Hi, I have a 1999 e300 turbo diesel with auto transmission and 82000 miles on it. At startup when the car is cold and I put it in reverse it shudders, kind of like antilock brakes when they activate. When I put it in drive its fine but shifting seems hesitant to 2nd and from 2nd to 3rd. Once the tranny warms up reverse is fine, but 2nd and 3rd still lag slightly, I do drive it in S mode but I thought that was for summer(could stand for sport and holds gears longer). I thought I needed a tranny fluid change but I was told it is a sealed tranny and it doesn't need to be changed.Should the fluid be changed anyway? Could the transmission be failing me?

Thanks, Anton

 

Well it was not a transmission problem I had a bad engine mount(left one) the hydraulic fluid had leaked out and was causing the car to shudder in reverse.
Repaired the mount and changed the transmission fluid and it's running great