the transmission shop is telling me that the exhaust system must be removed prior to removal of the transmission for a 1991 560SEL. they are saying that if a bolt breaks during exhaust removal that additional labor hours will be required ($85/hour). does the exhaust HAVE to be removed before the tranny can be removed?

just checked transmission removal procedure using my alldata account. it does not show the exhaust manifold system requiring removal prior to transmission removal. anyone have more information on this?

Having an AAMCO for 15 yrs, I will tell ya no R&R (remove & reinstall) tech will "fight around any exhaust system twice.

It also saves the customer on the R&R time required.

In other words the exhaust must always be "dropped down" or removed in all except rare occasions. If a bolt breaks the customer pays, as should.

John1

So let me get this right, if they break your car... you pay for it?

Find yourself another shop. I bet they're also going to charge $2500 for a reman trans too right?

__________________
I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

no, the tranny is coming from an outside source. I am getting quotes on install only. just spoke with a shop owner who mentioned he has never had the broken bolt problem....uses a LOT of liquid wrench and lets the bolts SOAK for a period of time.... the shop I am talking with has a lot of experience installing transmissions, however they have not done much in the german car area. that alone makes me nervous because of the complexity of a 560SEL.

Keep looking around is your best option.

__________________
I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

Say that the same bolt needs to be removed from two cars. One one, it comes right out with no effort. On the other, it breaks requiring another hour of labor.

This sort of thing is a regular occurrence. If the shop eats the cost, they must raise all labor rates to account for this occurrence. That means that the car owner who's car comes right apart is subsidizing the owner with the rusted-out heap. Sound good? Not to me.

just received the quote. 10 hours labor at $85/hour = $850. the additional monies in case of broken bolts listed below.

If either exhaust manifold needs to be removed due to broken flange studs, it will be an additional charge of labor and bench time.
The left side will be 4.6 hours plus bench time to drill out the broken studs @ 85.00 dollars per hour.
The right side will be 3.1 hours plus bench time to drill out the broken studs @ 85.00 dollars per hour.

due to the possible increased cost, I called a shop just down the street. they quoted $900 FLAT RATE to install. however, they said they flush the cooler and cooler lines directly....they don't have an actual transmission flush machine (BG, hotflusher.com, etc.) Can they still flush the cooler and lines without a machine?