'93 300E what to do?
 

My wife's '93 has had a stroke. She is attached to this car by an imbilical!!! The reverse is toast in the trans. All forward gears work perfectly. Car has 154K miles, (add a qt about 1400-1500mi) looks very good, (dark blue/palimino) ZERO rust, everything works except the sun roof (does pop up), interior is 98%, A/C is ICE cold, cruise works perfectly, lock/window closing system works perfectly, Alpine stereo, service receipts since 6/98. Needs front suspension parts. Neck on rad is repaired. Indy repair estimates for trans about $3500 plus misc stuff. I can do the suspension. Should I sell as is for $2500 or ??? Thanks, Dennis

You should find a good trans for $250-500 & about 6 hrs to install!

We are in Maryland. Were in our area can one be found for that price? What do you know that I don't. If we find one, how can you determine the condition? Thanks, Dennis

if you could sell it for 2500.. i would let it go.....and put 5500 into the best 124 example you could find..... or 3500 an another 2k in your pocket

i don't think your car is worth much more than 1k.

I have a 95 124 with 178k. runs perfectly...doubt its worth more than 2500

Seems awfully expensive for a trans rebuild. Have you tried getting another quote?

For used trans, you can't be too far from Potomac German Auto, which is the premier Mercedes dismantler in the USA. Google up their website and give them a call.

I agree with Lee, don't think you'll get much more than $1k for a 124 that needs work to be usable, no matter how nice the rest of it. Also agree with him that perhaps $2500 it the top end, even if everything works.

3500 is way high for a trans rebuild especially considering its most likely just the b3 servo that needs to be replaced. Get a used one for a couple hundred bucks and put it in (mechanic should be able to do this in 5 hours easily). Not worth the money IMO.

My local MB independent garage rebuilt the trans in my '93 300E for about $1,500.00 with a one year warranty.

I have searched all the internet and found only 3 trans locally, each with over 200k miles $700. I can't see going this route knowing I still will have too spend another $500-$700 for installation and return the orig as a core. Talked to a documented reliable trans shop. They won't bench build one, just find a rebuilt one, install and pay about 3K. I know what I need to do, but getting my wife to accept the fact that the value of the car is really low. I guess I'll advertise it and see what happens.
Suginami, I talked to my local Indy for my first estimate. They do not rebuild, only replace. I talked to my local MB dealer. I even have an account there. They do not rebuild. They did find one (MB Certified w/warranty) in the MB system that matched my car. My cost was $3500 trans only, retail $4600. Thanks guys, Dennis

This is the company that rebuilds many of the transmissions for shops in So. Cal., and the one that my shop uses:

rebuilt mercedes transmission price list

Click on your car "1993 300E" for the price, and it's $1,500 with an exchange. Torque converter is included.

Comes with a 2 year warranty.

Have them ship it out to you.

Problem solved.

If you put the rebuilt tranny for 1500 in it. You will be paying shipping both ways on the transmissions. Then you will be paying R&R costs. There is oil and misc. charges. I would think you will be dropping about 2500 that way. MBDOC's idea is the best cost wise. You could possibly get it going under one grand. Either way then you have front end issues you mentioned. It's a decision to make on an older car. The guarantee is, that they just keep wanting.

It's not about the money as much as it is about how much you want the car. If it keeps wifey happy, take the time to find a good rebuilt one, which will keep the car going a few more years. It sounds otherwise in great shape, so as long as you are OK with the repairs that will come with owning a 20 year old car, you're probably just as well off financially as spending more on a newer (and unknown) car.

where can you sell? to the mechanic?

mbdoc has the very best solution.