1998 C230 with trans issue, any ideas?
 

I am looking at a 1998 C230 that is in beautiful shape, engine runs excellent, etc....the issue is that the car won't move at all. Seller says "it used to move a little, but now it won't at all" Car has 160k on it....any ideas what this might be? I can probably get the car for 2k because of this......any ideas on what could have gone wrong or how much it costs to get a new tranny? Its an amazingly nice looking car.

SDS will be needed to read the codes. Conuld be the valve body. Codes will also have to be cleared after repairs are finished.

Figure somewhere around $3500 for a rebuilt 722.6 + labor.

How hard is it to swap yourself? We'd be willing to do that, it'd be a project car. I found a rebuilt unit online for $2695 with 1 year warranty, fully tested and includes new torque converter.


The guy doesn't sound like he's exactly car savvy...

What would you say a very nice condition '98 C230 with dead trans (160k on it) is worth? What should I offer him? He was asking $2500 or best offer....thats way too high.

Its only 3.5 miles from our house, so we could drag it home with one of the SD's easily. :D

If it had a good trans then about 6K IMHO. Subtract out what a decent shop would charge for the job (5K?) and you get about 1K. 1500 if you are feeling generous IMHO.

Yeah we were thinking about 1500 or so....he wants 2500, but he's crazy. :D

We'll probably offer 1500, if we buy it it will be a project car and we'll replace the trans ourselves. Can get a used one for less than 1500 with under 80k on it and a warranty. It'd be a lot of work, but to have a pristine C230 for 3.5k or so....would be awesome!

I see the C230 in your sig is identical to this one, do you like the car? Any issues with it?

It is a very nice car. I can honestly say it is the most relaible car I have ever owned, and my last car was the 87 Supra. It doesn't handle as nice as the Supra though, but few cars do. A bit of advice on the trans is make sure that you get the EXACT right one. These things are computer controlled like everything else on the car and if the electronics aren't the same you will have trouble. It's not like the old days where you could just bolt on a trans and go. If the computer says no, then you don't go. Someone more expert than me can say what exactly will work. You might just see about getting the one it has fixed.

I wouldn't go over $1500 either. These cars are just so expensive for parts and repairs. You don't know what else is wrong either. Unless you take it to an MB specialist and get a confirmation of issues, you are taking quite a risk. Then again, it could be something that you can fix and then have a nice car for a good price ;).

For $1500 I'd go for it. Have you checked Phoenix Hard Parts?

Well, we looked at it, it was abused. Both headlight lenses cracked....windshield cracked along the bottom (all the way across) a few dings and dents....some rust by the rear door/fender, tires all WORN down with RUBBER SPRAY on the rear bumper underneath (burnouts!) interior very nice.....trunk lock/assembly messed up/rusted out of lid. Passenger exterior door handle did not open door when pulled while unlocked....rear door checks were creaky.....

And the trans probably died from ricer abuse.

So it was a run-away-from-it car.....sad to see such a nice car get abused and killed like that though. :o Only 160k on it.

At most I'd say its worth $700-800 as a parts car or for the engine/other parts....