Ok, my car is a 190E 2,3 with auto tranny. I was just about to check the auto tranny oil level and when I pulled the oil stick I heard something click.

The auto tranny oil stick broke off. It broke off from the full level mark on the stick. I stopped the engine immediatly and want advise if this tranny is still usable. Can I drive this car? Can I rely on the filter to pick up the piece? Or should I let it stand until I opened the tranny and removed this part?

I need the car to get the nesseary parts (oil, filter, gasket) to do a oil change.

Is there anyone that can shine some light on my situation?

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'87 MBenz 190E 2,3 8vlv

I'm interested to see other opinions, but the filter would certainly prevent something that large from getting into the pump. It is probably just lying in the pan.

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Chuck Taylor
Falls Church VA
'66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe

That was my first reaction as well. The trans pulls ATF from the pan through the filter. Probably OK for the short-term.

What a weird place for the dipstick to break.

Keep us posted,

Haasman

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'03 E320 Wagon-Sold
'95 E320 Wagon-Went to Ex
'93 190E 2.6-Wrecked
'91 300E-Went to Ex
'65 911 Coupe (#302580)

I was pretty surpriced myself aswell. Why?!

I'm hope the filter prevent it but what worries me most is that if it still is somewhere in the tube and when I start and drive it will drop down and hit some gears?

Anyone with deep knowledge in tranny designs?
Larry Bible; did you ever rebuild that tranny?!

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'87 MBenz 190E 2,3 8vlv

If the tranny on the 190 is like any of the other MB trannies I've seen, the tube goes straight into the lower portion of the tranny and the dipstick goes straight to the pan. The broken tip is most likely laying in the pan and the filter should prevent it from being sucked into the inner workings.

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Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

Thank you all! Once again the forum saves the day...althou I haven't tried to use the car yet. I won't drive it more than nessesary...I will post pics of the parts and stick once removed.

Maybe even do a writeup on the oil change and filter replacement (including draining torque converter)

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'87 MBenz 190E 2,3 8vlv

If you could figure a way to get a magnet down the tube without it sticking too strongly to the sides, you might be able to extract the broken piece. It might still be half in the tube and half out.

Just a thought.

Keep us posted,

Haasman

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'03 E320 Wagon-Sold
'95 E320 Wagon-Went to Ex
'93 190E 2.6-Wrecked
'91 300E-Went to Ex
'65 911 Coupe (#302580)

I have a manual tranny, but...

Is the tranny pan steel?
If so, you could stick a magnet to the pan to ensure that the broken bit stays put at the bottom of the pan until you can take it apart. Just to be safe...

Also, I have this tool that resembles a telescoping automotive antennae with a small disk magnet on the end. Something like that may be able to retreive the piece through the dipstick hole.
Perhaps you could fashion something similar.

Just some ideas. What a pain!
Best of luck.

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1986 300E 5-Speed 240k mi.

So the end of the dipstick fell off? Sounds like Click & Clack phrase!

I take it that the part that broke also included the plastic part that demarks the low oil level. I've always wondered by MB puts those plastic pieces on the dipstick when they seem destined to fall off some day.

I had the same problem in my 300E. The end tip broke in the pan, and it stayed there for about 2500 miles. At the following oil change I had the pan removed and there it was. I used the opportunity to change the transmission filter and gasket.
In the beginning I was very worried, but my mechanic told me not to.

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1999 Porsche 996 Carrera Convertible
1994 420E - SOLD
1986 300E - SOLD, what a car
609 Certified

MTI: thanks for you consern but it is the tranny oil stick.

Pesuazo: that sounds reliefing to me. I'm not gonna drive this car more than I need to and if I get all the parts my car will be on a lift this evening.

Thanks once again.

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'87 MBenz 190E 2,3 8vlv

I had a similar thing happen though my stick broke off just below the full mark. Luckily this happened whilst the trans was being rebuilt so it was no major issue to drop the pan again.

Apparently it's quite common.

Matt.

When you remove the pan, you can see it easily. If the piece is over a half inch long, there is no way it left the shaft and is most likely still sitting there. Perhaps it'sll fall out when you drop the pan. Otherwise, just find another stick and with the pan out, push the stick down and it'sll push it on out. There is even a allen wrench drain plug on your tranny pan to make changing filters easier. Don't forget to flush the lines. Might as well get it all taken care of while you have it apart.

I did remove the pan yesterday. Drained it and filled up with a oil the approved for MB 236,8.

Follow-up Q: manual states I should use MB 236,6 or 236,7 ATF approved oil? Even thou I ask two times in the shop for it I got the MB 236,8 specs oil. Is this a problem?

I'm about to mail mobil and ask about the difference (it's their stuff I use).

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'87 MBenz 190E 2,3 8vlv