Want to take a used transmission with me on a cross USA drive as I have 210,000 miles on my 1999 ML320. I may be overthinking and transmissions never fail in the winter. Anyway, the lady says there were 114,000 miles on the ML when her Daddy wrecked it and it all sounds fishy but here's how I plan to check the mileage on the wrecked parts car.

I hooked a cigarette lighter plug to a 9.6 volt electric drill battery. When I plug it into the ash tray lighter socket, the dash illumiantes. A 9 volt battery didn't have the amps.

$400 is cheap for peace of mind. I understand it weighs 200 #s but it could be less as I'm not getting the transfer case. There was also one of those hitch cargo carriers for sale for $45 so that'll do if I don't want to keep it company inside.

Also bought a dipstick on-line and plan on sampling my current fluid and having a reference for the mechanic in Podunk if I do have to use the junkyard box.

I looked at the new Cherokee but it is painted with water colors like the new GLK and I'm going to try to wait a decade until the paint is proven or the next fad hits and we can go back to oil paint and the joy of polluting!