W124 - All of a sudden...NO TRANSMISSION
 

Backed out of a parking spot, pulled forward and realized that a car was blocking my path, put it in reverse and backed up, dropped it into drive...and boom, NO GO. 268,000 miles on 1990 300E. Recently serviced with new fluid (checked it, it's topped off) and filter and has been without issues. I'm wondering if there may be a linkage problem or hopefully something that's not going to be a major pain in the a$$. I'm out of town on business and planning on having it towed tomorrow to a local shop that was recommended, but one that I have absolutely no prior experience with. Any suggestions as to what the issue may be? Linkage? After 268,000, is it cooked? HELP!!!

There's no magic mileage number that kills transmissions that I know of! However, if that's the original transmission then it has had a life at 268,000...

...still first things first - simple things first - check the selector bushings

Selector bushings? Not familiar. Sounds pretty simple, but big deal or not? Would selector bushings fail instantaneously as described? I'm trying to gather all the info I can so I can be as knowledgeable as possible when I'm discussing potential issues with a new tech. I've been blessed to have a trusted MB tech/friend since I've owned the car, but he is currently 200 miles away. Thanks for the input. Much appreciated...

Addtl info...No response in any forward gear or reverse, but when put in Park, acts as normal, i.e., locks in gear.

It is all guess work at the moment.

(Gear) Selector bushings might also be called linkage bushings. The gear selector in the cabin is part of a mechanical linkage that runs to the transmission. If the bushings are shot then this hydro-mechanical system gets confused.

This is a simple thing to see by looking and feeling.

Looking - feeling - measuring the fluid level (in accordance with the maintenance manual) are the first things to do.

Have a look under the car - you might find that the connection to the propshaft (flex disc) is broken - you just don't know until you go see.

Thats nearly exactly how the transmission in my 91 300TE failed. I ended up swapping in a 5 speed.

Bill, are you my buddy who used to live in Colorado? If yes then I think your trans is simply done. The Colo guy has had his car a long time, ever since the car had low miles, and he drives his car hard (like I do). If you are him I'm sure the trans is simply done. "Done" being a relative term here. It may indeed be something stupid inside the trans, but you'd probably have to get so far into it to fix that one thing that you might as well rebuild the trans while you are there, especially considering the miles on the car.

If you aren't the Colo guy then I would ask how many miles were on the car when you got it? Did you get a history with the car?

I have bad selector bushings in one of my cars. You would have felt a difference if something had suddenly come loose. The "notchyness" would be gone. There would be a feeling of "nobody home" when you move the selector.

Hello,
My 91 300d did similar. I was driving as normal and at or near pulling away from a stop the gears basically dispensary. No forward, no back no anything. Thought tranny was blown so I had it towed to a friend who does tranny's from home expecting $1500-2500 for a rebuild.
He calls me a day later saying it's ready to go??? I ask what it was and I can't for the life of me remember exactly what it was, but it was some type of plastic drive gear that he had to half drop the trans to replace. It was less then $200 and out I drove!
Hopefully that is all it is and an honest shop will tell you and maybe a smarter trany guy here could figure out what part it must be.

the plastic drive gear thing repair is for a 722.4 (later model diesel W124) - and with that you have a transmission that wont shift out of first gear.

this case sounds like a 2nd brake band not engaging. A smart mechanic can remove the band piston and check. At this mileage its a hit or miss as the entire clutch train in the transmission could be worn down badly.

Thanks for the responses guys.

Eric400...I'm not the guy. I bought this car in NC with 126,000 miles. Records showed transmission servicing, but no failure/replacement.

If the suggested "simple" fixes don't remedy the problem, I'm at the point of putting in a used tranny. Although the car is solid, I don't think I can justify dropping $1200 - $1500+ into a car with 268,000 miles. I'm well aware of the chances I'm taking with a used part, but at least it will come with a warranty/return if it doesn't function properly.

Any other ideas are still welcome...

Thx for the clarification.
In my case the broken plastic drive gear meant no trany or gears of any type, not a first gear lock issue as you suggest.
This trans had over 500k on it.
I found a sweet used 100k trans out of I think was a 190 of the late 80's vintage. Almost a exact swap and works like new! :D

Ok....so I've found a transmission out of a 1988 300E w/125,000 miles that i can get for $300. Does anyone know if this will mate up to my car (90 300E 3.0) with no issues? Or have any resources where I can find out the compatibility?

Your input is appreciated.

Bill

Typically when you loose both at the same time it can be the shifter bushing as others have said, but the yoke(what the front flex disk attaches too) may have slipped off the spline off the shaft of the transmission as the result of the 30mm 12point nut uncrewing holding the yoke in..

Get under the the car tug on the front flex disk.

It just happened to a friend..

Martin

B2 piston is responsible for forward, but the $5 seal(black seal) is generally the culprit

http://www.dieselgiant.com/Mercedesb2pistonsealreplacementl.htm

Reverse is the lip seal right in front inside of the transmission-See picture 7(the small seal)

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w140-s-class/1369461-722-5-transmission-oil-pump-rebuid.html

Martin