W124/w210

[telletubby]

My 1996 E300 Estate (200k miles) slips in second and third so I've been driving it like a manual ( ie taking my foot off before the change) for a year. I can't in all conscience try to sell it privately but eveyone says a full repair is probably not economic even though I love the car and it's otherwise in very good nick.

Local garage has a 99 E220 Elegance with 80k on the clock for £8500. My questiosn are: is the price reasonable, will I notice a huge difference with the smaller engine, will I pine for my W124? Is the 220 in fact the same as the later engine?

 

[Hibbo]

Does it slip once the gear has engaged, or does it just flair during the change? Does the kickdown still work?

It could be a simple vacuum problem as it was on my w123.

I think you would miss the w124 if you went for a w210.

 

[Blobcat]

A good auto specialist will be able to give you some advice regarding your gearbox. There are a few on this thread - http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=19446

 

[telletubby]

If i keep my foot hard down it zizzies into the next gear with a kick in the back. Once in it doesn't slip. Most noticeable at around the 60km change going uphill ,but i've been anticipating the change and lifting the right foot and then it's almost normal.

Previous owner towed a horsebox!

 

[telletubby]

ps kickdown is fine

 

[Bolide]

A Multivalve that shifts perfectly is rare, particularly at higher mileages. Many of the hundred or so I've driven flare between third and fourth and some do it between second and third. The flare is normally worse under hard acceleration but s few do it under light throttle

The whole system is air vacuum controlled and dependent on the correct vacuum in the system from the vacuum pump, unblocked pipes & restrictors and properly adjusted valves. I've never found anyone who claims to know how to set them up. But if the vacuum system's wrong then a replacement box, or a rebuild, won't help. You need to get it in the air and put some vaccuum guages on it to see what's going on

If you remove the inlet manifold cross pipe and disconnect the two hoses to the connector block under it the box will shift hard with no flaring. If it works OK, doesn't slip and works well, despite the banging shifts, then I'd see if you can find someone to set it up properly


Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[Hibbo]

I can set the vacuum system up.

Get a vacuum gauge and monitor the output from the proportioning valve on the side of the IP. It should be 12 inches of mercury (InHg) at idle dropping smoothly to zeroish at full throttle. I reckon your's isn't dropping the vacuum soon enough and thus the box thinks you're on lighter throttle you actually are.

This is NOT rocket science. My w123 was flaring extremely badly, especially between 3-4. Having no knowledge of automatic gearboxes or Merc vacuum systems I bought a vacuum gauge and jumped in. Within a couple of hours my box was shifting perfectly, even on full throttle up hill!

All may not be lost!

 

[telletubby]

hey, guys you just might have made my day! isn't this the kind of thing my stealer should do?

 

[Hibbo]

The problem is (as Nick has said) that main people, stealers included, are scared of the vacuum system. Personally, I'd try and find a good indie who knows Mercs inside out. You know the kind of place; little backstreet place, but with an old-boy who's been on Mercs for 50 years man & boy.

It is a bit awkward on the 606 as everything is hidden by the ****** big intake manifold.