Hello,

I recently bought a 1981 240d with 195k miles. I took it to a real reputable shop to have them do a valve adjustment ($105.00 seems like a good deal) because the previous owner did not know when it was done last.
Anyways I also asked him to kinda go through it and give me a list of things he felt I should take care of in the future.

He said first and foremost the car has the old style transmission cooler lines and they were know to go without warnign stranding you and possibly killing the transmission. IS this true?

I plan on doing most of the work on the car myself. Is this a tough job replacing them?

thanks
Jake

Transmission cooler lines are not known for failing on these cars. Engine oil cooler lines on the other hand, are well known for failing and destroying the engine in the process. If the mechanic was talking about engine oil cooler lines, they are well worth inspecting closely. Transmission cooler lines are metal and generally reliable except where the metal brackets attach them to the engine(?). The brackets can rub through the lines.

Good price on the valve adjustment.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Was the mechanic talking about the transmission cooler lines themselves or possibly the clamps that hold them?

As Kerry mentioned, the clamps rub through the hard lines but this is due to deteriation of the rubber cushion in the clamp, not the hard line itself.

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

If your Mechaninc was speaking of the 0199978082 Transmission Oil Cooler Hoses. The newer Hoses seem to come with a Spring around them.

I do not believe the spring is needed as the originals on mine did not have a Spring and had no problems due to a lack of springs.

Perhaps that is what he is calling updated.

New Transmission Cooler Hoses can be had for around $13 each and can be changed by the owner (put a pan under the Hoses to catch the ATF). Use 2 wrenches and avoid cracking the Radiator or twisting the Trans Oil Cooler Tubing.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I read it here on this forum and I can't find the post anymore - but - the gist of the post was that if the flexible transmission oil cooler lines deteriorate they can contribute to transmission failure. I don't know if this is 100% true but for the sake of a bit of oil and two cheap (well cheap for Mercedes parts anyway) hoses I say change 'em => I consider it to be a potentially messy but easy job.

Level of difficulty => about the same as changing the engine oil and the oil filter.

If you decide to do it yourself I would catch and measure how much oil comes out of the cooler / gearbox and add the same amount of CLEAN NEW oil back into the gearbox - on these cars you fill via the transmission dip stick hole.

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!