Recommendations from forum members

[lsmalley]

I am getting a used transmission installed from a mechanic that specializes in bmw/merc. He said that he had serviced the car (1990 190E 2.6) since it was acquired in 2007, but the head gasket is blown and the owner gave it to him. He will be installing that transmission on my car with a new filter and fluid, transmission has 150k, mine has 335k. Is there anything that I should have him do while he has the transmission out? He is installing it as is, with the exception of new fluid and filter and giving me a 3 month warranty.

[oldsinner111]

don't be cheap on fluid get the best.Add a trans cooler if you are going to race it.

[BWhitmore]

You might ask him about the torque convertor. If he is using the old torque convertor it should at least be flushed out along with the transmission cooler lines. The best thing is to use a rebuilt torque convertor and flush the lines but that is probably another $200+.

[Walkenvol]

Have him replace the K1 spring.

[liquiddog]

Rear main engine seal.

[lsmalley]

He said he will do the rear main seal if it needs it. He will also flush transmission + converter. The transmission cooler lines are the ones with the spring around it right? I changed that myself maybe 2 years ago. And he will use whatever fluid is recommended dexron atf iii I think, I'm not a racer so as long as the fluid is the appropriate fluid per mb spec, then I'm good with that.

[S-Class Guru]

First thing to go seems to usually be the reverse gear clutch plates; easily diagnosed by the amount of time it takes reverse to catch hold after shifting to "R".
Of course, you can't test that until it's installed. You might ask his opinion on it; it's not a bad job at all with the unit on the bench.

DG

[Hit Man X]

Just reseal the entire trans while it is out, these always seem to leak from the converter seal/bushing area.

100% install new reverse clutches.

$300, maybe, in parts and you will have a trans that is basically new.

[lsmalley]

asked about the reverse clutch. mechanic said no. he said he has worked on the car since 2007 and the transmission has no leaks and no symptoms of slipping. I would be wasting my money on something that he would charge me the same price for if the actual problem was present. he said to save the money for something else that may end up failing. I'm satisfied with his answer and his confidence. I asked about other parts that can be done that may require the transmission to be out or something adjacent. he recommended the flex discs and center support bearing if they are worn. I did the center bearing a few months ago and the flex disc 2 years ago and both were checked last week and have no signs of wear. so I guess everything looks like a go unless anyone else wants to add anything. he is also going to do polyurethane boots for my ball joints per my request.

[liquiddog]

Sounds like you got yourself a nice tranny! I'm still in the hunt. All the ones on the bay right now look like untested junkyard pulls.

[Hirnbeiss]

Flex disc, if needed. shifter linkage bushings. possibly neutral safety switch. vacuum modulator.

[lsmalley]

So I'll be getting my car tomorrow. Mechanic mentioned that my car has a solenoid of some sort that when I accelerate abruptly it will downshift, the tranny he is putting in does not have this feature and he said my car would still be the same I would just have to manually downshift if I wanted to accelerate quickly. He also said I had a small leak from oil filter housing but it was not life threatening. He said that since the car had 335k miles it would probably eventually need a head gasket job, but there are no signs of that yet and he said since that job is somewhat extensive, if he were me he would upgrade and do an engine swap from a 2.6 to a 3.0 and quoted me $1600 for the engine plus the installation. But he mentioned that that might be something to consider down the line if I was gonna keep the car, but its not a necessity now. What do you guys think?

[liquiddog]

I'm guessing he figures with that many miles you'd need a full engine rebuild if the head goes. At that point may as well put a lower mileage different engine in. It seems like something else would need to change to tell the computer to deliver more fuel.

It'd be nice to have the bigger engine. Price sounds fair.