Hoping someone can direct me to whenter the problem with my tranny is a B2 piston or not. I have read that the B2 piston issue deals with a transmission that will not have forward gears.

While I was attempting to drive home from work the other day, the transmission tried to start in either 3rd or 4th gear. Couldn't tell which, just that it was a challenge to get any inertia to move. My solution to drive the car home was to shift into "2" and start off in 2nd gear, note that it would normally start in first when shifter is in "2". I also noticed a harder engagement into 2nd than what was normal. After getting up to speed, I was able to shift into "D" and proceed to reach 3rd and 4th gears with no noise, whinning or hard shifting.

After the car cooled the next morning, it started in 1st like always, but it was stuck in first - would not shift out. I stopped, shifted to Reverse, then back to Drive, and the same symptoms above repeated itself where it was now locked in 3rd or 4th gear.

So, is this a problem that replacing the B2 piston and seal will fix?

I also read that the E320 cars had the updated Piston. Hoping that maybe it is just binding on the seal or something.

Oil is religiously changed between 30-35,000 miles every time and I currently have 16,000 miles on the last change. Using Redline D4 synthetic. Oil is at level, maybe a smidgen below full. Clear Red not burnt smelling.

Thanks for any help

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Olin Brimberry
94 E320 Wagon
Raleigh, NC