no top gear
 

'92 300SE. Car doesn't shift into 5th gear at speed.

Shifter is "vague" in the D/4 quadrant. Putting it into D, the paddle settles between the D position and the 4 position.

Drive down the freeway at 60mph - pull the shifter to the 4 position - no change in RPM. Push it over to the D - no change either.

Any suggestions on where to start?

BTW - car has had a new motor recently - don't know how careful shop that did the work was when reconnecting the transmission linkage, etc - maybe this is the source of the vague shifter linkage?

Thanks!

Yes maybe the linkage, I'd try moving the lever around a bit at speed and see if it'll trans will get into 4th or if it really is the transmission. You should also double check the fluid level. On the right side of the trans is the throttle valve cable, that comes from the throttle linkage for the engine, check to make sure that's connected as well as the vacuum line on the left side of the trans.
Does the shifter make a clanking sort of noise when shifting into the different gears? If it does the linkage bushing may be worn out, this makes for really poor control of the trans in the shifter. One last thing, will the engine start in neutral, and does the reverse light come on in reverse, problems here would show you the linkage is misadjusted.
Gilly

4th to 5th on that car is computer controlled..the detent & switch on the shifter MUST provide the EGS computer so that it allows the trans to shift into overdrive..

Scan computer for codes & even check the shifter position in actual value screen.

trans
 

you may find that the 5th gear clutch pack in the tail shaft is fried.sometimes when this is the case you experience a very slow engagement of reverse gear.also you need at least to replace one of the two shifter bushings. david poole european performance dallas tx.