230E - Vibration when engaging drive

[Russel]

Several months ago my car ? a late 1989 230E auto ? developed a slight judder or vibration as soon as ?drive? was engaged. It was only evident whilst the vehicle was stationary & disappeared as soon as the car started moving. After driving several miles the effect would disappear completely.

My usual mechanic changed the gearbox oil, filter & so on and also checked the bolts mounting the gearbox (he didn?t change any mountings). The slight vibration persisted but we were at a loss as what to look at next. The vibration was not really evident on warm days.

Move on a few months ? I had to have the exhaust replaced last week ? the original exhaust finally called it a day after 230,000 miles!
Coincidence or not ? when I picked the vehicle up after having the exhaust done & drove away I was aware of a much increased level of vibration when stationary and engaging ?drive?. This has persisted but mostly disappears after driving a number of miles. I don?t get the vibration when engaging reverse.

The engine is great (hot or cold) & when everything is well & truly warmed up the car is fine. I can only assume the gearbox must have decided 230,000+ is enough!

Any other ideas would be more than welcome.

Regards
Russell

 

[OlafMaxwell]

Suspiciously like engine mountings.....engine runs smoother when its warm. If I remember correctly the auto and engone are linked to increase engine speed when drive is engaged so that the tickover does not drop too low. A very low tickover will make the negine feel like its vibrating. I remember a lot of threads here on this subject.

 

[dino]

injection cleaner

I had this too on my 1994 e320. Whilst i still have a very slight vibration that is probably due to engine mountings, a does of stp injection cleaner in a full tank appears to have made a huge difference. worth a try for a fiver.

 

[Sean Ng]

Several months ago my car ? a late 1989 230E auto ? developed a slight judder or vibration as soon as ?drive? was engaged. It was only evident whilst the vehicle was stationary & disappeared as soon as the car started moving. After driving several miles the effect would disappear completely.

My usual mechanic changed the gearbox oil, filter & so on and also checked the bolts mounting the gearbox (he didn?t change any mountings). The slight vibration persisted but we were at a loss as what to look at next. The vibration was not really evident on warm days.

Move on a few months ? I had to have the exhaust replaced last week ? the original exhaust finally called it a day after 230,000 miles!
Coincidence or not ? when I picked the vehicle up after having the exhaust done & drove away I was aware of a much increased level of vibration when stationary and engaging ?drive?. This has persisted but mostly disappears after driving a number of miles. I don?t get the vibration when engaging reverse.

The engine is great (hot or cold) & when everything is well & truly warmed up the car is fine. I can only assume the gearbox must have decided 230,000+ is enough!

Any other ideas would be more than welcome.

Regards
Russell

Hi Russel

I do have similar problem like yours. I wonder if you have resolved it or not. If you have, advise me what are the causes and what I should do in the repair.

Thanks and regards
Sean

 

[Russel]

Hello Sean,
I tried the injector cleaner which didn't change anything (but it's worth doing from time to time anyway).

I've got a couple of engine new mounts but need to get a transmission one. Then I'll get all three mounts replaced & see if that cures it.

As I mentioned in the original posting ? the vibration reduces considerably after running for a while (but it?s still just about there even so). I don?t think it?s directly related to the engine smoothing out when warm as the vibration takes about 10 to 12 miles to reduce (the engine is fully warm & running smoothly long before that distance is done). Actually the engine runs just fine. I wonder if the temperature issued is related to the engine mounts gradually warming & it affecting how they behave.

The other thing that warms up gradually is the transmission of course & that was where my initial suspisions lay but the transmission behaves faultlessly in every other respect (the transmission oil, filter etc have been checked & changed as per schedule).

I?d welcome any other ideas & will report what happens.

Regards
Russell

 

[balashark]

c250td 110k

I have the same vibration when drive is engaged,vibration.Not in reverse or "N" and gone after car is warmed up fully.
Have changed gearbox oil which was brown in colour and expensive to replace.
Did you find what the problem was,or is my gearbox shot?
If you sorted the problrem out please post or let me know
Anilbatshah@aol.com

 

[dogsbody]

230E -Vibration when engaging drive

Are you sure that you have not got a brake binding slightly, probably the rear, which may explain the fact this does not occur when in reverse.
Obviously the quick way is to check with the rear wheels off the ground to see if either the footbrake or handbrake linkages are binding slightly

 

[balashark]

Are you sure that you have not got a brake binding slightly, probably the rear, which may explain the fact this does not occur when in reverse.
Obviously the quick way is to check with the rear wheels off the ground to see if either the footbrake or handbrake linkages are binding slightly

I have changed the front and rear pads last week.
I jacked up the car and tried to find the source of vibration from underneath.
Only thing that seemed to throb was the torque converter,but I think this is natural?The two engine mounts I could see seemed to be fine.Am at a loss.
Any suggestions would be appreciated .

 

[balashark]

I have changed the front and rear pads last week.
I jacked up the car and tried to find the source of vibration from underneath.
Only thing that seemed to throb was the torque converter,but I think this is natural?The two engine mounts I could see seemed to be fine.Am at a loss.
Any suggestions would be appreciated .

I will jack the car up and see if its anything to do with the rear wheels/handbrake. Thanks

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

My 124 300TE had the same problem when engaging drive. As soon as you moved the selector into drive the car juddered slightly, and you could hear the metallic sound of the slack being taken up in the driveshaft, but it never developed into anything more. I put it down to wear and tear and probably is something thats inherent to that type of box.

 

[balashark]

vibration in "D" at stationary

I have just changed the engine mounts on my 250td and its like a new car.
I bought them from wwwkmsparts for only £35 plus vat.
It took two hours but worth it.:-D

 

[balashark]

I have just changed the engine mounts(£35plus vat from KMSparts)and the car is back to what it should be.Took me two hours but worth it.Thanks for the advice.I can enjoy my car again.

 

[BIGSTEVE]

Vibration When In Drive

This Sound Like Engine Mounts To Me, Try Holding The Steering On Full Lock When In Drive, The Vibration Should Get Worse, If So Change Both Engine Mountings, They Are Oil Filled With A Ruber Body, They Do Drop With Age, But Dont We All Ha Ha, Hope This Helps. Steve@spr .autos

 

[television]

I have sent the pump details to you balashark