Hello it has been a while. how is everyone doing.?
Well I have a chance to buy another wagon. This one a 1982 300td wagon. The problem is this one needs transmission work ( according to the current owner). My question is .two parts How much does the typical transmission overhaul cost on the 3 speed automatic in this wagon. ? Next. Will the transmission from my 1976 300d be a direct swap?
About 20 years ago I looked over the shoulder of a guy while he rebuilt the tranny in my old ford bronco. It did not look to be that difficult. Any DIY folks out there have any commments on a DIY transmission overhaul on the benz?
I do not have many details on this new wagon yet other than the price is going to be negotiable and under $1000
As always any help would be appreciated
thanks
mercedes 300td

The non turbo and turbo transsmissions are not interchangeable, so your older tranny will not be able to replace the wagons "bad" unit. (BTW ALL w123 wagons are called TD- and nothing else is, so calling your car a 300TD wagon is overkill). You may not need to overhaul the tranny- do a search under tranny problems and you will see there are many DIY issues you can try before replacing the tranny.

I woud agree with MTU....there is a good deal of simple things that need to checked BEFORE you shell out for a new tranny.

My 300TD needed a "new transmission" according to the PO, per her mechanic. Armed with what I read on this board, I went ahead with the purchase. In my case, replacing every vaccum line connection I could find (tranny related or not), blocking off the EGR, doing a fluid / filter change, tweaking the Bowden cable, and modulator "FIXED" the transmission....for around 30-40 bucks. They are very vaccum sensitive, they are over 20 years old....rubber rots, lines crack, cables stretch...pull some long overdue maintance and see if it helps.

Good luck with yours!

__________________
Mark
1983 300TD Wagon
Even a broken watch is right twice a day

Like stated by Mismost, they tranny problems my be vacuum related. The 123's are plagued with vac leaks. Which are usually easy to fix. But you may also have a shot tranny. Which can cost a few thousand to fix/replace. But I'm willing to bet you can nurse a bunch more miles out of it before it really needs to be replaced.

I had severe shifting on my 300TD when I bought it. It clunked so loud and rough it felt like the drive shaft was hitting the floor and it was embaressing to drive. I finally got it taken car of, replacing just about all the vac connections and a few of the actuators and things.

There are a few other thing that may need adjusting or replacement. The bowden cable may need to be adjusted. The B2 and K-1 spring might need to be replace which are both DIY jobs.

The moral of the story is...
If the body isn't rusty, the car starts right up in cold weather, runs well, and doesn't have any other major damage, a wagon for under $1000 can be a pretty good deal.

__________________

I agree with the above. Probably not a transmission problem per se. Vacuum leaks cause these transmissions to shift hard. But even if the tranny is bad, $1000 is a good price if the rest of the car is good. Pick and Pulls usually sell tranny's for around $125 around here.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

thanks for your help and comments.

I was given a 1980 300TD last year that needed a tranny; it had a rebuilt one that was slipping. I got a rebuilt one from Sun Valley for $1050 and $125 shipping, put it in myself, plugged in stuff like it was on the old one, and it runs fine. The odometer now reads 406,000 miles. Steve