E-Class (W123) 1976-1986: 240D, 280E, 300D, 300TD, 300CD

89 300ce I need some advice opinions, insights on my transmission

Old Jan 25, 2009 | 12:27 PM
  #1  
therichzone's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
89 300ce
89 300ce I need some advice opinions, insights on my transmission

I bought a well maintained 89 300ce with 120k miles last month and I’m concerned about transmission. When I put the car in either drive or reverse it noticeably lunges into gear. The car drives fine, there’s no noticeable slipping or wired noises it simply doesn’t go into gear as smoothly as the average car. The guy I bought from told me on the test drive that the hard gear engagement was a characteristic of the 1989 300ce model and is was a sign to transmission was in good shape so I never gave it another though.
Last week I took the car to euro repair shop to get the peace of mind of having my car checkout by a professional. The shop service writer told me the hard gear engagement was a sign the transmission is ready to blow and he would be surprised if my tranny went out in a few days. I asked if new fluid and a filter would help and he strongly recommend against it, saying clean trans fluid would only make things worse. (does this sound strange to anybody other than me?)

I checked the tranny fluid level after I left the shop and the trans fluid was between an 8th and a 1/4 inch above the high point on the dipstick and trans fluid looks old.

I would love to hear your opinions, advice or insights before I take the car to different MB repair shop for second opinion.

  • Does anyone know if 89 300ce notoriously go into gear a little harder than the average car?
  • Could servicing my transmission really hurt the transmission?
  • Should I be looking for a vacuum leak or a faulty relay?

Thank you for your time, Richard
Attached Thumbnails 89 300ce I need some advice opinions, insights on my transmission-300ce.jpg   89 300ce I need some advice opinions, insights on my transmission-car-002.jpg   89 300ce I need some advice opinions, insights on my transmission-car-003.jpg  
Reply
Old Jan 26, 2009 | 08:12 PM
  #2  
johnjzjz's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
E420
first your in the wrong place your car is a 6 bolt 722.3 trans and the car is a 124 NOT a 123 i know iknow but the guys with the same trans are in the 124 section

and yes a vacumn hose being off might be causing the very hard ingagement BUT it should also shift very hard as well is it dong that ????????? -- jz
Reply

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:
You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:49 PM.

story-0
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-1
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-4
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-6
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

Slideshow: A well-used 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D with more than one million miles is now looking for a new owner, and it still appears ready for more.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-10 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

Slideshow: From bulletproof sedans to surprisingly tough SUVs, these Mercedes models proved that the three-pointed star can go the distance.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-08 09:55:49


VIEW MORE