W210 E300 Transmission Questions
 

The transmission my car has always been slow to downshift to first at a dead stop. For instance, if I stop at a stop sign and then start up again in less then about 2 seconds, the transmission will try to start in its current gear and then slam into first. I know how to drive the car, so I allow for it, but I don't think I should have to. It has done this since new. The transmission controller was replaced in the first year of ownership to cure some other odd behavior, but this trait has persisted. I also had the dealer change the fluid at 75K miles, but that also made no difference.

Is this normal? Should I just live with it? Have I somehow "trained" the transmission to downshift slowly? If so, how can I retrain it without having it slam at every stop?

The car is going to the dealer for service next week, so I'd like to know whether to complain about this. At 88K miles, time is running out on my MB extended warranty. Thanks for your insight.

I'd mention it, there were several valvebody updates on these.



Joe

Mine does this too, just a little bit. It'll do it from the first stop on a cold morning. Seems to start off in 2nd gear for a few feet, then drops into first a bit abruptly. My car has had the valve body updates done. I don't really consider it bothersome - I've yet to drive a car in which the auto tranny behaved exactly the same cold vs. warm.

I had the transmission controller changed in the first year of ownership as well. The "odd behavior" was the transmission locked itself into limp home mode and would not shift out of 2nd gear. Top speed, 30MPH. Took 2.5 weeks to get the parts in from Europe - apparently there was a run on those little puppies.

- JimY

Problem Resolved
 

The service writer wrote "When coming to a stop and then accelerating, transmission downshifts harshly." Technician wrote his diagnosis: "Clutch packs out of spec." They rebuilt the entire transmission. The tech spent 15 hours on the transmission alone, and there was a list of parts a page long. The problem is fixed and it shifts better than it ever has. :D

The repair was completely covered by my factory extended warranty, which they now call "Starmark." I have no idea what it would have cost, but the service writer told me it would give me a heart attack.