The only practical way RPMs could damage the transmission is ballooning the torque converter from centrifugal force. The only way you can do that is by forcing a downshift at too high a speed or altering your injection pump's RPM limiter setting.

I downshift mine in traffic, but why bother its not a sports car. Put it in drive and forget about it. I have no problem making the trans upshift around 2k with my right foot. The upshifts are fine can't complain about that, its the kick down that sucks on these.

I hate reving the crap out of my engine, I just think about all those expensive 21 year old parts moving really fast, waiting to break! All I need is at 5k rpm to hear a pop, CLANG, then nothing. Great that little run just cost me $6k.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

The only time I get out of drive is if I'm in traffic at the "right" speed for it to keep up-shifting to 4th. I will stick it in S and keep it there to avoid a bunch of unnecessary shifting.

I don't have the vacuum 100% correct yet on mine, so I shift by hand and achieve smoother shifts than I can if I let it pick.

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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL