Transmission Slipping in Reverse - Repair mine or Mercedes Rebuilt??
 

My transmission has started to slip in reverse. Takes a while to engage, then with a clunk. My thinking is it probably needs a rebuild with 223,000 miles. Trying to decide whether to have mine rebuilt or buy a Mercedes rebuilt unit. I have always changed my transmission fluid and filter at 30,000 mile intervals. I think the Mercedes one has a three year warranty but will have to wait until Monday to make for sure. What do y'all think?
Another question, did any of the 140 series S-Class cars have a 5 speed lockup transmission? And if so, would it fit and work in a 1995 S-350? Mine is a 4 speed that does not lock up.

I suggest that if you have the money,get the dealer rebuilt unit. If you opt to have your old tranny rebuilt, the rebuilder might use some of your onld tranny parts because they "are still good". The dealer rebuilds are better warrantywise.

Typically the dealers do not rebuild trans any more but instead recommend factory rebuilt units, exchanged. They come with a 1 year/ 12k miles warranty I believe.

Haasman

I agree with getting the "factory" (rebuilding centre) rebuilt unit if you can.

I don't know if the 1997- 722.6 five speed auto will bolt in, but I suspect not. The 722.6 five speed is electronic and probably has a different interface with the car. But, the conversion might be possible. Any techs want to wade in on this point?

BTW, 223,000 miles is pretty good life for an auto-box. You got your money's worth so far...

there is a place in cal. that is afactory rebuilder, they did agreat job on my 300d turbo, they have been around a long time. you send them yours and they ship it back 1 year/ 12000 miles. mine was still running with a 140000 when I sold it. I am also interested in the 5speed for my 86 300e

I guess so, but with all the bad talk about the 3.5 diesel I thought I would bend a rod first.
I will know Monday but I think the dealer told me that the factory rebuild had a 3 year warranty. That is one way to go but probably the most expensive. The second would be to install the factory rebuild myself -- I guess it would still have the 3 year warranty but don't know. The third would be to let a local shop rebuild mine. I called today and they said they have done S-Class trannies before. The overhaul kit in fastlane is $215. I don't know what other parts would be needed in addition to this. Still thinking but will have to do something fast. Reverse is slipping bad and when it engages, there is a bad clunk. I am no transmission expert but I cannot think of anything I can do to fix this other than overhaul. I did a search on the forum and probably think it is a worn band or disk.

There were 2 different 5 speed gearboxes put in 140's (and also 129's). First there was the 722.5, this is a fairly rare transmission, pretty good tranny though. It was ONLY put into 140's and 129's with the 104 inline 6 engine. The 8's and 12's used the old 722.3.
Later on when the 722.6 came out, they used that tranny in the 129 and 140's.
I don't think it would be easy to swap back and forth, plus the ratios' would be screwed up.
I believe the rebuilt would be a better bet also, due especially to the warranty. I'd check to see what the warranty is on it exactly.

Gilly

"there is a place in cal. that is afactory rebuilder"

This might even be true, but I doubt it. Terms grt thrown around and meaning sometimes get lost. "factory rebuilt" does NOT mean that it was rebuilt in "A" factory; it means it was rebuilt in "THE" factory. In the case of MB I don't know where it is.

The real difference is in implied quality. Everyone rebuilding trannies does basically the same thing. Most of the trans is reused with wear items being replaced.

I understand what your saying, this place uses factory trained guys and only mb parts and like you said probably only replaces any worn parts, but i did have a problem after the the rebuild because the vacuum line was plugged(previous owner) but they took care of it anyway

In Canada, the Rebuilding Centre is located in Ontario, and rebuilds all Mercedes parts for Canada. They do engines, tranmissions, alternators, axle assemblies, torque converters, starter motors, water pumps, and cylinder heads. These are the ones I know of, but they might do more.

There is a core charge. This is the ONLY "factory rebuilt" parts stream in Canada. The parts usually carry a three year mileage limited warranty (engines and transmissions) or a one year warranty (other bits).

A friend of mine bought a cylinder head for his M103 and it was about the same price as having one refurbished locally. Much better value. And his warranty was intact even though he installed it himself. The one caveat was that the warranty would NOT cover anything determined to be an installation related problem.

I don't care how many factory trained techs are used or where the parts come from. The term "factory rebuilt" only refers to parts distributed by dealers of MBNA (in the USA). Those stating otherwise are promoting a fraud. This is no less an infrigment on MBs reputation than if one sat there reboxing/selling Tiawonese parts in boxes marked with the MB star stating made in Germany.

The distinction is important and is worth a lot of money.

oldsouth

I searched the internet and found a few used transmissions $600 - $1250 and also REMAN 24 MONTH WARR WITH CONVERTER for $1650

I you I can give you the addresses to various places

I have seen this company mentioned frequently but I have no experience with them SUN VALLEY MERCEDES DISMANTLERS

Haasman

Check out ADSIT Co. I think the web address is www.adsitco.com. They have rebuilt trans. for about $1,400 not including torque convertor, which is $295.

Here are the ones that they say will fit your car

1992
Transmission
Mercedes 300 300D,140 Typ, (300SD)- 29001 $1650 Stockton Auto Dismantlers - RPN USA-CA(Stockton) E-mail 1-800-235-8733
1992
Transmission
Mercedes 300 SD REMAN 24 MONTH WARR WITH CONVERTER PLAN B $1650 ASU Remanufactured USA-MI(Zeeland) E-mail 1-800-624-3876
1995
Transmission
9-94,RWD,DIESEL,FAT, FLR,STD 020136 $1250 Ken Baker Originals USA-SC(Marion) E-mail 1-800-438-2035
1992
Transmission
Mercedes 300 SD 204140 $1195 E Auto Parts Inc USA-FL(Jacksonville) E-mail 1-800-366-9815
1993
Transmission
Mercedes 300 300D,140 Typ, (300SD)-AT J3789 $1000.05 Brims Imports Auto USA-OH(Kenton) E-mail 1-419-675-1099
1993
Transmission
Mercedes 300 300D,140 Typ, (300SD)- 350CORE M0716 $900.67 Auto Parts of Shelby -PRP USA-NC(Shelby) E-mail 1-888-597-7278
1994
Transmission
Mercedes 350 -103K 350SD(140)C=RED SLT BRASS P/O,NTSH 722367 103K L322MG $800.74 Potomac German Auto USA-MD(Frederick) E-mail 1-800-831-7686
1992
Transmission
Mercedes 300 SD 380D,140,TYP, AT, 300SD, 722.367 2694-P $800 Auto Sport Unlimited USA-MI(Zeeland) E-mail 1-800-624-3876
1992
Transmission
Mercedes 300 -140K 300SD,140-1402702700722367 140K E130MG $750.78 Potomac German South, Inc. USA-FL(St.-Augustine) E-mail 1-877-742-2277
1993
Transmission
Mercedes 300 D CD/TD (AUTO) 300D 140 Typ (300SD)-1 136K LM111046 $725 Greenleaf - ABC Used Auto Parts USA-MA(Leominstol) E-mail 1-800-343-6122
1994
Transmission
Mercedes 350 -98K S350(140)C=RED NO FILES,NDS/TSH 722367 98K K299MG $700.74 Potomac German Auto USA-MD(Frederick) E-mail 1-800-831-7686
1992
Transmission
Mercedes 300 -125K 300SD(140)C=RED NONE 722367 125K M068MG $600.76 Potomac German Auto USA-MD(Frederick) E-mail 1-800-831-7686