I have a 1995 C280 with 85K miles just had a tranny service before i bought it a couple weeks ago. anyway when I'm driving and I step on it I can here a rattle/ticking sound from where the auto shifter is? it isn't lout at all, but loud enough for me to hear it and wonder? any ideas almost sounds like just something small loose rattling around? Thanks

I had a similare problem with my 1988 560SL. The noise eminated within the car from the shifter area. While under the car wheels up and my wife running the car at ~ 60 mph the noise appeared to be comming from the tail end of the trainsmission. However the center bearing is covered and I belive the noise ends up comming up the drive shaft and throught the opening at the tail of the trainsmission. If you do a search you will see my post on marble noise's from the transmission. I ended up replacing 5 parts.

1) Transmission output shaft bearing
2) Center bearing support
3) Center bearing support bearing
4) U-joint
5) Driveshaft extension dust boot

I cant say for sure but I belive the real problem was the drive shaft extension dust boot. It was torn and had a piece of rubber swinging around and possibly hitting something. The other parts were replaced only because I had them out . The U-joint was only slightly stiff and the center bearing support was sagging. I dont belive these had anything to do with it.

Good luck
John Roncallo

thanks for the info