87 190d bad tranny - rebuild or replace?
 

Car has 214k and slips like crazy.

One shop says rebuild is best. Will cost $1500.

One shop (that is also a MB salvage yard) has a similar tranny with 90k miles and says replace. Will cost $1150.

Also got a quote for a factory replacement at $3750 but seems high since got the car for under 1k. Don't want to do it.

Who do I trust? Any pros and cons? Does it matter?

I've been looking on here for a couple of days and can't seem to find the best answer. From what I've seen, tranny probs with this much mileage on these cars is not that uncommon.

I'm really ready to drive this car every day so any thoughts/advice on what do are greatly appeciated.

Bad Transmission
 

I think the best thing to do is rebuild yours since you plan to use this Mercedes Benz as a daily driver. Rebuilding by a competent transmission shop would be about $1500 to $1800 if they are going to remove it too! 16 Years with the Chrysler Corporation has taught me to get the best you can afford at a reasonable price. I would say your first option is the best way to go. you will get a warranty too. It's a nice machine you have, don't go overboard, but don't nickel and dime it to death either! An auto dismantler would be a good way to go when your part is history and if it can be rebuilt, then it isn't!!! Hope this helps!

Thank you
 

That definately helps.

I'm not afraid to pay a fair price for the work I need done as I want this done right! Really appreciate the feedback.

I agree with KnightRider966 and his assessment. Remember, you have a very unique car there, and all those 190's chunk a tranny 150K to 250K a large percentage of the time. I wouldn't buy a used one for just a few hunnert bucks less than a rebuild, the few extra hunnert is worth it.
What color is your 190D. I drove an '87 a while back with only first and third gears working, and it was still a little rocket. I really really liked that car! Hang on to it, it's one of the fastest diesels made, and the fastest of it's era. They drive well too........

great info
 

JimmyL,

Thanks for the advice, this is exactly the info I was looking for.

Rebuild it is.

My sense was "frankensteining it" with another car might compromise it a little but wasn't sure.

I believe the color of this car is "Champagne" basically a light brown with maroon interior and trim. Looks good.

I bought off the second owner here in Austin who was moving out of state.

She posted it over labor day weekend so I didn't have a chance to take to a shop for a through pre-purchase inspection but for what she was asking it was worth taking a risk. Obviously, I got hit kinda hard with the tranny, but hey, it was a risk.

At first I was going to sell the car and start looking again but the more research I've done, the more excited I get about this car as everybody seems to think it's pretty unique.

As for the one you drove, are you talking about the one that Durango motors was selling on ebay? I saw that one when I first started looking earlier this year and seem to remember seeing that car referenced in a few posts here. Small world.

Thanks again.

That was the one. Seems like somebody in Houston bought that one. While I would love to have a little standard tranny 190D, I would hop all over an '87 2.5 turbo. Wouldn't mind that in a 300D either. Seems like those are 90-93, or something like that.
Your's sounds like a good deal, even with tranny issues. Afterall, you will have under 3K in a very rare diesel MB, with a new tranny.........:D
Not bad at all!

87 2.5 turbo
 

even with a tranny rebuild you stole that car if it is any kinda shape Mom's car was just adjusted for insurance she has had it since new under 5000 miles per year and adjuster put it over $9000

How about posting some pics when it's done?