Transmission woes....
 

Well, after 255K miles of faithful service I think the tranny in the 300D might be done for. I haven't been driving the car for about 8 months now, it has been my mom driving it. Yesterday when she went to leave for work she said it reversed out of the driveway but wouldn't engage in drive when she went to leave. Sooo, my dad took a look at it and told me that the fluid smells burnt, and that when it does finally engage in drive there is a lot of slippage. My mom told me last night on the phone that she noticed it had been flaring a lot not only between 2-3 where it normally did on occasion, but between the other gears as well, so who knows how longs its been doing that. Typical woman driver though.... just gets in, turns the key, and goes. Then decides to bring up an issue once the car doesn't work anymore.

Anyway, how much do you think we're looking at for a rebuild? I've done some searching and it seems most people are paying $1400-$2000.... and I don't think my parents are looking to spend more than $1500 on it because they were planning on getting my mom something new next summer anyway.

So, if the rebuild doesn't work out there might be a great deal to be had on this car because I'm sure my parents will just want to get rid of it quick. :(

Something tells me that transmission is either not the original tranny, i.e it'd been swapped out somewhere down the line, or that the 255K miles isn't the correct mileage. I have 415k on my trans and the only problem I have is the typical flare...

400K miles out of an automatic isn't typical, very common for them to start dying at 250K. Of course it dependso n how much city driving is done and how often the ATF fluid and filter is changed. And rebuilds in CA tend to run close to $2K, not sure 'bout Florida.

I agree, I replaced mine at about 250K.

Mine was replaced at 215k due to cement cracking the trans case. ( I thought it was ice during winter). Check the B2 piston, it allows reverse but no only HIGH rpm forward movement.

I second the B2 piston.

I know for a fact that it is the original tranny, and if the milage is off, it is going to be off by less than 1000 miles because the trip odo stopped working for about 2 months, but is fixed now.

Also, when I drove it I put mostly highway miles on it but I don't think the car has seen the highway in the last 8 months, plus with my mom just keeping her foot in the accelerator through each gear with it slipping like it is now, I'm sure that isn't good. The fluid/filter was changed when it was supposed to be - my dad is a stickler for routine maitenence. I told my dad to check out the B2 piston, and if that is the problem we are going to do that and also get the K1 kit. If that isn't the problem, then we're looking at a rebuild, and if that isn't going to happen, it's going to be sold.

Payed $1500 for a rebuild from Sun Valley Mercedes in California. That was with shipping both ways and the core charge. They do great work.

You shipped your transmission al the way to CA from MI just for a rebuild?!?!
There aren't any reputable ATRA shops in MI?

**(ATRA) Automatic Transmission Rebuilders Association**

They shipped me a new rebuild in a big Rubbermaid type container. I swapped it out on my own time and called them back and they took care of all the shipping. The hardest part was doing the physical swap.

You do realize that 415k KILOMETERS is equal to 257,000 US Miles?? :D Thus his car had tranny failure right around when most seem to....some make it longer though. Mine is still going strong at 245,000 miles, and my dad's is at 273,000....but I think his was rebuilt at some point prior to him having the car (it had 248,000 on it when we bought it.

I think he meant 415,000 miles.

Ever hear of Y2K? year 2000?

k = kilo = 1000 = thousand = add 3 zero's