1998 E320 Transmission acting up any ideas? please help!
 

The car is a 1998 E320 with about 55k miles on the odometer. The tranny fluid has never been changed from my knowledge. The tranny seems to slam when i come to a stop. Its usually from 3rd to 2nd gear. Its feels like I have been rear ended. Its doesnt happen when the car is cold only when I drive it for a while. Upshift are smooth but slow sometimes to shift out of 1st in the morning. I took it to the dealer and they told me I need a new tranny at over $4k. Is this right? Thanks a million.

Can you ask them what were the codes from the trans computer???

It could be a leaky seal at the electrical connector, or could use a fluid change. I have a simliar issue with mine, it comes and goes. I think dealers will steer you away from changing fluid, they dont want you coming back and saying its worse than it was before..... See if you can find an independent mechanic that will change it for you. Make sure they use MB Fluid ONLY!!!

I second the leaky seal at the electrical connection. If it has been leaking for a while it could wick up the wiring harness and cause the circuit board to be sitting in a pool of trans fluid. Also the trans fluid will be too low. Check the trans fluid level and have a look at the circuit board for traces of trans fluid.

Have a look here: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/tech-help/234219-722-6-erratic-shifting-problems-solved.html?highlight=Trans+fluid+leak

The dealer didnt give me a code number for it. Thanks for the advice you guys! You guys dont think I need a new tranny like the dealer stated do you? Will this get worse?

The codes will tell the story to someone like M.B.DOC. W/O them its a guessing game.