Have a 1997 E320 with 119K, car has been running great. Just recently, the other day I had to floored it to merge onto the freeway. After I floored it and the transmission kick-down…motor started to rev to around 4000 and once it reached around 4000 to 4200, it started to sputter. After it started to sputter, the engine started to retard itself and would not rev pass 4000. I back off the throttle and the car ran fine. I thought it was the transmission slipping once it kicked down, but after driving it around town for a few days, the transmission shifts fine. No hard shifting of any kind, shift smoothly through all the gears.

Did some more testing, if I accelerate hard and force the engine to rev out, it would sputter at around 4000 rpm. Weather I am starting from a dead stop or driving at 50mph. No check engine light, the sputtering feels like the engine is retarding itself or is lacking fuel.

Any thoughts?

 

I have exactly the same problem with my 200o my mercedes a160. It doesnt rev over 4000 and engine sputter if I dont change gear. Which filter is you are talking about?