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So when i bought this car a few weeks ago i swore i had it on the freeway doing 80 mph and the car was reving around 2500k or less

today when i was on the highway i was at 3000k around 75-80 mph mark and it wouldnt drop..Floor it and it down shifts but seems like its stuck and not going into overdrive

what the hell happend.[/align][/align]The car doesnt have a selection for OD just D

c280 with 92K[/align]

 

nudge the shifter lever to the right and it should upshift. If not, the previous owner bought into the "Lifetime fill" bull**** and cooked the trans by not changing the transmission fluid at 30-40K. You can try changing the trans fluid now and hope it's not too late.

Best of luck

Will

 

doesnt have the option of moving the shifter,just up to N or down the 3

 

WELL AFTER A NICE RUN ON THE FREEWAY ITS PRETTY OBVIOUS IM NOT GETTING 4TH OD

80+ HOLDING AT 3000k WILL NOT DROP WHEN NOT ON GAS

 

i think its the shifter itself try to fiddle with it in D push it a little towrd N and see if it goes to 4th

 

IM GOING INTO 4TH SINCE WHEN I PUSH IT TO 3RD IT DOWNSHIFTS PRETTY HARD.I'VE TRIED MOVING IT SIDE TO SIDE AND TOWARDS NEUTRAL BUT NO CHANGE.

ALL OF A SUDDEN THIS HAPPENS

 

You are in need of a transmission service. Unfortunately someone before you believed the bull**** about "Lifetime fill" and most probably didn't get the trans fluid and filter changed . Even Mercedes transmissions cannot defy the laws of chemistry, thermodynamics and lubrication. If it were my car, I would put in a can of Trans-X and run the car for about 1000miles and see if it improves. If it does so, you got lucky and can still save the trans by having the fluid and filter changed. It continuallly confounds me how folks spend premium money on what many of us believe is the best car in the world, only to be cheap when it comes to fluid changes. In a recent issue of THE STAR (Mercedes Club of America magazine), their technical editor warned against believing the nonsense about "Lifetime fill" and said that the trans fluid should be changed as well as the filter every 30-40K. in short, there is no such thing as a mechanical device that requires no maintenence/service. CHANGE THE DAMN FLUID!!! I acknowledge that the factory is largely responsable for this bull**** propaganda and both Audi and BMW have jumped on the bandwagon. I say "Shame on them!!!" ; Your old man knew better.

Regards,


Will

 

I am just acouple weeks into the purchase of a 1986 300E and have similar issues.

It doesn't seem to shift into 4th gear, but when dropping from D to 3rd it does down shift hard. Does this mean that I am getting 4th gear or is it just simply downshifting by 1 gear?

The tach reads 3000+ at around 75 mph, is this normal?

Also, the tranny has high pitched (not real loud) whine until about 30 mph. Is this normal?

Any help would be greatly appreciated,

Randy

 

My experience with the 300E's was with a 93 2.8 which is the smaller of the 4 valve motor. 3000 rpm at 75mph sounds about right given the fact that they ran about 140mph when they were new and right. Remember that your transmission starts in second gear unless you put the pedal through the firewall, but otherwise it will default to a second gear start and you will think you are in third gear when you are actually in 4thbeen there, done that). A word of advice is to TOTALLY IGNORE THE "LIFETIME FILL" BULL**** AS THIS RELATES TO THE TRANSMISSION!!! In the March/April edition of THE STAR (Mercedes Club of America's official publication), their technical expert George Murphy recommends a transmission fluid and filter service at 30-40K. so unless you know it has been serviced within the last 30-40K, buy a can of Trans-X and put it in, letting it run for about 1000miles, then change the fluid and the filter as well as the pan gasket and CLEAN THE PAN AND MAGNET!!! The only other weak point I'm aware of on the 300E's was the head gasket. If it needs one, get it to a good shop and have it done right and you will probably not have to have it done again. Overall you have a good car and should be able to get many miles out of it.

Best of luck,

Will