E320 slips & slow upshift - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Kechika · #1 10-23-2010, 01:27 AM

I have the same issues as noted in the original post last updated April 14 2010. (see below) My 99 E320 4 matic has 100k miles on it. I just had it at the MB Specialty shop to have the transmission serviced, oil and filters changed. Used Mobil 1 Full Synthetic.
When the weather is around freezing and the car has not run for more than 6 hours the transmission does not engage. The engine will rev and in a few seconds the transmission engages with a bang. Then it takes a couple of minutes of driving in first gear revving between 3 & 4k rpm before it will up shift.
The shop is talking about a rebuilt tranny but I have to believe that there is a simpler more financially viable option. Can anyone provide some advice for a solution.

We have a 1999 E320 4matic wagon and having some problems with the cold weather here in the Northeast. Since the temp's have dropped below thirty degrees, when first starting out in drive the car will not move (engine rev's). If you wait a couple of seconds, the car jerks into gear. Once on the road, the car will not upshift until the car is driven a few miles. A couple of times I pulled over, turned the car off then restarted. Most of the time this works or sometime putting the car in manual (shift lever to the left) also works.
We had the exact same problem last winter. I changed the tranny fluid and filter this summer thinking it would help. The transmission is flawless in the warm weather. I did a search and see people changing the electrical unit (?) in the transmission above the valve body. Is there any a software or hardware upgrade for this???
Any help would be appreciated with this problem.

mbdoc · #2 10-25-2010, 08:27 AM

To start with that trans fluid is NOT compatible with that trans!

Did the shop read codes from the TRANS computer?