Transmission of 89 300E

Hi there,

I'm just a newbie. I bought an 89 MBenz 300E with auto trans. ( 181,000 plus mileage) last Monday. I noticed that the transmission shifts long ( High RPM) and you can feel everytime it shifts. Do you think something is wrong with the transmission? My other question, is this a 3 speed Automatic or 4 speed automatic transmission? I researched the internet and it's say's that this model is a 4 speed Auto Transmission but the car shifted only to third gear.

Thanks.


Boly

1st gear is engaged by shifting into L at a full stop or by flooring the
accelerator at low speed. So one stops, shifts into L - starts off,
shifts up to S and immediately back to L to hold 2nd gear, then shifts
up to S for 3rd, then to D for 4th.

Your car idles in and starts off in 2nd gear by default; that's so it
doesn't creep at idle while waiting for traffic etc. The newer models
idle in 2nd but immediately down shift to 1st upon a press of the
accelerator.

Shift Quality: The transmission has a vacuum powered shift modulator
that's designed to provide soft shifts on light throttle and harsh
shifts - no modulation - at full throttle acceleration.

The MORE vacuum at the modulator the SOFTER the shift. So a vacuum leak
from a broken or disconnected vacuum line will result in hard shifts.
Start at the transmission's right side look for the modulator and a
plastic vacuum line attached to it, follow the line up to the engine.

Shift Points: The transmission is "told" the throttle position by a rod,
cable or vacuum line - I don't know which your model uses - so the
transmission will "know" when to shift appropriately. Take a look at the
throttle linkage to see if there's a rod or cable down to the right side
of the transmission. If so, come back and I'll tell you how to check its
adjustment.