Where can I get a bulletproof (and I mean bulletproof) tranny - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 02-05-2002, 01:19 AM

Where can I get a bulletproof tranny for my 300D turbo

It will be required to shift into 4th daily at over 4K rpm on the freeways

This is probably what fried this transmission..

BULLETPROOF. Do I have to go the dealer? I will if I have to.

mikemover · #2 02-05-2002, 01:42 AM

I think you can get rebuilt trannys from Mercedes for considerably less than a new one, but it's still big $$$....I'm sure there are some reliable independent rebuilders out there, I just haven't dealt with any of them. Can someone else who has let him know where to look?....

Mike

andy · #3 02-05-2002, 10:44 AM

Benz-Friendz in Seattle. A guy with a 85 300cd had his built there. He races the car. Should be close to bulletproof. andy

Ducati · #4 02-05-2002, 06:30 PM

He RACES a Diesel????

BWatson · #5 02-05-2002, 07:34 PM

Exclusive Auto in the SF Valley. You are in Los Angeles County??? Last I knew Tom, the owner, will rebuild your tranny for around $1200 with ALL new parts. The price dates back a few years but he recently tuned up my tranny. He is extremely fair and a pretty nice guy to boot. He WILL give it to you straight, as he always has for me.
I don't remember the phone # but He is on Bellaire st. off of Sherman Way. It is right off the 170 fwy.

Denrac · #6 02-05-2002, 09:42 PM

Don't know anything about bulletproofing, but I've found these interesting .

http://www.peterschmid.com/
http://www.mercedesdismantlers.com/

andy · #7 02-06-2002, 10:39 AM

Ducati, Yes, He races it. It's really nice. Gutted interior with factory seats/racing harness. The engine is beautiful. All the extras taken off, BIG turbo, custom intake, straight pipe exhaust. He had pictures of him racing it in some sort of classic car road course race. He gave me a card(I lost it) with Blackwolf racing or mercedes written on it. andy

BWatson · #8 02-06-2002, 02:49 PM

It seems to me like pushing the envelope on these cars is not the best idea. They are extremely reliable transportation but if you are into puttin the pedal to the medal, I recommend buying an SL. 300D is just a family car with some sporty lines. Goes 65 mph just fine. High rpms for long periods just don't FEEL right to me. I have gone 85 in mine but the engine just tells me "OK this isn't gonna be fun for long." I wish that someone would desigh an overdrive update for these tranny's. I know that there are lots of options for American cars but I haven't heard about one for these. I would love to have just one more gear. Car is very happy between 2500 and 3500 Rpms!!

#9 02-06-2002, 03:31 PM

Brad, I have a 450 horsepower Lincoln Town Car and a 320 horsepower LIncoln Mark VIII. I can get my share of 140 mph all day long if I want to, it's not a matter of getting an SL, my other cars would blow even an SL600 away. My father is the original owner of this 300D Turbo, and the car will not be sold. If the car for whatever reason can't handle it, I'll make it handle it. Whether it means going to a lower gear ratio or finding an OD trans, I'm game.

BWatson · #10 02-06-2002, 06:50 PM

If you do find an overdrive tranny or some kind of add on, I would love to hear about it. Still just dying for one more gear!!

andy · #11 02-06-2002, 08:43 PM

One more gear? Hell yeah! One of the very few things that would make the 300d better. How about an overdrive MB trans fitted to these engines? would any of the newer ones bolt up? A custom adapter plate could be fabricated if enough money and time were put into it. I would imagine a lot of interested MB owners. I do know of one way to get 8 gears! GEAR VENDERS makes a gear splitting device that fits between the trans and the rear end(just behind the trans). It's used in motor homes, hot rods and Callaway used to use it in their twin turbo corvettes behind a turbo 400. They said the Chevy overdrives of the time couldn't handle the power. The device pretty much gives you two gears for every one your transmission has. About 3 thousand dollars, I think. andy

Ducati · #12 02-06-2002, 09:52 PM

I understand the limitations of my turbodiesel, and acknowledge it as a comfortable and sedate cruiser. I will not be abusing my car. However, I can appreciate the need that people may have for an overdrive, or a better transmission. My interests lay within the realm of efficiency and longevity improvements. Whatever modifications that can be done to make the tranny as durable as the tough old 617 are of great interest to me. Would a transmission oil cooler be of benifit? (I do not haul a trailer)

If I want to go like stink, I have a bike. The MB is my relaxing ride.

The best improvement I have made to my car is to S-can that horrible old Becker radio in favour of a good Kenwood stereo. Now everything from Rachmaninof to Ramstein sounds good.
So it shifts a bit roughly. Big deal! How long will my tranny last? - That is the question.
Regards, all

benchracer · #13 02-06-2002, 11:19 PM

Just wanted to add my two-cents.
Denrac posted two links above - neither one works, but if the link to mercedesdismantlers.com is for the company in the San Fernando Valley, that's where I got my transmission. Upon installation it ran great! Lasted about 3 months before it nearly left me stranded. I live close, so drove my car there and they replaced the unit without question. Great! Four months later it was shifting poorly again, they replaced it again - no good. I took it back a couple of times and they never did get it right. They didn't seem as willing to make it right the last time. Complained about my car taking up space on their lift - as if it were my fault! It's still not right.
As far as bulletproof goes, seems like the OEM units were pretty darn strong. Don't forget, most of our 300Ds and TDs are now 20 years old with many, many miles. My wife's 1999 Taurus tranny began slipping at 35K. When I can sink another $2800 into my car, I think I'll get the factory rebuilt unit unless another member has had a GREAT experience with something else.
BTW - My car's a daily driver and I think nothing of pushing it to 85 mph and beyond (when safe and prudent).

benchracer · #14 02-07-2002, 01:27 AM

Just a little more info. I checked the web-site posted by Denrac - mercedesdismantlers.com. This is the place that I dealt with, I'm still running their transmission. Their web-site makes them sound like experts, but my experience leads me to believe otherwise. I also noticed their 6-month warranty. When I bought from them in November 2000, the warranty was one-year. Anyway, it's been more than a year and the tranny's still working, but the current one(this is the 2nd or 3rd they installed) has never worked correctly.

mikemover · #15 02-07-2002, 01:34 AM

Brad,

MB diesels and transmissions are designed with extended high-speed autobahn cruising in mind...at WELL over 65 mph. A well maintained MB diesel should have no problem driving near it's limits for long periods of time. Good maintenance is the key. It may sound like a lot of wailing is going on under the hood, but they are built for it.

Mike

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