About this time last year my old CDI with 200k miles + on the clock went unexplicably into limp mode. Maximum speed 40mph. It was a gearbox issue as I had to turn the ignintion off to push into park. The car has been regularly serviced by Mercedes though latterly through a friend. He said he could do nothing with an automatic gearbox & recommended a company in Peterbrough. They changed the oil but initially this had no change in the limp mode status. Only after driving the car hard after about 5 miles did it remarkably kick into gear. £85 seemed a small price to pay. I got home 30 miles without a problem.

Next morning limp mode!

The company in Peterborough thought it might be the sensor on top of the gearbox - to replace this would be £400 plus with no guarantee of success. I limped back from Peterborough at a sorry 40mph to decide on a way forward.Fortunately my CLS is as reliable as ever. The CDI was parked up as I contemplated throwing money at a car which is worth perhaps no more than £1500.


A few days later I took it out again & as I struggled at 40mph I pushed the switch next to the gear lever from S to W. It clicked into gear & off we went. Since then (almost a year ago) it has only once gone back to limp mode - after being left on the drive for over a week. I drove it hard & after 2 miles once again it clicked into gear.


Talking with Mercdedes at Northampton, it seems that in "w" mode (winter mode), the gearbox starts in second rather than first. Based on if it "aint broke dont fix it", the kids have been told not to touch anything next to the gear lever! With 237k now on the clock, within 3k miles I might have driven to the moon. What an excellent car!

I do so hope this information might help others in the future!

 

Have you solved this problem? My 2000 E320 140k miles, is now in limp home mode, no CEL, no shift indicator on dash, stuck on 2nd, can't shift to R from D - have to turn off engine to be able to shift.