Bowden cable should be all the way out without tension on the spring at closed throttle -- it will "retract" into the housing as the throttle is opened.

The hard shifts are because the vac lines to the tranny shift control transducer are shot (its the blue thing that looks like a horn on the left fender). Replace all the hoses.

Also, check the vac lines to the air recirc valve and EGR transducers -- they are the ones that go to the right side of the engine from the 5-way T at the front. If one (or both) transducers are leaking, plug the lines until you replace the transducer -- the vac leak will make the tranny shift HARD, and also make the climate control work funny.

Check the vac at the line marked "trans" on the blue transducer -- it should be 14" or so at idle with throttle closed, and drop off as throttle is opened. You will have to determine the reason for low vac -- I've given you the two most likely above.

That W126 with the 603 is a SWEET car!

Oh, and there is a 50C switch to shift the tranny softer below that engine temp. Won't change shift point, though. Change the tranny fluid and put synthetic in it.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!