🚨 1997 Mercedes-Benz E300 Diesel W210: Emergency Neutral
The 1997 W210 E300 Diesel uses a column-mounted automatic transmission shifter with electronic shift interlock.
🧰 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
- Apply the parking brake firmly and chock the wheels
- Turn the ignition key to position II (ON) - this requires at least minimal battery voltage
- Locate the shift lock override slot on the right side of the steering column shroud near the base of the shifter lever
- Remove the small rectangular plastic cover to expose the override button/slot
- Insert a small flat-blade screwdriver or similar tool and press the override mechanism
- While holding the override, press the shifter release button and move the lever through the gate to neutral
- If the electronic system has any power, pressing the brake pedal while in position II should also release the interlock normally
Shift-lock override location
Right side of the steering column shroud near the shifter base, accessed via a small covered slot
With zero electrical power
The W210 shift interlock is electronically controlled. With absolutely zero power, the mechanical override is your only option. The override mechanism directly disengages the shift lock solenoid. Note that you will also need to deal with the steering lock - if the battery is completely dead and the steering is locked, you cannot turn the key to any position, which may complicate getting the transmission out of park.