Yes, actually that's what mine was doing. It would only flare when accelerating hard. Driving gently, it was fine. Only occurred from 3 -> 4.

My spring came from transmissionpartsusa.com. It is supposed to fix this condition.

I thought about the magnet, but my local dealer would have to order it and it was $30. I need to get this car back on the road. Besides, it has survived 180,000 miles just fine without a magnet.

I'm optimistic that my issue will be fixed.

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08 W251 R350
97 W210 E320
91 W124 300E
86 W126 560SEL
85 W126 380SE Silver
85 W126 380SE Cranberry
79 W123 250
78 W123 280E
75 W114 280

Thanks for the info, Let me know if the new spring fixes your problem. I often thought that the flare problem was a weak spring since I am on my third trans fluid change.

The Mercedes pan magnet is not much more then the credit card style magnet with slots cut into it. My 92 Astro van came stock with a trans pan magnet and what I noticed is that most of the crud sticks to the magnet leaving the fluid looking like new.

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Ray
1998 Mercedes E320, 200K Miles
2001 Acura 3.2TL, 178K Miles
1992 Chevy Astro, 205K Miles

I put the magnet in my 96 and when I got it I realized it was the same magnet that was in my 93 Ford Taurus. I'm sure its cheaper from Ford.

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To see my 129 parts for sale visit:
http://stores.ebay.com/The-Mercedes-SL-Store
John Roncallo

Part numbers for the spring and for the magnet would be very helpful...

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'98 E300 turbodiesel

Updated pan magnet # A 169 371 00 03. Available through Mercedes dealer.

Sonnax spring #68942-01. Available through transmissionpartsusa.com.

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Ray
1998 Mercedes E320, 200K Miles
2001 Acura 3.2TL, 178K Miles
1992 Chevy Astro, 205K Miles

I replace my spring last Friday and after two short drives, I no longer have any slipping. My spring also was not broken but had uneven spacing, it appears that the coils were spaced further apart in the middle.

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Ray
1998 Mercedes E320, 200K Miles
2001 Acura 3.2TL, 178K Miles
1992 Chevy Astro, 205K Miles