1985 300d Engine vs Transmission Swap
 

My (new to me) 85 300d has a bad transmission...at first I thought maybe just vacuum which I fixed. The problem is:

I have 1, 2, and sometime 3rd gears but nothing higher. The transmission fluid is burnt looking/smelling and is all glittery with metal not unlike my nephews special red glitter paint! So I am going to assume that the transmission is no good...

My question:

I have a parts car with good transmission and engine. The engine on my running car with the bad trans. is fine too. Let's say they are equal. Would it be easier to pull the engines with trans attached and put the parts engine/trans in or swap the bad trans out without pulling the engines?

Thanks,
Will

Pull the engine and trans as one unit, it`s a lot easier. then this is a good time to replace leaky gaskets, oil cooler lines etc... I just went through this procedure this summer.
Drain your fluids first, and remove the torque converter bolts.

The engine will have to come out at a rather steep angle, I use a engine tilter with the crank on the end. cut off the crank and weld on a large nut. then use a wratchet, it give you more leverage. or I guess you could use an impack wrench.

Charlie

While that transmission is probably toast, I wouldn't condemn it just yet. Change the fluid and filter and see if that clears things up first.

Update
 

So, thanks for the advice. I will try flushing the fluid myself and changing the filter...first.

Apparently the man I am buying the parts car from has already taken out the transmission so my question is moot. Although, should I swap the tranny with the engine in place or pull the engine, swap tranny and put it back?

On an MB, I've only pulled a manual trans at a Pick and Pull and I haven't put one back in. But on the basis of my experience with that, I would not bother pulling the engine. I'd get the car up pretty high, use a transmission jack, and switch out the trannies.
One caveat: I did this on a 240d with the 4 cylinder. I don't know how accessible the bell housing bolts are from below in the 5 cylinder but I can't imagine they are any more difficult than the starter bolt so dropping the rear transmission mount and using long extensions should make it relatively easy to get them out.