If you floor it you should feel every shift and all the shift points should be above 2,200 rpm. It's only at moderate or light throttle that you will get the lower rpm shifts. Something is wrong. Others here know more about this than I but it seems the Bowden cable is still the likely culprit. Try checking the tranny end to see if there is room for adjustment. Also make sure your throttle linkage is getting full travel. I suppose it's possible that your cable stretched but I've never heard of that happening. I'm sure others here will have other ideas.

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LRG
1987 300D Turbo 175K
2006 Toyota Prius, efficent but no soul
1985 300 TDT(130K miles of trouble free motoring)now sold

Yesterday on my way home, I ran "tests" to gather some data for smartin. Under light accel, 1-2, 2-3 at 1500rpm, 3-4 just under 2000rpm. Under normal accel, all shifts right at 2000rpm. Med. accel 1-2 at ~2500, 2-3 ~3200, 3-4 3500. Heavy 1-2 at ~3000, 2-3 ~3500, 3-4 4300. Maybe this helps.

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1982 Mercedes-Benz 300CD
1982 Mercedes-Benz 240D - stick

Hey thanks for all the info. I think there is an adjustment that I need to make to the throttle, as I cannot get it to rev much past 2000 rpm when shifting from dead start - it shifts at anywhere under 2000 rpm to right around 2000 rpm enen if I STOMP it. Any ideas? Should I check to see if throttle opens up along with peadl movement?

There is a cable operated "throttle position sensor" on the 722.x trannys -- if you look at the thottle linkage, you will see it. The cable should be just all the way into the housing, with no slack, at idle, and must pull out with throttle travel.

If it is not attached, the cable is broken, or unhooked inside the tranny, you will have closed throttle upshifts only.

Also, shift "feel" is controlled by vacuum - -another issue altogether.

engatwork had a similar problem, cured by changing the tranny (ouch) for a used on aquired with another engine.

My old 220D had the same problem when I first got it, but it eventually went away as I drove it. Had to manuall downshift a bit at first, but it cleared up on it's own. Probably the multiple fluid changes from the leaking cooler line helped, too!

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Peter - Where exactly is this throttle sensor? On transmission or on engine? Thanks.

It's a cable, connected to the throttle linkage, I think up by the valve cover, driver's side, that goes down to the top of the transmission.

Check to make sure it's attached, and that it pulls out of the cable housing when the throttle is opened.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Peter - Thanks I'll check it this weekend.