well, i needed something bigger so i sold my 190e 2.6. 91, 98k. never any problems. had it about a year and a half. when i got it i changed all fluids, went over her good. haven't touched it since except for oil change. no problems at all, no leaks, no puddles, nary a hiccup.

well, sold her on tues. on wed, new owner called and said the trans wouldn't shift. i couldn't believe it so he came by and we went for a drive. sure enough, starts in 2nd, wont up shift. can manually shift from 1 to 2 but no further. had it towed to an independent mercedes shop for a look see. they drove it around the block and said i should probably look into a used or rebuilt trans. i thought they would at least want to chk pressures, drop the pan, chk the linkages or the infamous bowden cable. i told them i didn't mind paying for the check out.

my question is, are they just taking the easy way out or did she just up and die?

i feel bad for the buyer. if it was several weeks later, i would have told him it's too bad, but it was the next day. also, it's an older, responsible guy so i don't think he was peeling out or anything. i told him i would pay for the tow and chk out.

i finally got them to agree to put it up on a lift and chk it out a little further, and i should have an answer monday. thanks for your input.

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"the simplest answer is usually the correct answer"

1991 190e, 2.6 (helga)
91,000 mi

Wow, that was pretty decent of you. Usually it's buyer beware, especially with a 15-year old car. What are you going to do if it needs a trans?

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'88 190E 2.6

not sure. hoping it's an adjustment or something. if it needs a trans, maybe offer to split the repairs.

like i said, it it had been 2 or 3 weeks later, it'd be another story. but it was the next day. i just couldn't tell him too bad. that would be bad karma.

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"the simplest answer is usually the correct answer"

1991 190e, 2.6 (helga)
91,000 mi

Hi aqua190,

I had the same problem with my 400e last year. Is the weather very humid up there where you live ??? Last year about the same time here july/aug(Dallas ,TX) the weather was extremely humid and it wont shift past 2. I had it towed to the mechanic and when he test drove it the next day it was shifting fine. There could be some condensation/impurity that the humidity exposes which otherwise wouldn't show up. Try changing the tranny fluid /clean out the pan and make sure the gasket it torqued to the correct specs. After that I never had a problem with the car.

regards
smk_texas

You mean only drive in 2 gear.... can not upshift (even delay upshift)???

I will double check the tranny fluid.... is it too much??? then, may be change the vaccum valve. Make sure don't put too much tranny fluid.... it will form the bubble and effect delay upshift. If your tranny never skip and run fine, should not be any problem suddenly.

Good luck

Make sure the vacuum line is connected to the Vacuum Modulator. I had to replace the VM on the 190 2.3 when it started leaking.
Your problem sounds like what happened to my wife years ago with her '82 240D. She was leaving a mall and the car wouldn't shift out of 2nd gear. She raised the hood and saw a small vacuum hose disconnected...so she pushed it back on the connector and the car shifted fine. I replaced the hose and no more problems.

Good Luck,

Dave

Damn! You must have been so proud of her. Most wives would have just kept going or called and crabbed.

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~Jamie
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2003 Pewter C230K SC C1, C4, C5, C7, heated seats, CD Changer, and 6 Speed. ContiExtremes on the C7's.

1986 190E 2.3 Black, Auto, Mods to come soon.....

Yes, I was very proud of her....it just so happened there was a Florida State Trooper driving by that stopped to help her. He said he didn't know anything about cars, but he could call someone if she wanted. She kept poking her head around looking for something unusual and saw a vacuum hose off of a Y connector. After connecting the hose she closed the hood and told the Trooper that might be the problem. He just stood there shaking his head while she left shifting through the gears with a smile on her face.
I always have her look over the engine compartment with me and make note of what the different components are and what they do. I warn her that there might be test later, so pay attention.