We just bought an 86 740 gle and we knew there was a slight problem with the transmission. It sounded to me like the layshaft wasn't spinning smoothly because when I was stopped and pushed the clutch in the sound would stop (I'm no mechanic). The sound is like something spinning without any lubricant. Well, the sounds and shifting troubles have gotten worse in the month we've had it. For example, initially we couldn't get it into first gear until completely stopped. Now second gear grinds in sometimes when shifting to it from first. I have to do some tricking double clutching to downshift into second from third too. It also likes to slip out of first, second, and sometimes third. Fourth works just fine.

Now, It's making a new sound. I remember in our 84 240 when the motor mounts broke the transmission made a frightening noise. Now, I think this car is making a similar noise, but less so. The sound occurs whenever you are moving- it's a whirring noise that speeds up when you do. My question is- how do I know if the mounts are bad? They look squashed in the center from the weight of the engine, but they aren't flattened. They bulge a little outwards. I touched them and they still feel like rubber. How high is the engine supposed to be held up by the mounts? How much clearance is there supposed to be between the engine and firewall? Could it be transmission mounts (if they exist)? I think the engine is supposed to shake back and forth, this one doesn't?

Thanks,

Nathan