Reverse problem
 

On my 89 300SEL I have started to have problems in the reverse. The reverse does not engage immediately. The car shakes as it is backing and after some time depending on how far I backup the reverse is smooth. The transmission is very smooth in all forward gears.

Any ideas what to check.

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The reverse clutch is shot. Time for another one.

Thanks for the reply. Does this mean time for a new transmission.

I experienced a similar problem in an 84 500 SEC. A brief delay, a bit of shudder, followed by engagement and normal operation . My problem dissapeared after a fluid/filter change. I am often frustrated by replies to posts that offer such simplistic an possibly invalid answers, however, I did nothing other than the above and now the automobile engages immediately and without incident in reverse. I was recently speaking to a transmission specialist with forty years of experience and he mentioned to me that he is still quite often surprised by the ways in which a transmission can surprise you. Good luck.

Your description of the problem is more acurate than my original description. The car does exactly that delay brief shudder and engage. It is worth the advice, I will change the fluid/filter and hope for the miracle cure.

Thanks