Now that the mornings are cold the E320 feels as tired and grumpy first thing as I do.

If I pull out without warming up > 3 minutes it engages reverse and then drive with no delay. Then when I pull out it starts, slips for a millisecond then catches and is fine the rest of the day (unless it cools completely again). The engine doesn't rev during this slip and it is barely perceptible.
If I warm it up 5 min or long enough to get the heat going it does not do the slip thing. Should I be concerned? I changed the trans fluid and filter in September. It has maybe 2000 miles on it.

Since this has happened I have been paying special attention the the transmission. It stays in 1st for only as long as it takes to get the car moving from a stop. The shifts from 2nd to 3rd and 3rd to 4th are smooth with no jerk or flare. The shifts are somewhat firmer when you get on it a little.

What got my attention is that at highway speed, 60-65 in morning traffic it seems like the torque convertor never really locks up. At an indicated 60mph ( I say indicated because I don't know if the speedo is gummed up and indicating low) the tach reads ~2200 RPM. Then if I nudge the pedal the engine pitch rises and the tach rises to 2500 immediately but the car speed takes a few seconds to catch up. Then it will be cruising at 65mph at 2500rpm. It feels like either the TC is not locked or the speedo is lagging or a combination.

I don't know enough about these transmissions to know if I should be worried or not...so I'll worry until someone tells me different.

Your expert opinions are appreciated!

__________________
Tim Benner

00 ML320 170K
95 E320 wgn 160K