W-124 Transmission
 

Hello,
I have 86 300E. 172K.

Symptoms:
Transmission is acting like its slipping. It is up-shifting quicker than it used to. I can not hold it in gear longer. Only when I have full throttle form a stop, I am ble to hold the gear with any length. It seems when I drive off from a red light, by the time I reach 25-30 mph, I am in fourth.

It also downshifts harder than it used to, when you come to a stop. I can definetly feel it engaging to 3rd and than 2nd.

Kick down works only when fully depressed for a long time, and doesnt seem to work at higher rpm. Around 2500-3000rpm.

Maintenance:
Changed transmission filter and fluid 10K ago. Also cable is attached according to manual, with no tension at stop. Kick down solenoid and switch check fine. New vacuum line.

Question:
When I bought the car, the MB Dealership had done a "transmission adjustment". I do not understand what that means. I am not sure they know either. They say "R&R the Valve body and cleaned reverse lock piston, adjusted transmission" Do these transmissions have internal adjsutments?

Please help me out. Do I need a new transmission or can I get it serviced. Or do I need adjustment. Help!!

Thank you:confused:

do a search on "tranmission questions". read the one that has that for a post subject. there are two basic adjustments that control shift points and shift quality. you may find your answer there.

there are other adjustments that can be made to the valve body which i think are beyond the "DIY" category. they may have re-calibrated the pressure to spec...

Your symptoms sound oh so familiar. Prior to my tranny failure I had exactly the same symptoms. I had it serviced, and one month later it crashed. It needed a total rebuild. All the friction parts were worn out. It had 170k at the time of failure.

Seems as though you need to adjust your Bowden cable.
I adjusted it a few weeks ago, and it would shift SO soon... I then turned it the other way and it started to hold on to gears a little bit longer upon acceleration. Do a search and you'll surely find enough info to adjust your bowden cable.
GOOD LUCK!