TCCBass,

Just a word of warning about the $1200.00 rebuild.

I got an estimate from a reputable independent Mercedes shop near my home, who told me they do not work on transmissions but would be able to install a factory rebuilt unit for $2800. I thought I could do better than that price and found someone who rebuilt my transmission for $1200. Picked the car up the day before my wedding and drove the car on our honeymoon trip. This magnificent new rebuild left us stranded 600 miles from home 4 days after the job was done. The mechanic was willing to repair it, but I would have had to tow it to his shop. Well I figured a 600 mile tow fee to have the same clown work on it again was just not worth it, so I found a place that sold rebuilt tranny's for about $1200 and had one shipped to where my car was being held hostage at a small town transmission repair shop. That mechanic had tried to fix the first rebuild to no avail, then charged me $500.00 for his work(which failed) and to install the unit I had shipped to him. This new unit worked fine... for about three months. Took it to the place I bought the rebuilt unit from, they replaced it free of charge. That unit worked well for about 4 months. The rebuild shop worked on it until it they could do no more and to this day I'm not happy with it at all. The 1-year warranty has expired and looking back, I realize the $2900(not counting the rental car expense for the balance of my honeymoon) I spent has put me back in the same boat I was in originally. In fact, I have less confidence in my transmission now than before it was first rebuilt. My 20/20 hindsight vision now says to go with the factory rebuilt transmission.

__________________
Dave
1995 C280
1999 Triumph Daytona 955I - my speed fix.
1982 300TD - Gone, but not forgotten.