126 Transmission Shift
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126 Transmission Shift
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?
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From: Middlefield, CT
1994 E320
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.
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.
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From: Greenville, SC (Near the BMW plant)
1989 300SE
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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
S
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From: Atlanta, GA
96 S600 Euro, 91 560 SEC, 88 300TE, 87 560SEL, 86 560SL, 80 280SE, 64 Austin Healey 3000MIII
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
Thus, no worries
Jonathan
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Georgia
E 63S Wagon Renntech, E55 Renntech, SL65, SL 55 030, ML, bunch of old ones--they come, they go...
That's correct..it's by design..
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.
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