taken from a website about the B2 Piston
 

"The symptoms of a B2 piston failure are unmistakable:

Fails without any warning whatsoever
Slips out of gear in 1st with any load
Massive flaring going into second
3rd and 4th work normally
Reverse works normally "

http://articles.mbz.org/transmission/b2/why/

I would remove the B2 cover and inspect the B2 piston, can be done with the transmission in the car. Do an search, a lot of information on this subject.

If it’s the B2 band, transmission must be removed and disassemble. Not a DIY job with no experience. Does your 300E have a 2.8 if so; the probability of a broken band is higher with a 722.4 Transmission. The only way to confirm valve body and plate must be removed.

The B2 band is applied for 1st, 2nd and 3r gear in 722.3,4 and 5 transmissions, you are thinking about the B3 band on the 722.0,1,2 transmissions or the B3 clutches in the 722.3 transmission which is reverse gear. I also sometime get confused, Too much transmission fluid in my Brain. .

it is a 2.8
 

so if I inspect the B2 piston and it's in good shape then it's the band and time to call in someone that knows what they are doing?

Also, what is the possibility that I find that the B2 piston is broken, replace it, and find out that the band is broken too. Is it possible to at least see if the band is broken without removing the transmission?

Does anybody know?

The only way to confirm a broken band without a doubt, remove the valve body and plate. You can also have a stuck B2 shift valve in the valve body, not as common as the piston and band.

C32 Amg
 

Thanks for your help, I'll get to doing this in Spring when I'm back home. Hopefully I'll report back with good news.

i always check my fluid when the car is cold. the dip stick doesn't have a hot cold marks, so i assume it is for cold.

I believe you are supposed to check transmission fluid level when it is at operating temperature.

Also, the engine should be running (since we are discussing basics).

gonna get started
 

OK so now it's spring break and I'm ready to determine the fate of this car.

I was just going through some things and is the DIY article on the 722.6 transmission fluid draining pretty close to what I'll have to do for mine (722.4 I think...)?

It's practically identical, except of course that you can ignore the rigamarole with the 80C temp measurement, special dipstick, and Dr. Z's secret profit formula (most any Dexron III will do).

update
 

so the first time I was going to raise my car the jack broke. Long story short: if you use two of those jacks that come with the mercedes one of them will break. Anyways it took some time to grow the courage to get under my car after watching that and I was able to drain the transmission pan today.

My first question is: Is it wierd that there was absolutely no metal in there considering I'm doing this all under the assumption that the B2 piston is broken? The transmission fluid looked like it was in good shape too, not burned at all.

and: Is it necessary to drain the torque converter and if it is how do I get the drain plug in the right area again?

I should be going at it again tomorrow morning, hopefully early because I have to go back to college in the afternoon and won't be doing much with the car until summer I guess.

Please don't come back here implying that you are getting under your car without safely supporting it with jack stands.

You are very young.

I hate to be morbid, but if that car had fallen on you, you could not have died fast enough.

:wings:

oh no i just left out a big part of the story
 

I have the works under there...4 jack stands, left the jack in place as a failsafe. have some old tires under there as a bigger fail safe. Trust me, I dont have the stones to get under something unless Im 110% sure it wont fall. I meant that I was going to do the jack on wheel up, put a stand there and then go around and do all four. But, I got the bright idea to try and jack up two wheels and then put two stands there and then only have to do the other wheels.

P.S. I appreciate teh concern its a nice feeling to have before I go to sleep that someone I dont even know doesnt want me to die :cool:

back to work
 

i finally got back to doing things for this problem after being somewhat busy since the last time i tried. basically i cant get the B2 piston cover to budge. I cant push it in with my fingers, not even a little bit...help?