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  #1  
Old 02-05-2005, 12:22 AM
Rahulio1989300E's Avatar
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Question... Transmission

I just had a question about the transmission on my 89 300E w124

Is it a manu-automatic?

I mean, there is no shift button to depress first before you click it in place!

So could I at a stoplight, click it into 2nd, then manually shift to 3rd while moving, then to D for the final gear?????

When approaching a red light, I should just brake like normal and after stopping put it back into 2nd right?

If you can shift this car manually, I would....

1) Be pissed I did not know this first of all.
2) Grab my keys and have some fun!

If you can't or if this harms the transmission, then please say so!

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  #2  
Old 02-05-2005, 01:14 AM
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I don't think it'll harm the transmission. I did that myself quite often when I had the auto in my 2.6.
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  #3  
Old 02-05-2005, 04:59 PM
Rahulio1989300E's Avatar
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okay, so far so good, anyone else?
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  #4  
Old 02-05-2005, 05:50 PM
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The only caution is manual down shifts. If you down shift at excessive speeds, you can over rev the engine
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  #5  
Old 02-05-2005, 06:06 PM
Rahulio1989300E's Avatar
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Okay, yeah think I know what you mean, like if I am at 4000RPM, then I should wait till like 3000 before getting back into 2nd gear right?

Thanks a lot, people.


Anybody else with precautions or advice?
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  #6  
Old 02-05-2005, 06:24 PM
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Mercedes trannies are loads of fun to shift manually. With fresh fluid they shift RIGHT NOW when you move the lever. Makes driving in the twisties a lot more fun!

One important trick to know is how to get it into first. Normally a 12-valve 300E like yours starts in second. To get it into first, just shift down into "2" when stopped. Then when you take off from the stop and want to upshift, put it into "3" and IMMEDIATELY back to "2"---if you leave it in "3" it will shift from first to third, but if you do the "2-3-2" trick it will shift from first to second. Then, as you accelerate, go up to third by shifting to "3" and to fourth by shifting to "D" like you'd expect.

Once you're rolling you're not going to want to use first, so then you can just shift among second, third, and fourth as much as you want---provided, like someone else said, you don't downshift above 4000 rpm or so and overrev the engine. Other than that, the tranny is made to take it---that's why Mercedes gives you the nice gate that you can shift by feel! Have fun!
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'87 300D Turbo, roadtrip mileage champ (for sale!)
'92 Isuzu Trooper, mudder extraordinaire (for sale!)
'82 Honda Silverwing, cockroach of motorcycles
And various boring daily drivers...
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  #7  
Old 02-05-2005, 06:55 PM
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Thumbs up

Quote:
Originally Posted by AlexTheSeal
Mercedes trannies are loads of fun to shift manually. With fresh fluid they shift RIGHT NOW when you move the lever. Makes driving in the twisties a lot more fun!

One important trick to know is how to get it into first. Normally a 12-valve 300E like yours starts in second. To get it into first, just shift down into "2" when stopped. Then when you take off from the stop and want to upshift, put it into "3" and IMMEDIATELY back to "2"---if you leave it in "3" it will shift from first to third, but if you do the "2-3-2" trick it will shift from first to second. Then, as you accelerate, go up to third by shifting to "3" and to fourth by shifting to "D" like you'd expect.

Once you're rolling you're not going to want to use first, so then you can just shift among second, third, and fourth as much as you want---provided, like someone else said, you don't downshift above 4000 rpm or so and overrev the engine. Other than that, the tranny is made to take it---that's why Mercedes gives you the nice gate that you can shift by feel! Have fun!
THAT IS FLIPPING SWEET!!!!!

So, just to make sure I got this right....

1) It is perfectly fine to manually shift the gears.
2) Don't use the transmission to slow the car down, it is easier to replace brake pads than a whole transmisson!
3) When starting from a stop, shift into 2nd, that will start the car in 1st gear, then as when ready to shift into second, shift to 3rd then back into 2nd, that will engage 2nd, then shift up like normally.


THANKS YOU ALL FOR YOUR HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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  #8  
Old 02-05-2005, 07:56 PM
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there was a good thread about shifting automatics a few weeks back.

if you always manually shift your automatic, you may wear out a shifter bushing quicker which will present itself as a slightly inaccurate shifter.

in automatic mode the transmissions shift themselves quite well. Times when you want maximum peformance with a bit more control manual shifting is rewarding. There are some good books that discuss shifting automatic transmissions - point I want to make is to know how professional drivers shift automatics.

No doubt for maximum longevity easy driving with mild acceleration and easy braking will get you the highest mileage.
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  #9  
Old 02-05-2005, 08:30 PM
Rahulio1989300E's Avatar
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Excellent Advice

Yeah, I have no plans for driving this car hard at all, if I wanted to do that, I would have bought a sports car.....!

I just want to have the occassional joy of just having control of the transmission as well.

Question though,
How would one change the transmission shifter bushing?
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  #10  
Old 02-05-2005, 08:55 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rahulio1989300E
So, just to make sure I got this right....

1) It is perfectly fine to manually shift the gears.
2) Don't use the transmission to slow the car down, it is easier to replace brake pads than a whole transmisson!
3) When starting from a stop, shift into 2nd, that will start the car in 1st gear, then as when ready to shift into second, shift to 3rd then back into 2nd, that will engage 2nd, then shift up like normally.
You got it.

I wouldn't worry about the shifter bushings. They wear out anyway when they get old, but a little manual shifting now and then is not really going to make much of a difference. Replacement is a pain without special tools, but the dealer can do it for only $100 or so.
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'87 300D Turbo, roadtrip mileage champ (for sale!)
'92 Isuzu Trooper, mudder extraordinaire (for sale!)
'82 Honda Silverwing, cockroach of motorcycles
And various boring daily drivers...
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  #11  
Old 02-05-2005, 09:01 PM
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IF you what too enjoy the performance side of you car; a wide open throttle kick down start will force a first gear start; all of the up shifts will be just below your cars max RPMs.

Your car will also start in 1st gear In the “2” position and make a 1st to 2nd shift at or about 45mph hold 2nd then shift to “3” for 3rd and “D” for 4th gear.
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  #12  
Old 02-05-2005, 09:09 PM
Ta ra ra boom de ay
 
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...and finaly
there are shift marks on the speedometer. III for do not be in third gear above this speed (about 99mph). II for do not be in second and I for do not be in first.
check em out.
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Reading your M103 duty cycle:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/831799-post13.html
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/831807-post14.html
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  #13  
Old 02-05-2005, 09:25 PM
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ALEX!!! You rock!!!

I realize this info was out there somewhere, but I got it from you first, so you get the thumbs up

When my 300TE is fully loaded with people...man...you need those inbetween gears. I would shift down to 2, and when I got to rpm...I would shift to 3, and you could feel it shift up two gears. "Drove" me nuts.....hehe. I realize that I could floor it and it would work just fine...but I was not happy with flooring it everytime I wanted to run through the gears.

The only thing I was ever cautioned on about "shifting" an auto tranny...I was told that it is better to leave it in D on a stop light, as opposed to shifting to N while waiting. I dont remember the reason, but have followed the advice.

Also...not 100% sure of this, but I believe that MB have some type of protection. I believe I read that if you shift down at higher revs or speeds...that the tranny will not shift down until the engine or speed is within range for that gearing. Like I said...not 100% sure, but I believe this to be the case.

Last edited by Saint; 02-05-2005 at 09:35 PM.
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  #14  
Old 02-06-2005, 12:48 AM
Rahulio1989300E's Avatar
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Thank you all!

Excellent, fast, and through advice!

THE JOY OF OPEN FORUMS!!!!!
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  #15  
Old 02-11-2005, 04:26 PM
Rahulio1989300E's Avatar
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ACK!

Okay, recently I have been trying to shift the gears manually, It has been quite fun!

My problem is this though....

When I start from a stop, I am in position 2 on the gear selector (1st gear for car), I wait till it revs to about 3000 RPM, then I shift from 2 to 3, and then back to 2 again, but I seems to just stay back in 1st gear!!!!! I have to finally shift to positon 3 and then the car goes into 3rd gear.....

What am I doing wrong??!??!?!? HELP ME PLEASEEE!

1989 300E Automatic

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