Gilly, Thanks for that.

I now have the car, the 2000 E430 with 119K. Wow, it really is smooth; very smooth.

Similar to your friend, nothing was done for probably 100,000 miles (post the first 100,000) on my 300E and it still today (with 253,000) shifts as smooth and flawlessly as it ever has. It always had the issue that i would let it run for 5 minutes or until it was idling at 750 before taking off because when it was cold and the fluid was not flowing, it would shift from first to second very harshly. But that 5 minute period where the rpms dropped from about 1100 to 750 / 650 at idle was the answer every time.

I will have my guy look at the transmission fluid. I have no problem changing it if it's recommended. I have incomplete records, but if my gut is right, and my memory of the 300E when I first drove it is correct, this car is as solid or more solid than that right now based upon the shifting, idling, feel and sound, generally.

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CJTucker