Recently, I have noticed that occasionally when I put our 300D into drive, nothing happens! If I move to park or reverse and try again, it usually then works.

I checked ATF level and it is correct.

On my other old Benz (107), I once put in new bushings in shifter mechanism. Is that something I should look at here, or would it more likely be transmission itself?

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

Could well be shifter bushings - always do silly simple (and cheap) first

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Yes it could be shifter bushings, if they are worn the excessive play can usually be felt in the shifter linkage whilst moving the shifter.

Could be a sticky valve in the valve body, I've had success with Lubegard brand additives for that.

How is the fluid condition and level?

Good luck!!!

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"Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength" - Eric Hoffer

As the other said; "If I move to park or reverse and try again, it usually then works." sounds like it could be the shifter bushings.

You did not say if revving the engine caused it to go into drive if you did not move the Shifter.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I had this problem on my SD. It did this off and on a month or two. During that time I put in new shift bushings. I thought that fixed it then bam, complete failure of my B2 piston. Left me stuck.

Just throwing that out there. Hope it is only bushings.

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79 300TD “Old Smokey” AKA “The Mistake” (SOLD)
82 240D stick shift 335k miles (SOLD)
82 300SD 300k miles
85 300D Turbodiesel 170k miles

My auto is doing same thing. it will sit and not engage, or just engage a little. them will work enough to let me move the car around. planning on just putting in the 4 speed manual I have once I'm able to find the parts to rebuild it.

Might just be a dirty valve body. Your reverse works and that is good news.

Get it looked at before you end up roaching the clutches etc . IMO

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1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
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1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD