🚨 2017 Mercedes-Benz E400 W213: Emergency Neutral
The 2017 W213 E400 uses a console-mounted electronic shifter with a short lever and electronic PRND gate (not a traditional full-travel lever).
✓ Expert-verified by Chris Hackleman & Jeff Moore — master technicians, 20+ years each.
⚠️ 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 parking brake is firmly engaged and the vehicle is on level ground.
- Attempt to provide electrical power: if possible, jump-start the 12V battery or use a portable power supply connected to the jump-start terminals under the hood.
- With power restored, press the brake pedal and push the ignition button to place the vehicle in accessory or ON mode (you may not need the engine running, just electrical power).
- Press the brake pedal firmly and move the shifter lever rearward one position to Neutral (the shifter moves in a short D-N-R-P pattern).
- If the brake/shift interlock has failed: locate the small circular or rectangular override cap on the center console directly to the right of the shifter base, near the base of the lever.
- Use a small flathead screwdriver or key blade to carefully pry off the override cap.
- Insert the tool into the exposed override slot and press down while simultaneously moving the shifter to Neutral.
- If absolutely no power can be restored, the mechanical override is your only option—use the override slot to release the shifter lock and move to Neutral.
Shift-lock override location
Small cap directly to the right of the shifter base on the center console; the override release slot is beneath this cap.
With zero electrical power
The W213 shifter is heavily electronic. With zero 12V power, you must use the mechanical shift lock override: remove the small cap to the right of the shifter base, insert a tool into the slot, press down, and move the shifter to Neutral. Note that the transmission itself may still lock the output shaft without power—if the vehicle will not roll even in Neutral, the transmission control module may require power or the vehicle may need flatbed towing.