Mercedes 1998 W210 E240 Auto Gear Selection Problem when cold

Check battery leads and terminals must be clean
Check fuse (blade type)
Check battery with hydrometer,take it to shop
Batterys can (drop plates internally) if this is the case will result in delayed starting ...not enough amperage getting to starter motor & ignition

It sounds like you parked on an incline.the parking pawl is a bolt which is activated during park and if the car is allowed to roll against it ...I.e. If someone releases hand/ foot brake then it is very hard to release the park selection as it gets licked from normal free movement.you will need someone to rock or push the car towards the the incline to enable the pressure to release off the parking pawl.as it's an automatic I believe you can't do this without the engine running....but I would actually try to release the park before starting car by the above method.

valet key wont open door, only starts the car 3 times, wont open globe compartment or truck , is a valet key. for stranges to park your car

While the P03xx codes can be intermittent, sporadic and very difficult to diagnose (bad fuel, malfunctioning injectors, assorted sensors, catalytic converters, etc.), I learned of one relatively simple and inexpensive solution to another Mercedes owner's various P03xx problems. See for yourself here: http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w140-s-class/1265142-p0300-p0301-p0306-p0170-codes.html
Good luck.

The shifter needs to be inspected.If the gears are shifted automatically.The shifter assembly is got misaligned,it has to be open and realign.

There are many other possibilities.But if it was working right up till now and suddenly this auto shifting occurred then its shifter assembly realign issue.
Also i suggest you to refer these gear shift issues,which are mostly noticed.These are direct links with appropriate solutions to the specific problems of gear ****.
Click the link below:------

GEAR SHIFT ISSUES

Gear indicator Shows "3" Instead Of "D"? http://whoisbyme.blogspot.in/2012/07/gear-indicator-shows-3-instead-of-d.html --------- 2006 Chrysler 300c: Shifter Stuck in Park? http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/06/2006-chrysler-300c-shifter-stuck-in.html ---------- 1998 Ford Expedition: Will not Shift Out of Park? http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/06/1998-ford-expedition-will-not-shift-out.html --------- Car will not move when in gear? http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.in/2012/02/car-will-not-move-when-in-gear.html ----------- Mercedes-Benz transmission sticks in first gear? http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/mercedes-benz-transmission-sticks-in.html ---------- Mercedes Benz not engaging in first gear? http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/mercedes-benz-not-engaging-in-first.html ---------- Chrysler PT Cruiser only goes in First gear?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/chrysler-pt-cruiser-only-goes-in-first.html

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Car is stuck in park and the shift will not move?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/08/car-is-stuck-in-park-and-shift-will-not.html
------- 2007 Ford Expedition: How to shift car in neutral with Dead Battery http://www.howtorepairguide.com/2012/11/2007-ford-expedition-how-to-shift-car.html -------- 2002 Nissan sentra will not go out of park mode? http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/2002-nissan-sentra-will-not-go-out-of.html -------- Nissan Sentra stuck in park? http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/nissan-sentra-stuck-in-park.html --------- Car will not come out of Park?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-will-not-come-out-of-park.html
----------- Automatic transmission will not go into high gear?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/automatic-transmission-will-not-go-into.html

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Car won't downshift sometimes?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/car-wont-downshift-sometimes.html
-------- Buick Park Avenue: Transmission will Not shift into drive?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/buick-park-avenuetransmission-will.html
------------ No First gear Starts In Second Gear http://www.howtobyme.blogspot.com/2012/07/no-first-gear-starts-in-second-gear.html ------- Ford Taurus won't shift from park? http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/ford-taurus-wont-shift-from-park.html --------- 2006 Ford F150: Will Not Shift out Of Park? http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/06/2006-ford-f150-will-not-shift-out-of.html -------- Car Transmission will not go into Park mode?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/car-transmission-will-no-go-into-park.html
---------- 1998 Chrysler Voyager: Transmission Problem? http://howtobyme.blogspot.in/2012/06/1998-chrysler-voyager-transmission.html ------ Shift indicator directly goes to 2nd when key is turned ON?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/shift-indicator-directly-goes-to-2nd.html
-------- Third gear missing and engine losing power?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2012/01/third-gear-missing-and-engine-losing.html
-------- Chevrolet silverado has whining sound in gear?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/chevrolet-silverado-has-whining-sound.html
---------- 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche Z71: Gear shift Issue? http://whoisbyme.blogspot.in/2012/06/2002-chevrolet-avalanche-z71-gear-shift.html ---------- Hard to shift gears on Manual transmission?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/hard-to-shift-gears-on-manual.html
-------- Car hard shift at slow speeds?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/car-hard-shift-at-slow-speeds.html
--------- Transmission-Hard To Down Shift http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/07/transmission-hard-to-down-shift.html --------- Automatic transmission shift lever hard to move on cold mornings?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/automatic-transmission-shift-lever-hard.html
------------ 2000 Nissan maxima shifts hard?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/02/2000-nissan-maxima-shifts-hard.html

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Vehicle noticed sluggish delayed shifts while driving?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/03/vehicle-noticed-sluggish-delayed-shifts.html

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2007 Hyundai Santa Fe: Will not Shift out of Park Mode? http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/06/2007-hyundai-santa-fe-will-not-shift.html
==========These details will help.Thanks.

take car to dealership. The cars computer (ECU) needs to be reflashed since there was an electrical disruption when you disconnected the battery. This is only true with some european cars yours being one of them. Call them first they'll tell you so.

YOU CAN RELEASE THE GEAR SHIFTER BY INSERTING A PIN INTO THE HOLE BESUDE THE SHIFTER.

change the oil

crankshaft posititon sensor

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w210-e-class/1219451-installation-cps-sensor-pictures.html

The electronic shift lock out comes apart inside the shifter mechanism. Most likely you will need to replace the shifter assy. It's a common MB problem.