I usually don't post very often but our SL has been fairly dependable... Until a few weeks ago. This is when we started to notice the shifter hanging up when we tried to shift out of park. During the next 3 weeks, it's gotten progressively worse and is now to the point it's getting extremely difficult to shift. So, I've made an appointment with the dealer to fix it and do an inspection 2 at the same time. As a side note, we almost got stuck 400 miles away last weekend as well.

 

Your problem is caused by an L shaped plastic part inside your shifter that cracks and then eventually breaks. When you step on your brake pedal a solenoid inside your shifter pushes on this plastic piece, which then releases the shift lever to come out of park. When it cracks it only works sometimes, and then when it breaks it won't work at all.

A temporary fix to get you going is to take your shift knob off the lever, and then with the engine running you press on the brake, move the lever to the right and pull back on it, and while pulling back hit the lever sharply on top with a hammer. It should pop out of park. To take the knob off you just pry the shift boot up off the console and pull it up over the knob, that will expose a cone shaped collar just under the knob. Turn the collar about ninety degrees and then pull the knob off the shift lever.

The cheapest fix (only involves labor) is to remove the shifter from the car and remove the plastic piece. With the shifter out you turn it over and look into the guts. You will see an L shaped black plastic piece about two inches long (hard to see). There is a small circlip holding the black plastic piece on a post. Remove the clip and push the plastic piece off the post and then break the plastic piece into at least two pieces (it will break easily where it is already cracked). Remove the plastic piece and the put the shifter back into the car.

The shifter will work fine, but you will have defeated the brake/shifter interlock required in all new cars. That means if the engine is running the car will come out of park even if you don't have your foot on the brake. That shouldn't be a problem unless you leave kids in the car unattended.

Your alternative is to go to the dealer and they will replace the shifter for around $1100.00. They obviously can't remove the plastic piece for liability reasons, and from what I have read on the forums they can't or won't replace the plastic piece.

I just fixed mine using this method yesterday and it works fine. I got the shop manual on DVD from MBUSA for about $67.00 (including shipping) and it clearly shows the process for removing the shifter. It is pretty straight forward if you're mechanically inclined.

If you have any questions send me a PM or an email with your phone number and I'll try to help any way I can.

 

http://www.monoglobal.com.au

I had order/replace the ESM Selector.
Mitchell Porritt is very nice guy and their service is great.

 

Thanks for the responses. The SL is under MB warranty till 12-2010 so I will have them change whatever they need to change to bring it back to what it was when it was new. I paid enough for the warranty so I might as well use it! If it happens out of warranty, I would probably just remove the part. Our kids are grown and driving.