I think I might have a problem with my trans. When I am on a steep incline the car will rollback when taking my foot off of the brake pedal. I have two other benz's and they both hold the hill without rollback. Fluid level is correct, and so is the idle speed. Is there something wrong with my trans or do I just live with the sloppiness on steep inclines.

I was about to ask the same question. My W123 '77 and W124 '86 both had what I called "hillhold". The '94 I bought last year does not have that feature. I thought it was a bad trans. Maybe a Transmission guru will respond. Ed

I'm not a transmission pro, but I will tell you that it's normal and that is not a sign of a problem!

Simply, the idle speed of the engine cannot hold the car or keep it in forward motion when a steep incline is there because of the increased load (the hill!) on the engine/transmission!

So you're good to go, no problems! :)

Thanks for the reply, but idle speed does not cover it. My '97 E320 has the "hillhold" when the W/S switch is in the W position, and it is a definite lock when it takes effect. This was also true on the 300E & 300D. We live in the hills and there is a signal nearby, on a steep grade, that the trans. would hold (lock up) on all the cars except the '94. So it makes my think a change was made internally. Keep the cards and letters coming. Ed

Ed,
So you're saying that when the S/W switch is in W (winter mode, 2nd gear start), that it holds itself on the hill, but if it's in S (1st gear start) then i won't hold?

If I am mistaken, then try putting the switch into S and see what happens. Either way, I would assure you that it's normal. My 95 C280 and the CLK320 both roll back when on an incline of anything of a grade of 7 or 8 degrees or so or more. And they both have 1st gear start.

Hi David;
Correct, in the S position the car rolls back. Putting it in W, (which is starting in 2nd gear), is like stomping on the brake. I wrote Frank King, the MB club guru, about the pluses and minuses of daily driving in the W position, ( I don't need to be the first one to reach the other side of the intersection), and his reply was fine. there would be less wear on the trans and should give better fuel milage. so, we leave the swich in W, it drives just fine and we have the "hillhold".
Like the first question in the thread, there used to be a "hill hold" effect that ain't there on the '94 &'95. Still hoping for a hi-tech person to jump aboard this one. Thanks again, Ed

On any MB that *sits & starts* OFF in first gear, the trans will allow the car to roll backwards on an incline! THIS is normal.

Thanks MB. DOC. That explains the '97 E320 and the '77 300D, but it leaves a question on the '86 300E. That car started in first gear and yet had a positive "hillhold". It would lead one to assume that the trans, while working just fine, was in fact not working properly. The trans now has 150K miles, serviced regularly, but never pulled out of the car.
Back to the original thread, Benz75, does this answer your questions, and what models do, or did you have?
Thanks again for all the responses, Ed

There are so many factors that go into this. Weight of car, incline of hill, amount of passengers/cargo, type of transmission, amount of torque at idle that it will vary from car to car no matter what! Your 86 trans is fine if it operates normally.

I just want to thank everyone for their responses. It seems the group has given my trans a clean bill of health. The reason I asked this qustion has to do with my '75 280 and '99 C43 and this hill by my home. The '75 & '99 don't roll back, but the '95 always does. I was concerned that the trans was starting to fail. But from what the responses have been I shouldn't worry.

Thanks

TO ED 1986 300E
 

The 1986 300E sits & starts in second *UNLESS* the control pressure cable is moved 40% of its travel before moving!