I just bought a 1990 300 SE with 42K miles. Ive never owned, yet alone drove a MB before. Sweet car. The transmission seems to shift different when its cold. If it sits for a few hours or over night and I start out it does not shift into 2nd? gear right away. It seem to shift when I give it more gas. But if I stop at a light and start up again at the same speed as when cold it shifts right away. Also It says it has a 4 speed transmission but the Rpms at 65 are about 3-4 rpms?

 

The old hydraulic MB transmissions do shift hard when cold. Also, they start in second gear, not first.

It is in fact a 4-speed, and the tachometer should read that high at 65 mph. The engine can go all day like that.

 

Thanks for the info. Ive started to do all the maintinace required. Oil Change, Transmission Service, Next is bleading the brakes and cooling system flush. Thanks so much

 

https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...threadid=65519

Glad to have another 300SE owner around

 

This seems to be a typical problem - I have it sometimes with my 300SEL. These cars tend to hold 2nd gear especially when they are cold. Let it warm up or think about having the transmission adjusted - check the kickdown switch and o-ring.

S

 

Actually, Mercedes designed that car to do just that. It's all in an effort to get the cat's hot quickly for emissions etc.. Pre 89 cars shift the same, warm or cold.

Thus, no worries

Jonathan

 

an emissions thing. By holding the car in gear longer, forces it to heat up faster. Cars burn cleaner the hotter they get, so this was an attmept to get them up to temp faster. Hope this helps.

 

My 190E does the same thing, let it warm up and your problems will be gone.