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  #1  
Old 01-25-2007, 09:28 AM
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any tranny rebuilders out there?

Hello,

I'm new to this forum but not new to the ownership of older german autos. mostly I've owned many vintage bmw 2002tii and at one time did most of the repair work myself.

just after xmas I convinced my wife to let me sell her 1972 bmw 2002 daily driver since it was eventually going to loose it's battle with cancer. I had found a mint all original rust free 1969 MB 250.

so 72 bmw sold (have two others) and MB purchased. the auto tranny seemed to shift later than I'd like so I took it to local wrench who is also a MB parts recycler. he said tranny was leaking from every place it could leak from and had lazy shift. he suggested an eventual swap with a good used unit.

I asked a/b rebuild and he assured me that the big expense there would be downtime as it could take 6 months to a year. I don't care so much about how long it takes since we have five other vehicles (bmw e39, bmw 2002, bmw 2002tii, porsche 911b, ford f350 diesel).

so my question is.... is it possible my pro wrench just doesn't want to mess w/ any rebuild options and really wants me to buy his $1200 used tranny as it's easy $ for them... of course it's possible. my real question is, are there any reputable rebuilders of these old transmissions?

the idea of spending $1200 for another 35 yo tranny that could quickly die is not that appealing to us.

btw, my mom had a 72 mb very similar to this one. except it was a 4 cyl and didn't move as nicely as this 250. I drove it often back in high school. it took a bit of convincing for my wife to like this car. she says it's way too big. but the brand new working a/c tipped her over the edge and all her co-workers were amazed at how it is like a brand new car (excepting the lazy shift tranny)



and I'm way too busy to do any of this work myself. we're in the middle of a new home construction project. my sweat equity opportunity is about to begin.



paul schuster
schusterphoto.com

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  #2  
Old 01-25-2007, 10:19 AM
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It would help if you posted where you are.
Ed
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  #3  
Old 01-25-2007, 10:30 AM
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location, location, location

I am in austin, tx

but I'm doubtful I'll find one locally. I imagine that if there is such a reputable rebuilder it's of the variety that ships to me on a pallet via freight carrier.

paul
austinmodhouse.com

Last edited by fuegos100; 01-25-2007 at 10:31 AM. Reason: gramar
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  #4  
Old 01-25-2007, 11:27 AM
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A used transmission will cost you 200$ and about 300$ to have it installed by a budget mechanic. A rebuilt unit can be had next-day if you want it for under 1,500$ with the same intallation cost.

You can do the installation yourself if you are handy, have good jack stands and are strong enough to bench press a 115 pound hunk of steel a few times.

-CTH
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  #5  
Old 01-25-2007, 01:44 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cth350 View Post
A used transmission will cost you 200$ and about 300$ to have it installed by a budget mechanic. A rebuilt unit can be had next-day if you want it for under 1,500$ with the same intallation cost.

You can do the installation yourself if you are handy, have good jack stands and are strong enough to bench press a 115 pound hunk of steel a few times.

-CTH
Or, if you're not up to bench pressing a 115 pound hunk, you can do what I did the last time I had to R&R a Mercedes tranny in a driveway. Straddle the underside of the jacked-up car with a 2 x 8 plank supported at one end with some blocks, and the other with a jack. Using the plank, blocks and jack, you can work the tranny in & out, up or down without resorting to brute force or muscle strain.

But before going through all that, how bad are the leaks? Are you having to add fluid every day, every week, or is it just a few drips? You didn't mention a leak problem until after you took it to a shop.

As for the shifting, is the tranny just late shifting, or is it flaring & slipping as well?
If it's only late shifting, It could be something as simple as worn distribuor points causing retarded ignition timing, which will cause late shifting. If the ignition timing is OK, there's a shift-control rod between the trottle linkage under the exhaust manifold and the tranny, that can be adjusted to delay or advance the shift-points.

If it's flaring or slipping & loosing alot of fluid, then replacement/overhaul may be needed.

Happy Motoring, Mark
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Last edited by Mark DiSilvestro; 01-25-2007 at 01:51 PM.
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  #6  
Old 01-25-2007, 01:50 PM
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A guy named Clark Grigsby used to work on my 6.9 in Houston. He moved to Georgetown and worked for a Porsche shop and now I hear he is on his own. Don't know much more than that but he knows MB cars like nobodys business. You might see if you can look him up.

A lot of shops all across Texas send their trannies to a guy named Jurgen in Houston. He does not work for the public, but for repair shops, in other words he doesn't pull the trannies out of cars.

http://www.jie.com/

I talked to him once and he is very helpful, he might be able to give you better insight into your problem.
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  #7  
Old 01-28-2007, 09:32 AM
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late shift...

OK, I'm not very familiar w/ auto transmissions at all. it does not appear to be slipping and also has not left any puddles of fluid in the driveway. I've not yet even poked my head under the hood to find the filler and level check.

I'll start watching fluid level. at some times it does seem to shift later than I'd like... and between 2nd and 3rd it might shift back and forth a few times.

mostly I've found this clears up if I am just a bit more aggressive with the GO pedal. so if I accelerate quickly past the shift points it flies through the gears w/ no problems at all.

allthough I can hear the pistons pinging at the top RPMs just before shifting. so I guess this car will also require only 93 octane? wife wa really hoping to be able to use the cheap gas. we have 4 other cars that are thirsty for the 93

paul
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  #8  
Old 01-28-2007, 01:58 PM
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It's not unusual for these automatic Mercedes trannys to requre some 'shift by accelerator' input from the driver. If the 'late-shifting' is something you can deal with and it's not leaking significantly, just keep an eye on the fluid level. Tranny filler & dipstick is underhood at right rear of engine. Check with engine warmed up, parked on level surface and idling in P. There's also a cold fluid level mark, below the warm fluid mark on the tranny dipstick - see your owner's manual.

Happy Motoring, Mark
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  #9  
Old 01-28-2007, 10:49 PM
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I would suggest Sun Valley Mercedes out of California. I payed about $1200 for my rebuilt unit.

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