1995 s-500 autotransmission shift
 

Lately, my car seems to shift at a higher RPM when it first moves after being still for more than a few hours. For example, it shifts at 1800-2000 RPM instad of the usual 1500 RPM. After the car is in motion for a few minutes, the shifting sequence reverts to the more normal RPM range. Is there something that needs to be checked because of this behavior? I changed the transmission filter and oil a few months ago and did not notice any problem when I changed it. The car has 90,000 miles on it. Thanks for you thoughts.

ALMOST all gasoline powered MB's from 1990 are designed to do that up-shift delay when the engine is cold! That helps the catalytic converter warm-up quicker!

gcg, M.B.DOC is of course absolutely correct. How long have you had your car? Is this the first cold season you've had it? I remember driving my newly acquired 95 W140 last year. It was the first colder day of the year, and the car did not shift out of second gear. I freaked out, all sorts of terrible transmission thoughts popped into my brain. I turned the car around to take it back home, but once there it started shifting properly. I did some research on line, and found out that the car does this deliberately to warm up the catalytic converters faster...helps lower cold start emissions. My relief was immense. Of course, had I read the owners manual more carefully, I would have known this.