I just bought my first MB from a little old lady - has 72k miles and is perfect.

My question: when I put if in Drive, it acts like a 3 speed transmission. At 70 mph, it is revving at 3500 rpm, at 80 mph it's at 4000 rpm. I have not been able to find any info on the gear ratio but this seems it should have another gear. Can anyone tell me what is normal? Should I have the tranmssion looked at?

Dan,

If my math is right, you are getting 20 MPH per 1,000 RPM in top gear. Considering you're pushing almost 4,000 lbs. with a 3-liter engine, that sounds reasonable. I'm assuming Mercedes used a lower (than found in the V8 w126's) final drive ratio in the 300SE to give this car some responsiveness at lower speeds. The price for this is a little reviness on the highway. Just keep the engine oil clean and enjoy the car.

Hi I have just purchased a 1991 300se that seems to do exactly what your saing and I was wondering if it may have some thing like a bad tork converter that dont lock up?
I`m also a new member and I have not mastered this site yet but would like to know if this is a problem or if it is the way the car was designed becouse 3000 rpm at 60 mph dose not seem fuel efficient.