Hi All,

I own 88 MB 190D (2.5l engine, 3sped automatic transmission, 136miles); purchased it two months ago and everything runs perfect except that every time I start with a cold engine it would very hard shift from 1 gear to the 2nd. It starts fine in the first gear and then it spin and spin until at about 3000 rpm BANG! it shifts strait in to the 3rd gear; therefore I started to start the car with the shift lever on 2nd not in the D as usual just so it wont go to 3rd and shift to the 2nd gear instead. This worked but still I have to run in the first gear for about 40-50 seconds and with the engine roaring at high rpm. After about 10 minutes of driving everything becomes normal with smooth shifting in all gears. I forgot to mention that beside the 1st to 2nd gear problem all up or down shifting are nice and smooth even with the cold engine.
I tried to warm up the engine at idle before moving the vehicle but it did not helped.
I will change the transmission fluid - I believe that even if is not the cause of the problem it will help. I ordered the technical CD it should come in a few days .
Please answer to this or email me if you have any suggestions where the problem could be and/or how it can be fixed.
Thanks a bunch,
Adrian