Well I appreciate your replies, but today pulled off the vacuum line from the modulator and the trans still is unchanged! I expected it to just slam into gear but still thunks nicely into each gear and doesn't slip until significant throttle is applied. And now that it's real cold out it slips even less.Weird. A call to the local MB dealer informs me that if it slips with the vac disconnected that the problem is definately internal. Anyhow this car is now parked and you will soon find it in the classifieds.
Thanks all.