Hello friends
I am in the process of buying a w124 1993 with the 2.5 turbo.
When I went to drive the car, I noticed the transmission does not feel like shifting.
It feels different.
I like to describe like a constant velocity feeling, no shifting.
Also the car feels a bit slow, now the interesting part comes when you reach high speeds 70 MPH ++ and you want to floor it then the transmission start shifting like crazy up and down between 4K-5K RPM.
Any idea what could it be.
I also found the IP wet underneath the pump.
The sunroof does not work.
These are the major issues with the car.
I currently drive a w210 1999 and love it.
The w124 would be for my son.
Any suggestions would be appreciate.

Thanks

Pedrodiesel

Do you have a good shop that can do an inspection before you close the deal. It sounds like you have enough potential issues to justify the cost of the inspection if you are serious about the car.

Figure a transmission and sorting out the electronics/vacuum controlling the boost, plus DV seals.

It is possible that the transmission can be fixed, just sucking enought against a clogged filter to lower the control pressure, BDTD, but that also indicates a fair amount of friction material is in the fluid.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Not being able to feel the shifts means that transmission is in good shape. Mercedes automatic transmissions are extraordinarily good.
When you floor it over 70 mph, the transmission downshifts to give you more torque. Thus, higher RPMs.
As for the car feeling slow, that's because it has the 2.5L engine, which is somewhat underpowered for a W124. While it's not going to win any quarter miles, once you get it up to speed it's happy to stay there, as you've seen.

I love that someone is worried that an MB transmission is bad because there ISN'T any shift shock! ^_^

__________________
RIP:
2011 E350 BlueTEC, Schwartz 81k (totaled by uninsured drunk driver)
1964 Unimog 404.1 (wrongfully towed by the city)
1994 E320, Brilliantsilber 208k (transmission shuffled off after sudden catastrophic fluid loss)
1982 300D, Silberblau under a blue repaint 256k (sold for parts)
1995 E320 Polarweiss, 131k (sold for parts)
1995 E300D Polarweiss, 287k (totaled by drunk driver)

Y'all, he's saying he can't FEEL the shifts, not that the trans isn't shifting. You think a 250D can get to 70mph without shifting?

__________________
RIP:
2011 E350 BlueTEC, Schwartz 81k (totaled by uninsured drunk driver)
1964 Unimog 404.1 (wrongfully towed by the city)
1994 E320, Brilliantsilber 208k (transmission shuffled off after sudden catastrophic fluid loss)
1982 300D, Silberblau under a blue repaint 256k (sold for parts)
1995 E320 Polarweiss, 131k (sold for parts)
1995 E300D Polarweiss, 287k (totaled by drunk driver)

This part doesn't sound normal:

...the transmission start shifting like crazy up and down between 4K-5K RPM.

I wasn't real clear on what was happening there. Seems weird that it would upshift smooth and then slip on downshifts.

Pedro, can you elaborate on the behavior of the tach when you put your foot in it at speed?

__________________
RIP:
2011 E350 BlueTEC, Schwartz 81k (totaled by uninsured drunk driver)
1964 Unimog 404.1 (wrongfully towed by the city)
1994 E320, Brilliantsilber 208k (transmission shuffled off after sudden catastrophic fluid loss)
1982 300D, Silberblau under a blue repaint 256k (sold for parts)
1995 E320 Polarweiss, 131k (sold for parts)
1995 E300D Polarweiss, 287k (totaled by drunk driver)