I just scored a *NICE* model 1992 W124 from chris on the forum this weekend. FS: my sick 1992 300D (many new parts and Euro goodies!)

I didn't need another car since we just got our 1998 W210 Turbo diesel the week before. But i guess the MB gods were smiling on me , for what I don't know. Probably that good deal i just gave my friend on her mechanic work.

Anyway, before i get to the question, i'll brag a little bit. This sucker is a perfect model of a W124 inside and plenty decent outside. Just a little rust underneath and has been repainted recently. Mechanically it's rock solid minus the little reverse problem. It seems it was a garage kept northern car. The PO did everything to it -- real euro headlights from germany, front suspension, rear shocks, rear sub frame bushings, radiator , cylinder head gasket , valves reconditioned, almost brand new tires, egr block off plate, vdo boost gauge , waste gate upgrade to mechanical higher boost model, blaupunkt cd player with aux out , Injectors balanced and pop tested. It truly runs like a sewing machine at startup after my italian tuneup drive home. All the windows, sunroof, gauges, and lights work.. The original cell phone is still in it and powers up. But it won't make a call. That seems to be the only thing broken with this car along with reverse and the AC. Still not bad for $1400.00 plus $300.00 travel expenses. All it's missing is the WVO system and she'll be complete

I drove it 300 miles home and it cruised at a cool 80 - 85 F and ran smooth at 90 mph. The car shifts perfect going forward. The only problem is Reverse is going out. I changed the fluid and filter before i left and it was a metalic gray , black color. It stayed red after drive.

The reverse problem is common on W124 transmissions. VSTech's just went out. My reverse went out out in my wagon 6 months ago and my friends 1993. The cars will go into reverse but they need a lot of revving and coaxing. I figure I'll get pretty good at this transmission thing here soon.

So my question is this basically -- Driving a car and having to back up occassionally in this condition , can you do further damage to the forward gears and transmission making a rebuild more expensive? My new car's forward gears work perfect. When you put it in reverse it makes a scary shutter and then will engage solidly and reverse fine with plenty of power. It reverses way better than my wagon which has progressively gotten worse over the last 6 months. My wagon's forward gears are messed up a bit too and i have a parts car with rebuilt tranny waiting for it so I didn't care. However this new one shifts so perfect I don't want to do further damage to it. Yet I need something to drive while i replace my wagon's transmission.

Also, anyone tried replacing the reverse bands themselves on these as seen in this how to ? http://www.w124-zone.com/articles.php?article_id=21

I attached a couple pics of the new ride. Cheers.

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What Would Rudolph Do?
1987 300TDT -- 603 for sale| 1997 W210 E300D Diesel

Do the w124's have the reverse band adjustment bolts like the W123's do? If so I'd try that first.

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1985 Grey 380SE Diesel Conversion, 2.47 rear end, ABS
1979 Silver 300D "The Silver Bullet" -Sold

Don't part where you can't back out

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617.952-220k-Ported head, 2056V, No ALDA/SALSA/vac
1990 Kawasaki Ninja 600 (80hp; 400lb bike). 1981 KZ440 on E85.

I don't know. I'll take a look. Judging by all the metallic gray substance in the fluid when we changed it, something gave and got dislodged in there, maybe a clutch just disentegrated and it still engages it is just rough initially. I've never cracked a tranny open. But I will soon.

Given my friend's and I's experience, I could drive this thing for another year or more probably. We've both been going a while and reverse has not yet given out completely. If we really need it, it will go, we just try to avoid it.

We'll see how it pans out. In a sense when you pull it you might as well go for the whole rebuild or what needs it anyway, so it won't hurt to see how long i can go. Especially since i need a car and not more car trouble.

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What Would Rudolph Do?
1987 300TDT -- 603 for sale| 1997 W210 E300D Diesel