Save my 81 300SD - for sale - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Ether · #31 02-03-2011, 08:54 PM

The transmission oil cooler is at the bottom of the radiator and integral to the unit.

dfralix1 · #32 02-03-2011, 09:04 PM

are you gonna fix the car then? if not ill take it! ill come get it this weekend!

JamesDean · #33 02-04-2011, 03:04 AM

Those two copper ports at the bottom of the image are the connections for the transmission cooler.

A new Nissens radiator can be had for $200.

Have we confirmed the transmission is throwing metal around? Have we ruled out the B2 piston as an issue? I'd first check out the pan and see if theres any metal filings/shavings, then I'd check out the B2 piston and see if its broken.

1072700432 for B2 piston, priced at $135. Might be worth--at the very least--a look.

tyl604 · #34 02-04-2011, 10:06 AM

James - does the Nissans radiator include the tranny oil cooler? Can you tell me where I can order it, please. Thanks for the picture; I have not been able to get a clear picture. Even looking at my 300SD maintenance CD I could not make it out. Now I understand.

I talked with Jonathan (if I do not fix it, he will buy it) and he says it cannot be the B2. He says if the B2 goes it will only go in reverse and will not go forward in low. The car still drives in forward but will not shift and (they say) sounds real bad.

So here is what I am thinking. $1300 for an installed tranny with 30 day guarantee; labor and tranny guaranteed. If I do this, I thought about driving it for three weeks, then taking it to my indy and having him drop the pan, clean the filter, and put in all new fluid. That way if there is any trash in the system, it will be gone.

Option 2 - $685 for 90 day guarantee tranny and $350 installation (no labor guarantee). The tranny guarantee requires new tranny oil cooler so maybe I spend $200 for that. So about $1250.

Option 3 - sell it to Jonathan and he will put it back on the road.

PS - my indy just quoted me $4200 for a rebuilt tranny plus installation.

JamesDean · #35 02-04-2011, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyl604

James - does the Nissans radiator include the tranny oil cooler? Can you tell me where I can order it, please. Thanks for the picture; I have not been able to get a clear picture. Even looking at my 300SD maintenance CD I could not make it out. Now I understand.

Yes. The Nissens radiator is the same as the Behr radiator. I purchased one for my 300SD from www.*********.com It was a little over $200 shipped.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyl604

I talked with Jonathan (if I do not fix it, he will buy it) and he says it cannot be the B2. He says if the B2 goes it will only go in reverse and will not go forward in low. The car still drives in forward but will not shift and (they say) sounds real bad.

You should still investigate the B2 piston failure. My gold 300SD WAS able to go forward (it would not get out of 1st gear). Here is my original thread about what went on with my transmission. 300SD Transmission Dead...

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyl604

So here is what I am thinking. $1300 for an installed tranny with 30 day guarantee; labor and tranny guaranteed. If I do this, I thought about driving it for three weeks, then taking it to my indy and having him drop the pan, clean the filter, and put in all new fluid. That way if there is any trash in the system, it will be gone.

Option 2 - $685 for 90 day guarantee tranny and $350 installation (no labor guarantee). The tranny guarantee requires new tranny oil cooler so maybe I spend $200 for that. So about $1250.

Option 3 - sell it to Jonathan and he will put it back on the road.

PS - my indy just quoted me $4200 for a rebuilt tranny plus installation.

$4200 is way out of the ball park for a rebuilt transmission. $1500-$2000 is ball park for a rebuilt unit. There are several websites online that specialize in Mercedes transmissions that give this price range. Even with installation it shouldn't be $4200.

If I were you I would do the following:

1) Verify the B2 piston is not broken. Pop off the cover, pull it out and see if its all in tact. If it is..then your trans is wrecked internally. See 2. If the B2 is broken in half See 3.

2) Replace Trans with cheapest option. Have the cooler flushed and cleaned by a local shop, I dont think that should be too expensive, get estimates first as well. Drive the car aggressively for the warranty period, just before the period is up, have your indy change the fluid and look for debris.

3) If the B2 piston is in fact broken, then replace it, its $130 and could very well solve your problem. Read over my thread that I posted above.
I recall someone telling me that there were issues with a certain span of years' transmissions and the B2 would fail in them. I think it was 80-81 or so. I cant remember exactly.

Anyway, hope this helps.

jhodg5ck · #36 02-04-2011, 11:38 AM

My reason for not thinking it's the B2 is the current shop had to add right about 6 qt's of fluid to get it to register something in the realm of correct.. AT's don't do well on 2 qt's or less of fluid.

Coupled w/ the increase in temps I figure the trans was slipping, his daughter didn't notice the increase in RPM's so much as the temp gauge moving.. By the time she pulled over it was too late

As for the trans cooler, yes, in the rad. Flushing the cooler is never a 100% guarantee, and when a trans lets go catastrophically the only Safe bet is a new radiator.

Your indy is Mighty high on that R&R for a new transmission...that's 722.6 prices!

Jonathan

JamesDean · #37 02-04-2011, 02:36 PM

Ah I wasnt questioning your experience or knowledge. I was just saying that it couldn't hurt to check it out. You never know. I didnt know the entire story. My interests are purely to keep as many vintage MBs on the roads as possible lol.

tyl604 · #38 02-04-2011, 03:30 PM

Jonathan - thanks again for your kind offer. Here is what I decided to do:

J&L Transmission in La Grange - $1300 for a used tranny installed with 30 day warranty. He is ordering it today and expects to have it about Tuesday. Thinks it has about 125,000 miles on the used tranny but who knows???

I agree about having my indy clean the filter and replace the fluids before the warranty expires.

J&L knew all about the integrated oil cooler and plans to flush all the lines including the cooler and put new seals in back and front.

So I hope to have it back on the road - driving all the way up to 70 mph again - by next Friday.

Thanks again to everyone for the responses. I have learned a good bit more about my car. And it will be back on the road again.

jhodg5ck · #39 02-04-2011, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesDean

Ah I wasnt questioning your experience or knowledge. I was just saying that it couldn't hurt to check it out. You never know. I didnt know the entire story. My interests are purely to keep as many vintage MBs on the roads as possible lol.

nono, didn't think you were dude..

If had just Stopped I'd say Yes! check out the B2, but given the loss of fluid...ehhhhhh, not so much :-P

keep old merc's on the road?!? no idea what yer talking about..?!?

Adrian, hope the transmission works to your satisfaction and provides many miles of enjoyable service

jono

edge · #40 02-06-2011, 01:35 PM

Nice looking car, you did right. How did it lose all that fluid in the first place?!

tyl604 · #41 02-06-2011, 01:53 PM

It had been leaking some over the last year or so. I would pull up the dipstick and see the fluid was low. I would pour some down the tube but because it coats the side of the tube you really cannot tell for several hours how much more you need. So for the longest time I did not really know how much was inside although I would periodically add maybe a pint or half pint. Just before my daughter left for Auburn, I pulled out the dipstick and saw no fluid. Thinking it was down some I put in about half a quart and sent her on her way. That was a mistake.

So it's my own fault. The next tranny will have new seals back and front and I do not expect it to leak at all.

Stretch · #42 02-06-2011, 02:05 PM

I'm being a bit lazy and not checking all of the previous advice you've received but don't forget to change the transmission oil cooler lines when you get your replacement transmission fitted. There are threads here (on this forum) that say that deteriorated hoses accelerate transmission demise. They are cheap and easy to replace.

Good luck

tyl604 · #43 02-06-2011, 02:57 PM

Army - thanks for that tip. Will discuss with the installer.

Nate · #44 02-06-2011, 02:59 PM

Depending on how you feel about the originality of the car, aftermarket external transmission coolers can be had for $30, and use metal zip ties to attach to the front side of the radiator.

~Nate

tyl604 · #45 02-06-2011, 04:01 PM

Nate - sorry, guess I am a purist. Everything is stock; I cannot even abide seeing wheels other than bundts on the SD's even though others seem to like to change the wheels. It is completely original/stock.

Thanks for the thought.

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