**How Much Would A Rebuilt 3 Speed Auto Tranny Cost For A 1975 Benz 450 SEL?**

Hey, Just like to introduce myself. I'm new here and hopefully if I buy the Benz I'm looking at, I'll be here for a while! Now off 2 my first thread
I am currently looking into buying a 1975 Mercedes 450 SEL. Now the car itself runs fine. It only has 100,000 miles on it, and is in decent shape.

Anywho, the guy who's selling it, said that 3rd gear on the tranny doesn't work. 1st, 2nd and Reverse work, but not 3rd.

Can I get just that gear fixed, and if so how much will it cost? Or will I have 2 get a new tranny, and if I do, about how much would a rebuilt tranny cost?

I'm 16, and tight for cash, so hopefully I'll get a good answer

[hill]

"about how much would a rebuilt tranny cost?"

From $900 to $2,000 is in the ball park

OOOps I'll take that back. I did not see that it was a 6.9.

So I'd have to pay about a grand for a rebuilt one, and then have it installed by a Mercedes Mechanic? I have no idea about any of this, but in the end it'd be like $1500? Damn that's alot considering I'm only paying $500 for the car.

[hill]

I edited my post. I hate to tell you, but I make a decent living and maintaining a 6.9 is out of my class.

Well I think it's a 6.9. Did they make 1975 450SELs that were not 6.9? Because I ddn't look at the trunk yet to see if it has the 6.9 insignia. It might not be that. Anyway I'm not really going to keep it in impecible condition or anything. I just want it to run mainly.

[tjohn]

Did they make 1975 450SELs that were not 6.9?

They most certainly did. You're looking at a W116 chassis car - the 70's S class. Most of these cars were powered by the 4.5 liter M117 engine - it had somewhere in the neighborhood of 180 h.p. (as compared to around 280 for the 6.9). Although they made a few hundred 6.9's in '75, I don't think 6.9's were sold in this country until 1977. 6.9's are super expensive to maintain, so I've got to agree Hill on that one. However, the people on this forum who have even the regular 450SEL seem to love them. You may want to view this long thread here.

I am not sure there's any such animal. I mean, if you just want a car to go from a to b perhaps buy a chevy. I am not trying to discourage you, however, $1500 is nothing compared to what you may have to spend getting an old mercedes to reliable driving condition and keeping it there. If it's a second or third car, then I'd say fine but if it's your daily driver- watch out. These cars can suck you in like a frog in a frying pan. Before you know it, you are up to 10k + in no time with no way to get your money back on the "investment" of those hard earned dollars...

[tjohn]

Originally posted by TANK
I am not trying to discourage you, however, $1500 is nothing compared to what you may have to spend getting an old mercedes to reliable driving condition and keeping it there. ...

Tank's right of course, hence the saying that nothing's as expensive as a cheap 'Benz. On the other hand, Rad1043 is only 16. I know my standard for what absolutely had to be repaired on my car was a lot different then than it is now. There's basically no chance that a $500 116 is 100%. However, the motors on those cars are pretty much bulletproof (If its been maintained and the timing chain gets done in time), and you can do a significant amount of the wrenching yourself, so I say what's the harm in using it as a beater? You could do a lot worse for a first car, and hopefully it'll lead to a lifetime of Benzing.

This is true, I just hate to see anyone get stranded on the road o rgetting to the point of robbing peter to pay paul over a car. Not that I don't enjoy my own, but it's been a long haul to get there...I'll take my laundry list sign off soon, just trying to advertise what's involved for old benz owners to be aware...True, for under 15k, I have just about a new car.