brand new to mercedes and this forum. Have a 1980 300d as project car. Seems to be shifting from first into second very sloppy. If I really baby it with a very slow acceleration, if shifts fine. Wondering if the vacumn is giving me a problem, not sure how to check that out?

this does sound like vacuum.
there is a green pod on top of the Injection Pump, it has a hose attached to it, and it goes to the black hard vacuum line that connects to the transmission. (your car should have similar connections, if not the same) anyway, you need to reduce the vacuum going to the black line.
I'd first off, disconnect the black line from ALL vacuum, and go for a drive. if it now shifts HARD, then all that's needed is to get the vacuum adjusted down enough to get better shifts... go back to the list, and look at the CRITICAL VACUUM TRANSMISSION thread. I'll bump it to the top for you... prepare for a lot of reading though...
oh,
Welcome to the forum!
John

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!