🚨 2001 Mercedes-Benz 500SL R129: Emergency Neutral
The 2001 500SL (R129) uses a traditional floor-mounted console shifter with electronic shift lock controlled by the brake-light circuit.
🧰 Drafted with AI under the editorial review of Chris Hackleman & Jeff Moore — cross-check against your owner’s manual when possible.
⚠️ Chock the wheels first — neutral means the car can roll. Set the parking brake while you work, never stand downhill of the vehicle, and try a 12-volt jump before any override: power fixes most stuck-in-park problems instantly.
The procedure
- Ensure the vehicle is on a flat surface with the parking brake engaged and wheels chocked
- Turn the ignition key to position I or II (accessory/on) if battery has any charge remaining
- Locate the small plastic cap or rectangular cover on the shifter console, typically positioned directly forward of the shifter lever base on the right side
- Use a small flathead screwdriver or trim tool to carefully pry off the override cover cap
- With your foot firmly on the brake pedal, insert the screwdriver or key into the exposed shift lock override slot and press down firmly
- While holding the override down, press the shifter button and move the lever to Neutral
- If the vehicle needs to be pushed or towed, keep it in Neutral; for flatbed loading, the shifter can remain in Park if necessary
Shift-lock override location
Small rectangular cover forward and to the right of the shifter base on the center console; the override slot is directly beneath this cap
With zero electrical power
With completely dead battery, the shift lock cannot be electronically overridden through normal means. The mechanical override slot near the shifter base should still function as it is a physical cable release mechanism that bypasses the solenoid. If the override does not work with zero power, the vehicle must be flatbedded in Park or the center console must be partially disassembled to access the shift lock solenoid cable directly.