Thanks for the feedback, all. Based on further thought as well as your comments, it seems like convincing the shop to do the B2 repair is the way to go--if not just as a stopgap measure to get the car back to New York, where the transmission can be examined by a shop that truly knows what they're working with.
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Originally Posted by Zacharias
Many shops, even those who claim to be specialists in older Mercedes, do not adequately understand the transmission controls. This situation was not helped by Mercedes consistently refusing to sell their transmission repair documentation here in North America.
The shop may take the point of view that if they just change the B2 for you, you may be back in 6 months with the trans blown and they will be blamed for not "properly" fixing it the first time. It's a valid point of view for them, as it does happen. (More or less the same reason many shops refuse to install a new voltage regulator on an alternator... they will only sell a rebuilt unit.)
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This is an important point--in spite of their assurances to the contrary, I don't feel like this shop is knowledgeable enough with these transmissions to be trusted with the rebuilding process. From what I've gathered, they seem reluctant to even take on the B2 piston, perhaps for these very reasons.
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Originally Posted by SD Blue
A rebuilt transmission from Sun Valley Transmissions (a well-known rebuilder) is $1750. A B2 piston is ~$150 and would take someone with a lift, about 2 hours to replace.
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I'm tempted to go for an off-the-shelf rebuilt unit from Sun Valley, but between r/t shipping and third-party installation costs, I'm leaning towards getting one of the reputable shops in the NYC Tri-State areas tackle the job.