I've noticed that my 1994 C280 (~80,000) will slightly roll, either forward or backwards (depending on the landscape), when I place the car in park. It probably moves about 2-3 inches, but on steep inclines or declines, it can be quite a jolt. Any advice on where to start looking?
Thanks!

This is normal for a MB transmission.

It takes a little bit of roll for the parking brake pawl to engage into one of the windows that holds the car in place. If the rolling is a problem, use the parking brake.

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Ali Al-Chalabi

2001 CLK55
1999 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel
2002 Harley-Davidson Fatboy
Merlin Extralight w/ Campy Record

Thanks for the quick response Ali. That's the answer I wanted to hear.

COnfirmation = Normal.

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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!)

This happens on all auto's, nothing to worry about

All of my friends think that I am crazy, but I alway set my parking brake before putting any of my cars (or truck) in park. I do it to keep any additional stress off of the driveline, it works hard enough going down the road.

Be warned, if you have not use the parking brake in years it might be a little sticky, but should come around with regular use, or you might need to lube up some cables. This is why I only set the parking brake on my cars...

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Thanks,
Dave

1998 BMW 540i Sport
1995 E320
1992 400E
1989 BMW M3
1979 Triumph TR7 (1st car)
1986 BMW 735i (Sold)
1980 BMW 320i (Sold)

My wife put her van in park while it was running to talk to a repair man who just arrived at the house. Actually, she thought it was in park, but was still in reverse. The van door was almost taken off as the van backed up and clipped the repair guy's van. It then continued backwards until is ultimately hit my son's car, which thankfully kept it from rolling over a 5 foot high rock wall down into a swail in the woods next to my house. It was the first three car accident the investigating policeman had ever seen in a driveway.

In short, use the parking break.

JCD

I also use my parking brake, but sometimes park without it. It rolls for a couple inches until the pawl grabs. Happens on both our current MB's.

Normal.

After reading the above post, I think I'll become religious about using my parking brake.

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John Shellenberg
1998 C230 "Black Betty" 240K

http://img31.exs.cx/img31/4050/tophat6.gif

Using the parking brake is a good idea. My friend's suburban has 110k miles on it, and his family parks it on a very steep driveway. Before 80k miles, they would never use the parking brake, and they had to put in a new tranny 3 times. After 80k, they have been religiously using the brake, and the tranny is running strong. Using the brake takes unnecessary strain off of the tranny, and, its the only thing they bother to teach you in driver's ed....

How really does this effect the transmission? I thought it basically only affected the parking prawl (unless the car was hit when in P)?

I know that when on a hill and Park, is engaged, and then disengaged back into gear, a loud clunk is noticed... is this that bad for the trans?

__________________
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!)

The parking brake mechanism on an auto tranny works by a metal rod (the parking brake pawl) moving out into a cylinder with recesses in it (windows) and falling into one of the recesses and thus preventing the car from rolling. This setup is towards the rear of the tranny and effectively locks the output shaft stationary in relation to the transmission housing. This is why the cars rolls a little bit, the car and output shaft of the tranny have to move before the pawl can find the next recess to fall into.

__________________
Ali Al-Chalabi

2001 CLK55
1999 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel
2002 Harley-Davidson Fatboy
Merlin Extralight w/ Campy Record

That is so true, if ever on a hill, always use the handbrake...and put this on before engaging park, thus there is no strain on the box, also it makes doubly sure that when you get back to you car, it isnt at the bottom of the hill in a pile up!