Hello, I'm been having this issue with my Mercedes for a couple months now. Took it into a shop for an electrical repair (that took about 2 months of sitting) and when I got it back, it wouldn't drive in any forward gear. Reverse however works fine.

I've changed the transmission filter and fluid (no parts in the pan or turnings) and wonder where I should go from here. With most B2 piston and seal issues I've hear of (online) the vehicle would at least pull off in gear to some degree, but I've got nothing. The shift linkage is moving, but it's not even trying to move in gear. Giving it gas is just revving the engine.

Could this potentially be vacuum issues, B2 Piston (or Band?), or something else I can repair? Or am I out of luck.

Thanks for any and all help,
azide

From what I've read (but no actual experience), it sounds like a classic B2 symptom.

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14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

I have a good but used B2 piston -- they are $155 new from Pelican. PM me an offer. The B2 in my car was replaced, but the problem turned out to be the band itself (). The piston look perfectly fine, not too much wear on it, and I compared part numbers -- our two cars use the same part.

Let me know!

Jooseppi

__________________
"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

A good deal....

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Did you just pass my 740 at 200 kmh in a 300SD?????

1978 300SD 'Phil' - 1,315,853 Miles And Counting - 1, 317,885 as of 12/27/2012 - 1,333,000 as of 05/10/2013, 1,337,850 as of July 15, 2013, 1,339,000 as of August 13, 2013



100,000 miles since June 2005 Overhaul - Sold January 25th, 2014 After 1,344,246 Miles & 20 Years of Ownership

Thanks all for the info!

Jooseppi Luna, how did you figure out it was the band instead of the piston? And I will be giving you an offer on that shortly.

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1987 Mercedes Benz 300SDL, 344k miles

A new B2 piston was installed & the car still refuses to do anything in drive . If the piston still turns out to be bad, I will of course issue a refund. Shipping would probably be about $5 Priority, with more for faster services and less for slower services.

Pictures:

__________________
"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

I also have the updated plastic spacer ring -- this was steel on the original and is the #1 reason that B2 piston failure occurs (steel spacer rubs on aluminum piston = piston failure). I'd throw it in at no charge, seeing as they are only $1.75 new from Pelican .

__________________
"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

Have you been under the car to confirm that the shifter linkage is actually pushing the arm on a transmission? Might be an easy fix. Get a helper to shift while you are under it inspecting the movement.

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I could not own any MB without the help from you...fellow forum members.


83 300td 207,XXX

I should try this too...

__________________
"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

ytmtnman: Yes, I found the shifter linkage was working properly.

Jooseppi Luna: Hopefully that's what you issue is (I was really hoping that was my problem :/ )

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1987 Mercedes Benz 300SDL, 344k miles

It does sound like a B2 Piston Failure or the B2 Band.

I would not order a B2 Piston till you inspect the Band.

In the pic in the Center is the Band (the Seal and Busnings are removed but the Band will still appear in the Center).

If you don't see Band End or it is a lot lower that could be an indication the Band is broke.
Push on the Band and see if it springs back to position.
This is the end of the Band that most often breaks.

However it is possible for the Band to break some place else; but this is the best you can do to check it.

Somene who has had a broken Band can chim in and tell what they found.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Al: If you want to check this out, let me know and I will hold off on shipping the B2 piston so that if it is your band that is bad, I can give you refund...

If you want it anyway, I will be most happy to send it .

__________________
"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

Your B2 band is most definitely broken

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Should be noted that these trans are very sensitive to dirt and lint. I believe MB recommends you actually check your oil with a lint-free chamois or something of the sort. If you are determined on using a used B2 piston that has been out and about, be very very diligent cleaning it before installing it. I can't say I recommend it but YMMV and it would save a few bucks.

By the symptoms though, classic B2 failure per the description.

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Darn it. Thanks .

I figured that you'd covered all the bases, but when Matt mentioned the linkages, I couldn't help but hope .

__________________
"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."