1987 300e transmission shifting
 

Hi, I have a 300e that I acquired 6mos ago. Ever since I got it the tranny shifts hard from first to second gear, if you accelerate smoothly it will shift without feeling it, but if you accelerate hard, it will rpm to 4k before shifting, also if you accel and let go of the gas, then press it again it will shift normally during hard accel. This problem has always been there and all other gears shift wihout noticing. Also when decelarating you cannot feel any shifting.
Just recentely I replaced the Fuel Pump Relay, since the car was dying @ times, it got worse to the point whre it would not start. I checked for power to the fuel pump and there was none, so I replaced the relay and the car was cured. The shifting got better after I installed the relay, but not much better. Ive changed the tranny oil and found the old fluid to be clean with no metal shavings. Ive checked the trans actuator vaccum line to the intake manifold and found no leaks. The car runs smooth and the problems is not getting worse, but I am concern.

i may be reallly wrong (forgive me, im only 16), but the transmission starts on 2nd, and only goes down to first when you press the pedal down fast and hard.

I think DR88 is right - your year should start out in 2nd gear unless it is modified, or a later trans. First gear will only show up at full throttle or if you put it in "2" at a stop and have your foot on the brake.

Also, 4000 rpm to shift should be at pretty heavy throttle.

My '90 300CE (2nd gear start) will shift relatively smoothly for a full-throttle shift (1st to 2nd). My '92 300TE 4Matic (1st gear start) will shift harder during a full-throttle shift. And both cars will hold the gear (shift at a higher rpm) with anything more than light throttle (which I like).

I do not notice down shifts on decelleration in either car.

Cary.

IF it's really starting in first gear (it didn't come from the factory that way in 1987), the 1-2 shift is notoriously firm.

same here. when i force it into first gear.. i hear like a winding sound.. is it because its just nnever used? it goes away after going into ssecond and so forth. but usually when shifting from second to third on normal/hard acceleration... the shift is very abrupt.. if you end up taking it to a shop. can you please tell me the cost of the fix??

I have experience with your tranny problem
 

I have a 1987 300 D Turbo with 250K miles. At 192K, the tranny stopped shifting. Leading up to that, the tranny would have spells of revving abnormally high, before shifting to the top gear. When this happened, while driving, I would shift to neutral for a few seconds, then back into D. This seemed to assist the shift. I had the tranny rebuilt and they did not replace the "valve body". This is a breadbox sized box that looks like a maze, which controlls the shifting. With wear, the valves inside will stick and the engine will need to rev abnormally high before shifting. Once this was replaced. The tranny worked like new. Find an experienced tranny mechanic and ask about this. Valve bodies can be purchased as a re-build or new. I think that I spent about $400. I do not know if your problem is the same, but it may be.

Good Luck

I hear it too, I also hear that sound in R.....

But my trans is fine...

First gear start
 

When the car is stopped, move the shiflever to 2nd and back to 'D' then the car will start in first gear.