Hi,

I bought a 1995 MB 230. It is in excellent condition. The only issue is that the transmission shifts very hard when it is first started and driven. After a few shifts it smothes out and shifts smoothly. If I drive the car and do no allow it to shift into second gear for about one mile the transmissionthen shifts OK. It seems that it might be a pressure, or circulation issue. The problem returns every time the engine is stopped for any length of time. I know only a little about trsansmissions. Do you have any suggestions?
Thamks.

If this is your first M-B automatic transmission, the real question is whether it is shifting harder than normal upon startup.

All of them shift late and hard when the engine has been sitting, and return to normal operation within a mile or two. It shouldn't be a neck-snapping shift when cold, but it should feel like a US car with a rather agressive shift kit installed. Even when warmed up, the M-B transmission has rather noticable shifts.

If you search the fora, you will see that this question is common among new M-B owners. Bottom line: it's to heat up the catalyst in the exhaust quickly.

You shouldn't have to keep it in first, but that would probably heat things up quicker. I put mine in drive, and shifts are somewhat harsh when the engine is cold. But mine is diesel-fueled, and the engine output is rather limited when cold, so the late shifts are great.

Thanks Matt. I think the shift is very harsh, but maybe it is not unusual - I will just get myself a neck brace! Seriously, I will keep an eye on it and see how it develops, and it is nice to know that this is a "normal" problem. I just wondered whether changing the fluid would have any effect?

The hardness of the shifts can be adjusted with the vacuum modulator on the side of the transmission - quite easy to do, and quite common.