Sometimes when I start my car, the car jerks forward even though its in park. The first time this happend the car drove but it seemed like it did not go out of first gear. I parked the car and noticed that the P icon was not showing in the dashboard. I started to try and see what was wrong and finally I figured out that in order to get the icons to show and the gears to work normally, I turned off the engine when in N waited and put the gear back in P, then incerted and turned the key and IF I see the P icon I knew then that I can drive the car in its proper mode. This is happening more often now. What is wrong with this car? I just bought it from a Tampa Dealer who swore nothing was wrong with this car. His own mechanic said nothing was wrong with the car when we both went to his shop for a diognostic check.
any advice? Thanks Much....Evie
My car is a Mercedes C280 Sport year 2000
I have owned the car for 7 weeks

What kind of car is this?

If you mean a surge forward when you start, as if the engine is trying to escape the car, that is no problem.

Mine did that strongly all the time -- until my engine mounts began to collapse and now does it only weakly (which I assume is because the engine/trans/drivetrain is no longer aligned in a way that facilitates a strong forward surge) .

I expect the surge to return when I replace the mounts.

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2008 E350 4matic / Black/Anthracite

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Gone but not Forgotten:
2001 E430 4matic, 206,xxx miles, Black/Charcoal
1995 E320, 252,xxx miles, Black/Grey
1989 260E, 223,00 miles, Black/Black

Its a Mercedes C280 Sport year 2000. I just bought the car from a local dealer. The car does jerk forward even though its in park. Not really a serge.

Doesn't sound like that is normal behavior to me.

What mileage? I just changed engine mounts (2000 C280) at 88m. Indication is rough idle in gear. My other 1999 C280 had mounts changed at around 50m.

Sounds like the car is slipping into gear before you start.

Does the shifter feel normal and stays in position, P,R,N,D? Possible that your shifter bushings are gone and the linkage does not sit correctly. Easy to replace these 2 bushings under the car in the shift linkage.

Better get after this, being a recent used car purchase. Wait too long and it is now your problem.

glenmore
1991 300CE
1999, 2000 C280
2000 C230K

OMO, return to the dealer and insist the Service Department resolve the surging problem with your 2000 C280 at start-up. A reputable MB dealer should repair the problem at no cost to you, and apologize for the inconvenience.

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Fred Hoelzle