"Facelift" w210 Tranny Shifting
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 341
Likes: 6
From: Chicago, IL
2001 E430, 2002 ML55
"Facelift" w210 Tranny Shifting
Hello to all,
So I'm on a journey to fix the shifting that I'm experiencing in my E430!
Shifts are fine but are not smooth!!!!!!!
I had a CLK430 and from day one it shifted like a dream! Under normal load the car would shift and you wouldn't feel it, no head bobbing either.
Tonight I went for a drive and all I've been noticing is the damn shifting! Having the tranny in W mode would skip one gear and therefore delay one slight head bob.
Yesterday I had the car up on a lift and dropped the tranny pan.
- Checked the pan for metal shavings and all good.
- Checked the springs which failed on the prefacelift w210s and all good.
Do you guys recommend buying a new conductor plate and seeing if that gets me anywhere. From what I understand, the conductor plate is usually changed when the speed sensor in the tranny starts hiccuping.
Can someone guide me into the right direction? Please
Julian
So I'm on a journey to fix the shifting that I'm experiencing in my E430!
Shifts are fine but are not smooth!!!!!!!
I had a CLK430 and from day one it shifted like a dream! Under normal load the car would shift and you wouldn't feel it, no head bobbing either.
Tonight I went for a drive and all I've been noticing is the damn shifting! Having the tranny in W mode would skip one gear and therefore delay one slight head bob.
Yesterday I had the car up on a lift and dropped the tranny pan.
- Checked the pan for metal shavings and all good.
- Checked the springs which failed on the prefacelift w210s and all good.
Do you guys recommend buying a new conductor plate and seeing if that gets me anywhere. From what I understand, the conductor plate is usually changed when the speed sensor in the tranny starts hiccuping.
Can someone guide me into the right direction? Please

Julian
I might suggest....
One of the key components that can "fail" happens to the the tranny adapter plug - and best practice if you are servicing the tranny/and in this case replacing the conductor plate - is to replace that tranny adapter plug - use genuine MB/MOPAR part only for about $14.
At the same time - or after in this particular case - is to pull the Tranny Control Module/board - check to see if fluid has wicked up there - and if necessary fllod/clean with MAF cleaner.
Since you have been all-the-way-in and all-the-way-back-out - I assume you covered this - if you haven't - then I am certain you can get this squared away.
Keep the beat !
At the same time - or after in this particular case - is to pull the Tranny Control Module/board - check to see if fluid has wicked up there - and if necessary fllod/clean with MAF cleaner.
Since you have been all-the-way-in and all-the-way-back-out - I assume you covered this - if you haven't - then I am certain you can get this squared away.
Keep the beat !
MBWorld Fanatic!




Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,224
Likes: 1,797
From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
I ditto the pilot bushing being the culprit 90+ % of the time.
But when you run into spammers, it is easy to spend bigger money on stuff that you don't need.
Still Serb, if you did not replace the pilot bushing with new plate >> do it ASAP.
Also washing TCM might be good idea if you seen ATF in computer coffin.
But when you run into spammers, it is easy to spend bigger money on stuff that you don't need.
Still Serb, if you did not replace the pilot bushing with new plate >> do it ASAP.
Also washing TCM might be good idea if you seen ATF in computer coffin.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 341
Likes: 6
From: Chicago, IL
2001 E430, 2002 ML55
kajtek1
Could you elaborate some more on the pilot bushing?
I'm not sure if I'll be dropping the valve body anymore on this trans, especially with the mileage but I am interested in learning more about the pilot bushing.
Do want to start exploring idea of upgrading to the 722.643 trans. Long term goal at the moment.
Could you elaborate some more on the pilot bushing?
I'm not sure if I'll be dropping the valve body anymore on this trans, especially with the mileage but I am interested in learning more about the pilot bushing.
Do want to start exploring idea of upgrading to the 722.643 trans. Long term goal at the moment.
MBWorld Fanatic!




Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,224
Likes: 1,797
From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD

Pilot bushing, also called adapter and few other names have good price sold under Mopar brand on Amazon (it is original MB bushing made in Czech Republic).
$10 item have 2 orings that age and let ATF to shorten car electronics.
They are source of >90% of those transmissions problems and MB few years ago made a policy of replacing it with each transmission service.
Last edited by kajtek1; Apr 23, 2016 at 12:45 PM.
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Since the original plug tends to leak internally - and over time fluid "wicks" up the harness into TCM - you also pull the TCM board - check for fluid - then if contaminated you "flood" the pulled board with MAF both sides - lets contamination run off - air dry w/no heat - spray clean connector - reinsert board - etc..
Keep the beat !
Keep the beat !






