W124 300E transmission not shifting
 

Sometimes it shifts perfectly. Other times it just stays in 2nd gear until redline. Then it hits into 3rd hard and then seems to shift itself fine into 4th.

Cant seem to understand it. I did run around a little on open, empty roads late at night while rowing the gears manually. I suspect this is the problem. It's a high mile car and the trans was recently serviced but i dont know to what extent. Could I have done something or is it just in need of adjustment due to me stomping on it after it was recently serviced my Wolfgang himself?

I hate when things go wrong with a decent high mile W124. I'm not sure if this is really the car I ought to be getting around in anymore. This car has just gotten me 5K miles since purchase. It burns a little oil and needed front pads. The suspension squeaks so bad I keep the radio cranked up at slow speed so as not to hear it. It still needs a front alignment. The steering wheel has a big bit of play. Cold start takes a few seconds at the least. Must need some hoses or something. It's up to 205,000 miles and I can think of lots of ways to put money into it but it doesn't seem logical.

It has a good service record and money has always been put in. Car moves well and the trans worked perfectly until today. All prior service work performed by Enrique himself. So the question is, before I take it out to him, what is wrong with this trans?

Thanks in advance for any and all help.
Jason

shifting
 

The governor gears may be the problem in the back half of the tranny. They are made of plastic. It sounds like you may have a few teeth missing from one of them.

Thanks for the good tip. I don't want to spend more on this car. I just want to pass it along and get a better one with less miles. Figure I can get it what I payed since I've been putting more into it in a short amount of time.
What would something like replacing the governor gears cost? Can they be replaced by a DIYer?

Thanks
Jason

we have a good trans shop here that can rebuild the valve body and it sounds like thats what you need.

Here in Los Angeles we have the famous Wolfgang, a German mechanic that drives around in an old MBZ wagon fixing MBZ transmissions at the indy shops. I was told he did service this transmission recently. I dont think I want to spend money on this car. I'll have to see what Enrique says first and then take it from there. There is a MBZ trans only shop here in Los Angeles as well. However I don't know how expensive they are.
Let me know what you think prices in Texas would be.
Thanks,
Jason