Can anyone describe to me the "normal" transmission operation on a late 80s to 91' 300 series? I am considering a couple of late 80s to 90' 300SE and 300SEL's and wondering how the transmission should normally shift. I have never driven one before, so not sure. I have driven Mercedes diesels in the past and know they often can have jerky shifts, but wondering if I should expect the same on the models with the 3.0L I-6 engines.

Thanks in advance.

Normal starts off in second gear. Get on the skinny pedal and it'll go to first. The 1-2 shift is hard enough to chirp the tires. 2-3 and 3-4 are much smoother.
On cold starts it will hold gears longer to rev the engine higher to light the catalytic converter off faster. At least that's how mine acts.

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1989 300 SEL that mostly works, but needs TLC

but smoothly.
more firm than american cars and less smooth.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

All the late 80's early 90's Benz's I've driven have a smooth transition through the gears if you're easy on the throttle. If you get harder on it, the shifts get firmer.

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- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

it doesn't really matter does it?????????

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1989 300TE

yes it matters. he is looking at used benzes and wants to know how they SHOULD shift if all is good.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Have you ever driven a domestic car with a shift kit installed? That's the closest comparison I can think of.

Personally, I prefer firm shifts. And believe it or not, it's easier on the transmission. Soft shifts = clutch slippage. Which means excess tranny wear.

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'01 SLK320, '79 450SL & '01 C320 -- What? 3 Mercedes? I am DEFINITELY crazy!!!

He's been looking to buy every possible model of used Benz' forever and still hasn't taken the dive.

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1989 300TE

Mine shifts smooth as glass on my 1986 190E. Unless floored where it is more firm but not launch you back and forth firm. Smoth yet firm at reldine.

They shift more harshly when there is a vacuum leak to the tranny modulator. Diesels seem to show this more due to the need of a vacuum pump instead or using the intake vacuum like on a gasser. That and a vacuum leak on either type engine's vacuum shifter do cause a noticeable diference in shifting.

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~Jamie
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2003 Pewter C230K SC C1, C4, C5, C7, heated seats, CD Changer, and 6 Speed. ContiExtremes on the C7's.

1986 190E 2.3 Black, Auto, Mods to come soon.....

Some shift real soft and some shift reall hard. It depends on how they are adjusted and the owners tastes.

What you should look for is neck snapping banging, then you have a vacuum leak. You also need to look for slipping.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

687 posts and still no purchase...?

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'01 SLK320, '79 450SL & '01 C320 -- What? 3 Mercedes? I am DEFINITELY crazy!!!

exactly, it's ludicrous. he wastes time and people take him seriously. it's incredible.

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1989 300TE

Oh, its you. You are still here....

Ludicrous? Yep, it sure is when you reply!!!!! 30 posts and you have done nothing but complain about me. Now that is incredible.

Your posts make me ill. Please to not reply to my posts. You are the only person with the problem it seems. I was away for a few months and he had 29 posts then it seemed. I return and here he goes again. I guess I will have to do what I did the last time - ignore your replies. I should have done that this time. I am ludicrous for even wasting this time about you. From your most recent posts, I see that you are also posting rude remarks to others. tisk, tisk....

I pray that you find happiness. I really do.

FYI, I had a Mercedes in the past. BTW - pay no attention to taker22. He is always a pest and for some reason always ditching my posts. Its one of the dumbest things I have ever seen. ????

Thanks to everyone (except taker22) for the replies.

I drove the Mercedes today and was very pleased. I really wanted to trade my car for it and was ready to do so (finally take the "dive" as pest22 says)but it was too big for the Mercedes owner. He may even be somewhere on these boards. I told him that if I sold it, I would be in touch, as I still may be interested in it, but not at the $6000 price. Negotiable price though. KBB is showing the car at $3500. which seems more realistic for this car. Mine is showing a value of $5580, so.... Anyway, the transmission shifted very well in the Benz. Not to harsh, not too soft. Nothing like the shifts of the 300SD's I have driven in the past.

MONEYPIT SEL - thanks for that tip. I had forgot about them starting out in 2nd. That explains why I only felt it shift twice. Folks here with these cars have mentioned how fast the engines turn at high speeds. True - I got it up to 50 and it was turning about 2500. My Suburban only turns 2000 rpm @ 70 mph. That would take some getting used to.

Someone else with a 85' 500SEL is also interested in it, so we will see how that goes.

Thanks again.