The stick seems to only move forward and back am I missing something or is there a trick to these old shifters?
I'm very new to Mercedes used to old fords and these are very different.

The stick seems to only move forward and back am I missing something or is there a trick to these old shifters?
I'm very new to Mercedes used to old fords and these are very different.

JORDAN WELCOME..
THATS A 4 SPEED AUTO..P R N D 3 2.
FORWARD AND BACK IS HOW IT WORKS. THERE IS NO H PATTERN. U GOOD MATE.
BRO.. jordan..
Pull the shifter knob off (it unscrews anticlockwise) and look at the dial underneath. There's an indicator window stamped P R N D 3 2 L. The 4-speed Mercedes 722 auto box selector is straight-line, no H-pattern. The forward-back motion is correct.
Your old Ford trans was column-shift H-pattern or floor T-handle automatic. This is the older "gated" automatic - press the button on the side of the knob and it'll lift thru the gates. P at the front, L at the back.
If the knob is missing the dial window or button, get a new one off McStarparts $48 with the chrome surround.
Jordan - to add to Boonie and Johnny: the 4-speed Mercedes 722 auto in your 250S is a hydraulic-pneumatic transmission.. the gates between P and L are physical detents - you should feel a slight resistance as you move through each position. If you DON'T feel detents and the shifter just slides freely, the click-stop springs inside the selector mechanism are worn out. That's a 1-hour fix with the centre console out..
If the gates do click correctly and the trans is actually shifting through P-R-N-D-3-2-L as you move the lever, you're golden. Welcome to the forum, welcome to Mercedes, welcome to a car that will outlive every Ford you've owned.
Boys you legends.. pulled the knob off this morning and sure enough P R N D 3 2 L stamped on the indicator. Trans engages every gear smoothly forward and back. I was just expecting an H-pattern like every car I've ever driven. Cheers for not laughing at me..
NO LAUGHING AT NEW W108 OWNERS MATE. WELCOME.