Hello,
I have 86 300E. 172K.

Symptoms:
Transmission is acting like its slipping. It is up-shifting quicker than it used to. I can not hold it in gear longer. Only when I have full throttle form a stop, I am ble to hold the gear with any length. It seems when I drive off from a red light, by the time I reach 25-30 mph, I am in fourth.

It also downshifts harder than it used to, when you come to a stop. I can definetly feel it engaging to 3rd and than 2nd.

Kick down works only when fully depressed for a long time, and doesnt seem to work at higher rpm. Around 2500-3000rpm.

Maintenance:
Changed transmission filter and fluid 10K ago. Also cable is attached according to manual, with no tension at stop. Kick down solenoid and switch check fine. New vacuum line.

Question:
When I bought the car, the MB Dealership had done a "transmission adjustment". I do not understand what that means. I am not sure they know either. They say "R&R the Valve body and cleaned reverse lock piston, adjusted transmission" Do these transmissions have internal adjsutments?

Please help me out. Do I need a new transmission or can I get it serviced. Or do I need adjustment. Help!!

Thank you

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Regards

Mino Erhan Dallas, TX
'97 SL500 40th A.E.
'97 S320
'01 ML320
'85 Peugeot 505 SW
'07 BMW R1200RT
'74 Suzuki GT750

do a search on "tranmission questions". read the one that has that for a post subject. there are two basic adjustments that control shift points and shift quality. you may find your answer there.

there are other adjustments that can be made to the valve body which i think are beyond the "DIY" category. they may have re-calibrated the pressure to spec...

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joE
1993 300e-2.8 - gone now <sigh>
"Do not adjust your mind, it's reality that's malfunctioning"
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Your symptoms sound oh so familiar. Prior to my tranny failure I had exactly the same symptoms. I had it serviced, and one month later it crashed. It needed a total rebuild. All the friction parts were worn out. It had 170k at the time of failure.

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I got too many cars!! Insurance eats me alive. Dave

78 Corvette Stingray - 3k
82 242 Turbo Volvo - Manual - 270k
86 300e 5 speed manual - 210k
87 420sel - 240k
89 560sl - 78k
91 420sel - 205k
91 560sel - 85k
94 GMC Suburban - 90k
97 Harley Davidson Heritage Softail - 25k
00 GMC Silverado 1 ton 30k

Seems as though you need to adjust your Bowden cable.
I adjusted it a few weeks ago, and it would shift SO soon... I then turned it the other way and it started to hold on to gears a little bit longer upon acceleration. Do a search and you'll surely find enough info to adjust your bowden cable.
GOOD LUCK!

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2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)