no change for me too, although turning it the other way was definitely not good. i also noticed there was quite a bit of slack in the throttle with about 1/8" of the end of the cable protruding so i snugged that a bit too. i think maybe we need the Master Tech's to weigh in on the correct setup procedure...

__________________
joE
1993 300e-2.8 - gone now <sigh>
"Do not adjust your mind, it's reality that's malfunctioning"
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Here's something I found on usenet about Bowden cable adjustment on W124. Still wish someone could verify all this as I can't find this anywhere on the CD...



Models with adjuster on cable sheath;
1. Disconned the control pressure cable from the balljoint on the cable linkage.
2. Pull the cable forward until slight resistance is felt.
3. At the point where resistance is just felt it should be possible to fit
the cable end back onto the throttle linkage balljoint. If the cable is too
long or too short to achieve this
turn the cable sheath adjuster as necessary until the cable end can be
easily fitted to the balljoint.

Models with knurled adjuster wheel;
1. Turn the adjuster wheel sufficiently to give about 1.0mm of play between
the cable end fitting and the spacer sleeve at the end of the adjuster.
2. Turn the adjuster wheel back until the tip of the adjuster pointer is
positioned exactly above the groove in the centre of the adjuster wheel.

__________________
joE
1993 300e-2.8 - gone now <sigh>
"Do not adjust your mind, it's reality that's malfunctioning"
http://banners.wunderground.com/bann...L/Key_West.gif

Well driving around today I DEFINITLY noticed a difference! It held on to gears much longer, primarily 3rd gear. And my mpg has been reduced to about 50 miles per quarter tank (about 13 gallons); yes I drive hard, but the worst I've ever gotten is 17 mpg. Have a bottle of Techron and I'm going to check tire pressure also though.
I am going to spin it a whole bunch the other way and we'll see what happens!

(Just a note, when I was observing the shifting and driving kind of rough/hard, I really appreciate and love how tight my car feels. Someone please tell me the difference between the 230 and 280's suspension!)

__________________
2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)

well all the road testing will surely take its toll on the mpg as it did mine. with that last bit of info i found and reviewing some of the bowden threads, i realized that there was way too much slack in mine as you can even see a slight curl in the picture. all in all i've given it 5 turns and it just started taking the slack in. i gave it another full turn for tomorrow's drive in to work...

__________________
joE
1993 300e-2.8 - gone now <sigh>
"Do not adjust your mind, it's reality that's malfunctioning"
http://banners.wunderground.com/bann...L/Key_West.gif

I am going to go down and make mine a bunch tighter now... since I've obviously gone the wrong way.
But I kind of like the way it drives with it loosened up some! It holds on to gears longer... and it shifts into 1st gear without going into kickdown at speeds up to 12 mph! Also throttle response does feel much quicker! I am betting this is just psychological though..

Wish I could remove and take slack with the push of a button or the slide of a dial!

I'll keep you posted on the results.

__________________
2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)

Ok I was able to get my hand in there and I adjusted it ALL the way... I think I tightened it all the way. I took it for a test drive and DEFINITELY noticed a vast difference. It upshifted very early. But I got it to downshift into 1st gear (with kickdown) at 23 mph, instead of 18 mph like before. I got it to kickdown into 2nd gear at 58 mph instead of 55 mph like before.
Also, my 2-3 shift didn't seem right, it always seemed to take a little longer, almost like it was flaring, but that improved 50%.

So the results of a full hastening of the Bowden cable are:

Earlier upshifts.
Later Downshifts.
Improved 2-3 shifting.

I will drive with it fully adjusted tomorrow to see how I like it. I am guessing that I will probably be loosening it back up just a little so that the upshifts are SO quick. But just a little, because I LOVE the higher speed downshifting!
(Weird going from a fully loosened cable to a fully tightened one in about an hour! THe driving difference is phenomenal.)

Will keep you all updated on my final results.

__________________
2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)

that's what i observed after tightening it 6 turns. it upshifted a lot earlier and harder as a result. my downshifts are messed up now since this causes it to happen later. i will have to investigate other possible causes, maybe i have vacuum line leaks...

__________________
joE
1993 300e-2.8 - gone now <sigh>
"Do not adjust your mind, it's reality that's malfunctioning"
http://banners.wunderground.com/bann...L/Key_West.gif