MB Medic Mercedes-Benz Repair Guides, Service, How To DIY
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In this guide (4 sections)
If you can not get your Mercedes-Benz S-Class S430 S500 S55 AMG CL500 W220 out of park, it is either because the shifter module has failed (parts inside it break) or the stop lamp switch is defective. Watch the video below to learn how to get the car out of park in emergencies or if you need the vehicle towed. Check out the following video on how to replace the brake light switch, which takes about 10 minutes. If the shifter lever is not moving due to the broken 11mm shifter lock piece inside the shifter module, you can replace the broken piece for under $50. Resources on where to find the part and how to replace it are provided below.
How to get your S-Class CL-Class W220/C215 out of the Park.
If you are looking for a shifter release switch, you will not find one. Because the W220/215 Mercedes-Benz S-Class CL-Class didn’t come with a manual shifter unlock. So, if you need to get your car towed or your S430/S500 is stuck in park, you may wonder how to manually get the car out of park. The video below will show you how to get your Mercedes-Benz shifter to move out of park.
Possible Causes and Solutions
These are the two main reasons your S-Class will not come out of the Park.
Which of the two it is, before you take anything apart
The page above gives two causes, and there is a free way to tell them apart. Have someone stand behind the car while you sit in it with the ignition on and press the brake pedal. If the brake lights do not come on, the brake light switch is your fault and the shifter module is fine: the car will not release the shift lock because nothing is telling it your foot is on the brake. If the brake lights do come on normally and the lever still will not move out of park, the switch is doing its job and the broken lock piece inside the shifter module is the likely answer.
That one check decides between a cheap switch and opening up the shifter, so it is worth two minutes before ordering a part. It is also worth knowing on its own account: a car whose brake lights do not work is not safe to drive even once the shifter is sorted out, because nobody behind you can tell when you are slowing down.
A scan tool that talks to the transmission and shifter control modules will show the same thing from the driver seat, including whether the car is seeing the brake pedal signal at all, which is why reading the codes first can save dismantling the console. A capable one is the YOUCANIC UCAN Pro scanner. It will not pick the broken plastic lock piece out for you, though. Nothing monitors that part, so if the brake light signal is good and the lever is still locked, the shifter module has to come apart to confirm it.
If the car has to be towed before any of that
Worth saying plainly, because it affects the call you make: a car that cannot be shifted out of park cannot be rolled, so it needs a flatbed rather than a conventional tow with the wheels on the ground. Dragging a car whose transmission is locked in park loads the parking pawl against the driveline and can turn a shifter repair into a transmission one. Tell the operator on the phone that the car is stuck in park and will not roll, so the right truck turns up the first time.
Mercedes-Benz Shifter Selector Module Problem
The part shown in the picture is located inside the shifter control unit/module. The function of this plastic piece is to unlock the shifter from the park position. It breaks inside the shifter and causes the shifter lever to not release from the park position. The small piece is known to fail frequently. Instead of replacing the whole shifter module at over $1500, you can open the shifter module and replace the part you see here. You can find this part on Amazon, and replacing it is possible if you are willing to remove the shifter module and open it up. You need Mercedes Shifter Selector Lever Repair Kit CL W220 C Class (Automatic Transmission Park Lock Lever) 2202679724 C101 2202679924 C102 For use with W215 W220 CL500 CL55 AMG CL600 S350 S430 S500 S55 AMG S600 Mercedes-Benz.
There are three different types of these shifter selectors available: two types of 11mm and one type of 5mm. Please make sure you purchase the correct selector by comparing the existing piece on your vehicle with the pictures. 
Replacing the broken piece is not difficult. Watch this video tutorial below to learn how to replace it on your S-Class. If you would rather read than watch, the forum write up linked further down covers the same repair in text.
You must disconnect the linkage under the car from the transmission to remove the shifter module. Unassemble the shifter box; inside, you will see a small broken plastic. That is the part that you need to replace. If you would like to read instructions on how to replace the broken piece, take a look at this article: Shifter Stuck in Park, How to replace the Broken Shifter Lock Piece.
Brake Light Switch
The brake light switch could fail, preventing you from shifting the car out of Park and into Drive or Neutral. Luckily for you, this part is very inexpensive, and you can replace it yourself. Here Is how to replace the brake light switch on a Mercedes-Benz.
If you need detailed instructions on replacing the brake light switch, read this article: How to replace the brake light switch on a Mercedes-Benz Complete Step By Step Instruction.
Before you buy parts, scan every control module, not just the engine. It shows the root fault behind the warning lights and tells you whether the problem is still active. See how to do a full health check.
