W126 Tranny Operation

[jcantor]

I've had a question for a while and finally decided to ask. On all other cars that I've driven, if you downshift from drive to 3rd (or 2nd depending on the number of speeds) while coasting at highway speeds, the transmission shifts and the car slows via engine braking. On my MB, nothing happens unless I touch the gas in which case the tranny shifts into 3rd with the associated increase in engine speed.

Is this by design or is something wrong? If by design, why? This way I don't have the ability for engine braking at high speeds that I have in all other cars.

Thanks
jlc