old one fixed, as the other might still bite you
Merc will not sell you the part as they pretend its all about protecting you from theft - its just dealer robbery protectionism in reality and getting $2k out your wallet
The next bit of fun is these days they pretend they are no longer available - what that tends to mean is they order them in batches and like to delay customers getting them in the hope they throw the car away and buy a brand new merc
I would go to a big independent garage that has the online xentry tool to code a new unit and try and haggle a good price - if they can get the part it will cost them $500 - but they will attempt to charge you full retail at $1200 - you ought to fit 6 new shift solenoids at the same time - don't forget 5 seconds later the TC lock up clutch will fail but that’s a gearbox out job so no savings really doing at the same time and then the time switch in the ISM will give up soon enough to steal another $1000
these cars are actually the first of a brave new world that were purely designed to make you wish you had leased a new modern car....
Merc will not sell you the part as they pretend its all about protecting you from theft - its just dealer robbery protectionism in reality and getting $2k out your wallet
The next bit of fun is these days they pretend they are no longer available - what that tends to mean is they order them in batches and like to delay customers getting them in the hope they throw the car away and buy a brand new merc
I would go to a big independent garage that has the online xentry tool to code a new unit and try and haggle a good price - if they can get the part it will cost them $500 - but they will attempt to charge you full retail at $1200 - you ought to fit 6 new shift solenoids at the same time - don't forget 5 seconds later the TC lock up clutch will fail but that’s a gearbox out job so no savings really doing at the same time and then the time switch in the ISM will give up soon enough to steal another $1000
these cars are actually the first of a brave new world that were purely designed to make you wish you had leased a new modern car....
Last edited by BOTUS; Apr 6, 2026 at 07:32 AM.
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 606
Likes: 208
W221 S500
Actually, the thing it protects is your car. The TCM, ISM EIS and EZE are all vin coded.
An older car, all you needed to drive it away were a matched key, EIS and EZE. The shift locks were easily overcome.
On these you can't get it out of park without dismantling half of the floor pan underneath.
Back on point, what makes you so sure it needs one?
An older car, all you needed to drive it away were a matched key, EIS and EZE. The shift locks were easily overcome.
On these you can't get it out of park without dismantling half of the floor pan underneath.
Back on point, what makes you so sure it needs one?
