Congrats dude. I know how frustrationg this job can be. Had to open mine up three times before I got it right. Have a beer and relax.

I put some basic Valvoline Dex III fluid in and in 500mi I will drain it completely change the filter then do it once more in 1k mi. At that point if everything looks good I will put my Redline Synthetic back in.

Just want to ensure any microscopic metal particles from the old governor are removed from the fluid or caught by the filter.

Will report back with the results after I begin driving her again.

Indeed good job - pesky clip ring!

Everything back together, again....and, still doing it :mad:

I think I give up now. :(

Sunvalley Transmissions I have "heard" are the best MB rebuilders around. They want $1500 exchanged for a rebuilt 722.358. Sound a reasonable deal?

Yep and they want $250 to install it. I got the inside line that quite a few shops use them. Seem knowledgable, for sure.

I'm goin there myself probably summer, before mine gives out.

rjp

Well no issues with installation, I removed my transmission to do the front pump seal last year, so shouldn't need help with that. It was pretty straight forward.

Just wanted to see if anybody has had any "bad" experiences with them.

Here's an idea, and it wont take that much to check out. Open up the secondary pump and take out the gears. Basically disable the pump, but you only need it if you are tow starting the car. MBDOC has a post on how to do this somewhere. Close it up and take a test drive. It at least tells you if that is making the noise and avoids a break down of the transmission. Theres always a chance something has migrated into the pump and thats whats making the noise. On mine, a small spring had migrated into the pump from the valve body. I still haven't figured out how or where it came from. Since it wasn't making the noise before, it most likely is something you did or didn't do during R&R.

The noise was doing it before I took the rear cover off. I don't think its rear pump because the noise happened after I lost all gears and got off the freeway. I noticed it immediately.

When I removed the rear pump on 11/12/11 to reseal it, there was no noise after we finished without a doubt and I drove the car a good 30mi around California that day before I made my trip back home here to Arizona specifically to make sure no leaks or noises and everything was just fine...It started as soon as I lost all gears on 11/14/11 on the freeway.

The first thing I did when I got the car towed home was remove the pump and check it...I noticed nothing wrong at all. No markings, no damage, no debris.

Rebuilt transmission + Torque converter on the way from Sun Valley Dismantlers.
http://www.mercedesdismantlers.com/

Finally got my trans out tonight...waiting on the rebuild. Should be here soon.

I think I've earned myself a cold beer tonight! :thumbsup:

Some photos...
Comparison of the new and old valve cover (which wasn't TOO bad compared to many I've seen out in the yards and on other cars), but compared, its obvious how old it really was.

http://www.w124-zone.com/downloads/p...swap/swap1.jpg
http://www.w124-zone.com/downloads/p...swap/swap2.jpg
http://www.w124-zone.com/downloads/p...swap/swap3.jpg
http://www.w124-zone.com/downloads/p...swap/swap4.jpg
http://www.w124-zone.com/downloads/p...swap/swap5.jpg
http://www.w124-zone.com/downloads/p...swap/swap6.jpg
http://www.w124-zone.com/downloads/p...swap/swap7.jpg
http://www.w124-zone.com/downloads/p...swap/swap8.jpg
http://www.w124-zone.com/downloads/p...swap/swap9.jpg

Victory!!

good job, and cool little transmission jack thingy
havn't seen you in a while (its funkgab from your forum)
find a car for your gf yet? or was it sister? i totally forgot

are you in cali now?

I am home in AZ...

I'm incredibly busy with school so that's why this whole ordeal has taken me such a long time. I only get one or two days per week to take a look at it for 3-4hrs, and then I need clean up time...messy jobs these are....

Looking at some early E46's for her, they seem to be pretty reliable, which is what she needs.

She's arrived!!

http://www.w124-zone.com/downloads/p...ilttranny2.jpg
http://www.w124-zone.com/downloads/p...uilttranny.jpg

Going in this weekend!

Now that is a pretty transmission. Are you sure you want to use it?

I know right...
I have a great shelf in my living room it could go on!