[Update:]  This deal is dead.  If you follow the link it will take you to a download page where the Gold Lancer will cost you 99999 MS points. 

I tried this earlier and it queued it up and downloaded.  Even tried out my new gold lancer in an online match.  Not sure if this is an error but get it while you can.

http://xbox.joystiq.com/2009/01/27/grab-the-in-game-gears-2-gold-lancer-for-free/

Grab the in-game Gears 2 Gold Lancer for free [Update]

If you picked up your copy of Gears of War 2 used, you now have a chance to get your hands on the elusive gold-plated Lancer, which was -- until today -- only available via a voucher code included with new copies of the game. It's available now on the Xbox Live Marketplace as a free download.

Don't look so surprised. Earlier in the month, Microsoft released the Flashback Map Pack -- another item initially made available only to new buyers of the game -- on the Marketplace. At least this time, the content is free. No word if it will remain that way.

Update: This content seems to only be available on the Xbox.com Marketplace, not on the Xbox 360 Marketplace.

Download the In-game Gold Lancer for Gears 2

It worked

I was ready to spend a 50 on another game disk with a download code on Ebay, but no more.

Posting so I can view this thread when I get out of work.

Thanks.

Looks like this was a mistake as I expected. Microsoft is going put out a patch that removes the item. :( Not sure how they are going to differentiate from the people that got it with the collectors edition.

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/28/gears-of-war-2-microsoft-flubs-gold-lancer-offer/

Gears of War 2: Microsoft flubs gold Lancer offer
A Microsoft representative has informed Joystiq that the public availability of the Gears 2 Gold Lancer was made in error. Yesterday, we reported that the exclusive Collector's Edition weapon had appeared on the Xbox.com Marketplace for all to wield.

According to the rep, everyone who obtained the Gold Lancer from the Xbox.com Marketplace will have the item removed from their games in an upcoming fix, in order to keep the weapon exclusive to Gears 2 Collector's Edition consumers. "We're currently attempting a fix that will expire all codes that were unexpectedly released in error through Xbox LIVE Marketplace," the representative noted.

How Microsoft will remove (or possibly disable) the art asset file and differentiate between legitimate owners and those who grabbed the guns as they fell off the back of the truck is unclear. A request for clarification on how or when the fix would be implemented has gone unanswered, but we'll update you as soon as we know more.

Cheers anyway

I downloaded it, thanks for the heads up.

Bastards, they will have to pry it from my cold dead hands.

I got the Lancer code with my review copy. I still haven't downloaded it. Maybe I will.

madskillz, you know I'd do ANYTHING for a Gold Lancer code! D:

Here's guessing MS intentionally put it on web marketplace only and made it free - to increase the awareness that there is a web marketplace (new feature as of last fall I believe)