1996 E320 722.329 Rebuild Costs...
 

It seems as if my E320 is beginning to suffer from the dreaded B-3 failure resulting in a shudder when the trans is shifted into reverse. It hasn't completely failed yet, but I know the end is near. What type of costs am I facing to:

(A) Have the transmission completely rebuilt if I remove and reinstall the unit myself?

(B) Just have the defective B-3 parts replaced if I remove and reinstall the unit myself?

Also, are there any quick fixes that I could perform myself to conceal this problem so I can simply trade the car in? (Seafoam, Trans-X, etc)

Chris

Really special how to screw your neighbor in 3 easy steps. I hear you can screw someone on ebay without even looking them in the eye. Since we're at it should we roll back the odo.

You have to imagine that it's the car dealer that's the victim, they're heartless anyway, or better yet that the dealer is going to crush it in the backlot, a la Chevy Chase trading for the Sportswagon.

You have to imagine that the car dealer "won't notice" that the problem has been masked, and will be ignorant of any problems. It's the next owner who will be stuck with the bill.

Tranny
 

You cannot conseal that problem! Good luck trying to- If you put a trans additive in the case, you will just allow for a quicker death!!!!!

Don't trade it in! Just get the damn thing fixed- Where are you located and how many miles do you have???

Very well said.

ditto.

Call it what you want...
 

:( FYI... I've dumped tons of cash into this car since I bought it last July. I've replaced the brakes, ball-joints, shocks, lower control arms, all four tires, two window regulators, shifter bushing, mass air sensor, O2 sensor, power sunroof motor, power seat switch, head gasket, front timing cover gasket, rear wheel bearings and the blower motor. All of these repairs on a vehicle with less than 100,000 miles. I certainly won't lose any sleep over dumping this money pit to a dealer for their low-ball trade in value. Flushing another $1,500-$2,000 down the toilet on this car simply isn't in my game plan. I have been severely disappointed in the reliability/quality of this vehicle since I bought it and I certainly won't be trading it in on another Mercedes-Benz product.

I mean no disrespect to Mercedes-Benz in general, but their quality has without a doubt slipped throughout the past ten years. Years ago, whenever I pulled up next to a nice S or E-class Benz at a stoplight I'd think to myself "That's a fine looking piece of engineering" but these days I think to myself "Gee, I wonder how much cash he's dumped into that thing to keep it on the road?":( It's unfortunate, but true. I still love the appearance of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, but it will be a long time before I buy another one. I hate to say it, but I believe a new G-series Infinity is probably in my near future.

Chris

That is a substantial list of problems to have dealt with and most of us can understand your frustration. While not knowing the nature of your original purchase, it would appear not much maint was done by the PO and you were bitten by the old axiom of a "cheap mercedes being the most expensive car you ever purchased".....this we can all grasp.

What isn't understood is your apparent desire to cover up your current problem and dump the car on someone unsuspecting.

Its just a moral thing really.

You're looking at about $1,500 to have a rebuilt unit installed in your car.

just did one at work about a month ago; big chunks of metal in the pan.

got a reman from the dealer; list price was something like $4000 which included a new torque converter.

wouldn't gamble with a rebuilt from an independent rebuilder.

i agree, most newer MBZs are cr*p. get a Lexus...

the last of the good ones was the W126 IMO.

if you want to vent, here's a site dedicated to peoples' MBZ ownership woes. you are not alone.

http://www.mercedes-benz-usa.com/index.php

The notion that buying non-dealer parts and service is a gamble is one that keeps the dealers in high cotton. Whatever makes you comfortable but you've paid $4,000 for a transmission for a car that likely isn't worth $4,000, with or without a new transmission. This to me seems like a gamble.

Money Pit-
 

Wow Chris, it sounds like you got a bad apple.

It's sad to see someone so dissatisfied in a Mercedes. I have 2 E320, both 1996 Vintage and i love them to death (except the spring perch falling off on the Green One, and the rust that always seems to creep up...) But i must say, the reliability of the car starting every morning and getting me where i need to go is exceptional. The M104 engine is by far one of the most reliable and enduring engine's in the world. The transmission on your car was probably never serviced by its prior owner. These trannies should be serviced between every 20-30,000 miles. When purchaseing a pre-owned mercedes, it is important to have the car inspected prior. All of the problems that you had to take care of on your car were pre-existing, they might have been picked up with an inspection. All the best in what you decide to do....

And as far as Lexus goes- do not even get me started. Yes, the fit and finish is nice, but the constant engine sludge that plagues them year after year never seems to get noticed? How about replacing an engine on a 2 year old RX300 and an engine in a 3 year old LS430? Yeah- you never hear about that stuff until you know someone that works at a Lexus dealership....

Just my opinion....:)

722.3 transmissions have been around for a long time and have successfully been rebuilt by many independent shops.

You'd have to be a lunatic to spend $4,000 for one at a dealer when they are available by reputable shops for $1,500 installed, also with a one year warranty just like the dealer.

You could trade it in for a 99-01 Lexus RX300!

(They have terribly high transmission failure rates, and Lexus basically gave the finger to owners. MB is not the only one that uses "deny, deny, deny.")