Hi,

For a while now, the 4-speed manual clutch on my 230C (W123) coupe has been slipping when the engine is hot. When driving off from a standstill, it seems to have trouble getting into 1st gear -- you've got to really give it gas to avoid the engine sputtering, transmission rattling, and eventually stalling.

This only happens when the engine has been running for a while, especially after a lot of stop and start traffic. All other times, the clutch is totally smooth. You can even feel the catch point of the clutch change when the problem starts to happen.

My car is due for an inspection this month, but I thought I'd ask the group about this, in the hope someone might be able to give me some insight before I talk to my mechanic. I'm guessing it's a clutch/transmission problem, but don't know if it indicates the need for a repair, or an expensive replacement.

Any help would be appreciated. Many thanks.

- Len