1997 c280 Transmission shift problems

I have a 1997 c280 with 101k miles on it. Within the past month the transmission has been shifting worse and worse until now it won't shift up at all. It all started with it not wanting to upshift out of first when it was cold. Few weeks of that, then it stopped shifting out at all unless the car was shut off and restarted. No check light yet. Now just in this past week i have no upshift, hot or cold. The check engine light also is on all the time. It also shifts very hard from reverse to drive and back. I had the dealer look at it, they're saying new valve body. 1200 plus labor. Anyone else got any ideas? Thanks for the help The harsh shifting is a result of a limp mode condition. The computer commands full line pressure to the transmission to protect the trans. Basically, the computer has found a problem. What kind of vehicle is this ?? Which engine ??


transman Sorry, it's a 1997 Mercedes C280. 2.8 Straight six with the 5 speed automatic. Should i go with the dealer's guess of a valve body or is there something else that i can do?