Well my worst fear has finally come true... my kickdown has broken. For the past week or so it has not been clicking properly or at all, but still shifting atleast. Today I went to floor it and it would not shift down! Once I got to my destination, I noticed the black plastic peice had fallen off.... so I put it back on, but it would not stay. That is why it is temporarily Scotch taped on (desperate, I know). Is working ok for the time being though, albeit lack of resistance/pressure at kickdown.
Anyway, I have the part number for a new kickdown switch ($28), does anyone know how easy it is to change?
Thanks.

(I don't think it broke because of real over use, but because sometimes I just jam on it with all my force!)

I am not sure about your kickdown, but mine has a cable that runs from the transmission to the throttle linkage at the rear of the intake manifold. It connects with a socket that is on an adjustable arm for adjusting the setting. ('81 380SL)

Yes, I have a wire that runs to the trans also (I don't know about any adjustments though...).
But that is not the proble, the problem is with the physical plastic switch on the floor just behind the pedal.
Thanks anyway. :)

Make sure your throttle cable is properly adjusted/tightened. My old C200 would not kick down (i have posted about this about 6 months ago) and I thought maybe the switch was broken. Turns out the throttle cable was loose and so even with the accelerator fully depressed I was not getting a wide open throttle.

JJRodger,
I remember your problem with kick-down! But I know that it's the switch, it will stick kickdown but there is not resistance, and the physical kickdown mechanism has actually broken off, thus i know it's the kickdown switch.

David: I can't help you, I'm afraid.

No kickdown... bummer.

I changed the kickdown switch on my car before, it was a peice of cake, you just have to remove the carpet/foam peice or at least peal it back some to get some room to be back there. I dont know about your model MB but on mine it wasnt hard.

Ok... so what was involved? What else had to be done? Screws... clamps, what?
Atleast it's easy... doesn't seem like much room to pull the carpet back or away though.

No screwdrivers, clamps, pliers, or tools were needed. If i rmember correctly the old one pulls out/snaps out, and the new one snapes in place. Its been a while so I honestly do not remember. Just buy the part at the parts dept and when you get it examine it. On my car the floor mat moves out, there is two snaps on the back of it and you can pull the whole thing out, but all i did was pull it back in the front so i can get my hands down in there. I cannot say for certain because we do have diff model cars.