Thought it was bad shift linkage bushings, changed them all but still...

Shifting into second gear is the last good thing that happpens. There's a lot of slop in the shifter, just in second gear, and ocassionally it locks in second gear. I've found if I bang the shifter to the left it will come out of gear and I can continue on through the gears. I saw the bushings were shot and replaced them all and now all the other gears are tight but second is still loose. While I was underneith the car I did notice the shifter arm is loose while in second gear. I'm thinking the worst, any hopes?

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5 speed '91 190E 2.6 320,000 mi. (new car, fast, smooth as silk six, couldn't find any more Peugeots)
5 speed '85 Peugeot 505 2.5l Turbo Diesel 266,000 mi. (old car, fast for a diesel, had 2 others)
5 speed '01 Jetta V6 (new wifes car, pretty quick)
5 speed '85 Peugeot 505 2.2l Turbo Gas 197,000 mi. (wifes car, faster, sadly gone just short of 200k )
5 speed '83 Yamaha 750 Maxim 14,000 mi. (fastest)
0 speed 4' x 8' 1800 lb Harbor Freight utility trailer (only as fast as what's pulling it)

Call Click & Clack on the Car Talk show. They'll misdiagnose your problem, but at least you'll feel better after they spend 5 minutes guffawing.

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Prost!

I realize Mercedes standard transmissions are a rare bird.

Or how this question: Does anybody know anything about standard transmissions is general?

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5 speed '91 190E 2.6 320,000 mi. (new car, fast, smooth as silk six, couldn't find any more Peugeots)
5 speed '85 Peugeot 505 2.5l Turbo Diesel 266,000 mi. (old car, fast for a diesel, had 2 others)
5 speed '01 Jetta V6 (new wifes car, pretty quick)
5 speed '85 Peugeot 505 2.2l Turbo Gas 197,000 mi. (wifes car, faster, sadly gone just short of 200k )
5 speed '83 Yamaha 750 Maxim 14,000 mi. (fastest)
0 speed 4' x 8' 1800 lb Harbor Freight utility trailer (only as fast as what's pulling it)

The arm should be tight. with the shifter in neutral try tighting the 6mm allen bolt in the center of the 1-2 shift rod.

Making sure that all 6 grommets are in good condition & that the shift linkage lines up would be the 2nd phase of adjustments.

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MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

There's a shift rod just for shifting first and second? I thought the rods were for up/down and left/right. I have no information on how this works but I was inside a Japanese 4 speed a long time ago so I used to know a bunch. First gear is loose too, just not as loose as second, so a loose 1-2 shift rod could very likely be my problem. I was under the car looking at it but didn't look close enough at that end of the rod, I'll take a good look tonight. If you're right you've saved my life.

Most of the grommets are new (the dealer stocked two of each) and the two inside the shifter, so the other gears are tight. They were in pretty bad shape so I was pretty sure, praying actually, they were the problem.

That bolt was loose. I wouldn't have thought of a bolt comming loose after 222,222 miles (should have taken a picture of that). I'd have eventually found it, when I had the transmission out.

It did take me most of an hour to tighten it, not much room and not much light. I was having a problem getting the allen in, so I had a look with an inspection mirror and it looks like somebody had been there before

I bought a Mercedes knowing there was lots of support, especially here in So Cal. But my fear was with a unique standard transmission, which are as rare as Peugeots, so I was sweating bullets when I changed all the bushings and it was still having problems.

Thanks again M. B. Doc

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5 speed '91 190E 2.6 320,000 mi. (new car, fast, smooth as silk six, couldn't find any more Peugeots)
5 speed '85 Peugeot 505 2.5l Turbo Diesel 266,000 mi. (old car, fast for a diesel, had 2 others)
5 speed '01 Jetta V6 (new wifes car, pretty quick)
5 speed '85 Peugeot 505 2.2l Turbo Gas 197,000 mi. (wifes car, faster, sadly gone just short of 200k )
5 speed '83 Yamaha 750 Maxim 14,000 mi. (fastest)
0 speed 4' x 8' 1800 lb Harbor Freight utility trailer (only as fast as what's pulling it)

I hope you put a drop or two of loc tite on that bolt.

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.

It took me close to an hour to tighten it. Taking it out to put lock tight on it would have taken a very long time.

I figure if I have to take an hour every five years to tighten it, I could live with it.