No Reverse or Slow to go in Reverse - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

johnflight1 · #1 05-01-2009, 02:26 AM

I was looking at a 95 SL600 today I was thinking of purchasing. Everything else seemed ok,but the trans will not go into reverse for a long time. The person selling the car said it was just a solenoid on the trans. The fluid seemed a little burned to me but not awful. The car has 69,000 on it.foreward gears are all fine and it is not making any noises. I need to know how bad this is prior to making an offer.

Peter Guenther · #2 05-01-2009, 07:30 AM

I would get a professional opinion, the early electronic transmissions were troublesome. A new one could set you back $5-6k. If it were that simple the owner would have it fixed!

deanyel · #3 05-01-2009, 08:39 AM

The early electronic transmission were indeed troublesome and expensive but that car does not have one. It is a 722.3, generally very durable and relatively inexpensive to rebuild, and I would count on a rebuild soon.

CWW · #4 05-01-2009, 09:29 AM

Solenoid my azz, typical car sales statement. I always laugh when I hear "it's just a sensor" or "don't worry, it just needs a recharge". Because, if it was really some $50.00 fix, do you honestly think they wouldn't already have done it instead of taking a lower price on the car? Deanyel got it right, it's time for a rebuild.

The 722.3 hydraulic trannies are weird like that. If the car is driven all the time, they will last easily 200k+ miles before needing a rebuild. But if it's a car that just sits a lot, they tend to die a very early death. I have seen many other MB's with the hydraulic 4-speeds that were shot at way less than 100k, and almost every one was in a car with excessively low mileage. I don't know if the fluid needs to circulate to moisturize the bands, or what the cause is.

johnflight1 · #5 05-01-2009, 11:51 AM

Yes I think the car must have sat alot it only has 69,000 on it. The fluid also smells burnt a little. I could change out the trans if I buy the car,but what else could be wrong with it if it sat alot I saw that it har radio issues and a bad fan clutch and that was the first 10 minutes of me looking at it.

dbmoylan · #6 05-01-2009, 03:53 PM

Sounds like my 722.502 symptoms before it had to have the transmission rebuilt. Finally it began to loose forward gear movement. 722 transmissions pre electronic are I understand known for that type failure.

Peter Guenther · #7 05-01-2009, 04:17 PM

I could be wrong but I dont think it has the 722.3 my 722.3 died at 96 right after a fluid change, it did make some clicking noises for the last 10K, $4k no converter MB rebuilt 2yr/24

deanyel · #8 05-01-2009, 04:38 PM

722.6s didn't appear until 1996 and then only in the V8s and V12s. Everything else got it in 1997, at least in the U.S. Prior to 96 722.3xx was the heavy duty, 722.4xx the light duty.

johnflight1 · #9 05-01-2009, 08:43 PM

Actually I looked it up on a trans site with overhaul manuals. It is a 722.362 series trans in the 95 SL600. I have found rebuilds I can throw in for around $1.850.00. The next year the changed the trans in 96 those go for $2,500.00 and up for a rebuilt one. I may pass on buying this car or may offer him $8,500 he is asking $10,900 with 69k miles. it has some other minor flaws but it is 14 yrs old

CWW · #10 05-01-2009, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnflight1

Actually I looked it up on a trans site with overhaul manuals. It is a 722.362 series trans in the 95 SL600. I have found rebuilds I can throw in for around $1.850.00. The next year the changed the trans in 96 those go for $2,500.00 and up for a rebuilt one. I may pass on buying this car or may offer him $8,500 he is asking $10,900 with 69k miles. it has some other minor flaws but it is 14 yrs old

Don't buy an already-rebuilt trans online, instead just take the car to a *reputable* (e.g. NOT aamco, etc.) transmission shop local to you and have them rebuild it. That will be the best and most cost-effective way to get it done. You're probably looking at less than $2k, so while a transmission rebuild is a bit pricey, it's also not the end of the world either. Some of these "internet" rebuilders are pretty shady, a lot of them should really be called "repainters". You'll be better off in the long run having it done locally.

If you really want the car, you should go ahead and call him out on his B.S., but do it politely. Tell him that you know the tranny needs a rebuild, and that this needs to be worked into the deal price. Maybe if you're feeling generous, offer to split the cost with him or something, to get him down on the price. But if he won't budge, then what's going on is that he's looking for a sucker to come along and buy his story about how it would only cost $2.00 to fix but he just "hasn't had time". That seems to be the standard line. If that's what he does, then just walk away and let him wait on his sucker. There are PLENTY of cars for sale in this market at truly astonishing prices, and another one will eventually turn up that suits you.

But if the tranny is really the only significant issue, and if he will come down to a price where you are compensated for dealing with having it rectified, then I think that's a helluva lot of car for that money. Personally I'd probably jump on it. Well, actually, I guess I did already jump on it since I already have an SL600. It's truly amazing what you can buy for so little money now that the economy is in the toilet.