i also had a problem with a slow neutral to drive engagement
but finially it stopped one morning,no foward or reverce tore down trans ck all friction worn but ok replaced VB and seperator plate like newwww
almost (used vb) neutral to drive great. Tried to clean vb but all i got was foward and reverse and high shift points.
when you take the vb and seperator plate down air check all clutches and
bands @ 25 to 30 PSI there should some leakage @ clutch packs but not much at bands and foward piston brake.ddeming

i have a 300e 87 and an 83 300sd
both have tranny problems... the 300e takes 4 or 5 sec to engage..

the 300sd engages right away... i sought out the experts and if they engage right away it means the tranny is good but the problem is probably vacuum or something else... if it takes them a long time to engage it is sign of a bad tranny.


i want to rebuild my own.... any ideas.

similar deal I was trying to figure out with mine as well. on my 560SEL, all forward gears are fine, no flaring, slipping etc, nice smooth shifts. Reverse on the other hand, slams into gear hard. A friend of mine that rebuilds these mb transmissions in his sleep suggested worn out reverse clutches and even possibly the drum as well.

A BG trans clean and flush helped a little but it still is pretty rough. Also I had replaced the broken trans mount, but its still due for engine mounts and shocks and it has an idle speed of about 1100 in neutral.

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1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350