MY 190E SHIFTS (AUTOMATIC TRANS) VERY HARD WHEN GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE.I DO WARM MY CAR UP A LEAST 5-10 MINUTES EVERY MORNING. THIS IS NOT NORMAL.IT DID NOT DO THIS 2 M0NTHS AGO.COULD THIS MEAN LOW TRANNY FLUID? OR IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE WRONG.

Mercedes transmissions shift like that when they are cold. It is normal. Mine has been doing it ever since I,ve owned it. You should check the trans fluid at least once a week, more often if you have to add fluid.

Just a Thought
 

Greetings,

I've had similar problems on other type vehicles and eventually conceded to the idea of draining the tranny fluid, not only out of the pan but the torque converter as well. I changed the filter of course and refilled the tranny. Drive the car easy starting out to insure the torque converter has refilled with fluid (check fluid level before driving,torque converter will take some to fill). After a few days of driving the problem went away and shifting has been smooth ever since. I would say that contaminated fluid, in my case anyway was never being drained from the torque converter in previous fluid changes and it finally gummed up the pistons in the valve body. A few days of running completely fresh fluid dissolved the gummed up valve and all was back to normal. Just a thought

Charles

Hard shifting
 

My 560 SEL does the same. If the car has sat overnight and the temp is below 15-20F, it shifts hard. Goes away after about 15 mins of city driving. I have been told by MB techs that this is quite normal.

Well we don't get much weather at 15-20 degrees, but I see no normal reason for harsher shifts when cold.

The likely reason is lack of power from the engine and/or vacuum leaks. The transmission responds to manifold vacuum and throttle position. Anything that reduces mnifold vacuum causes harsh shifting. In other words if you have to push the accelerator further to get the same power cold as hot then you will shift under much higher modulator pressure. Be sure the engine is performing correctly, drop the modulator pressure by a turn and make the thing shift earlier by lengthening the control pressure cable. Season to suit.