the auto tranny is adjust by a vacum device inside the tranny. if the vacum hose is disconnected from the engine, the tranny will shift hard, all the time, not regarding temperature. so find the vacum hose that runs out from the tranny. (it's located between the firewall and the engine, you must remove the air inlet filter). then try to suck on the hose. (the hose is connected to the inlet manifoil og the engine). if you manage to do that, without making a vacum, you have a lekage somewhere in the tranny. that was the advise that was given to me for my previous car, 280 SE (W126), form a tranny mechanic. he said it was the vacum device that controls the oil pressure in the tranny, and if you have a damaged vacum hose or something like that, the tranny would not get the right pressure to the right time. on older MB the tranny (the shifting between gears) was adjust by rods, that was connected to the trottle. and by adjusting the lenght of these rods, you regulated when the tranny should shift gear, how it should shift.

Mercedes560SEL
NORWAY