Friends,


I've found a "midnight blue" (with black leather interior) 1993 Mercedes 320CE with the 3.2 liter I6 & the 722.503 transmission (YES, according to the MB data card it's original to the car.), that is a one-owner out of an estate sale, with 154,000 miles & externally/internally in near MINT condition but has NO REVERSE.
(The FIVE forward gears seem to shift smoothly/FINE.)


Do any of you have a GOOD rebuilder (preferably in Texas) that I can TRUST to overhaul/rebuild the 5-speed AT, properly & at less than a "highway robbery" price??


yours, tex
San Antonio

that trans we ALWAYS did dealer only. try here- (404) 351-5512 transmissions by ron. any other 722 he does and does well. he might have the 722.5 figured out. good luck, chuck.

What sort of $ are you expecting to pay?

97 SL320,

I'm NOT sure but MUCH less than the over 5,000.oo that I was quoted by one AT shop here in San Antonio. Two other shops quoted me 4200 & 3900 bucks.
(A shop in Los Angles does a very similar 5-speed AT for Mercedes for 1700.oo exchange with a 3 year unlimited mileage warranty for 3 years. - That shop is "OUT of stock" for the 722.503.)

yours, tex

Ridiculous prices.

If you can manage the R&R, send it to Sun Valley in CA. If they don't have an exchange, they can do your transmission.

https://www.mercedesdismantlers.com/Mercedes%20Transmission%20Price%20List.htm

I use a very experienced shop in New Jersey. They can rebuild your transmission and are priced well. They also do a lot of work for dealers. Call before you order online:

https://autotransparts.com/cart.php?m=product_list&c=496
TRANS SPECIALTIES | Remanufactured transmissions | rebuilt transmissions | transmission parts | torque converters

When you do this job, also do the rear main engine seal and the driveshaft flex disk. The parts cost a hundred bucks. If you install them now, it's no extra cost. If you do them later, installation cost alone will be $1000.

Sun Valley in CA seems to have good marks from those on this list and way less than 5K.

One of the issues with the 5 K pricing is if a shop does not rebuild many MB trans of this model, they can't offer a blanket price. When any part is rebuilt in volume, the easy rebuilds subsidize the completely destroyed units.

A shop that builds a low volume unit has 2 choices, give the customer a high price to cover a completely destroyed unit ( causing them to run away " That is too much $ " ) or give them a low price then add to it ( " You are just getting me in the door then selling me stuff I don't need " ) With the former they don't get the job but with the latter, they get the job. Given a trans rebuild isn't common, the latter has little risk because the customer isn't likely to come back even if they were treated well.

The R&R at a typical shop should be ~ $ 500. However the R & R must be negotiated before any work is done. Be sure to provide a very detailed description of what work you want done and expectations to avoid future problems. Details like throttle valve cable and vacuum modulator adjustment are critical to trans life.

Typically better shops don't want to install bought parts due to a wrong part tying up a bay , shop being blamed if the part fails and loss of profit on bought parts.

Do you have a good relationship with any general repair shops? A non transmission shop can change this especially if they change engines.

Mxfrank,

AGREED. = mI call that "highway robbery". - Thanks for the advice on the rear seal & flex disk. - That's easily done while the AT is out.

yours, tex

97sl320,

I do't know about elsewhere but around San Antonio essentially ALL of the AT rebuilders have a "only fair" to BAD/DISHONEST reputation.

My regular/independent MB mechanic can do the R&R. = He's put a transmission into another car (300SDL) for me & charged me 255.oo. - He does NOT rebuild AT however.

yours, tex

It sounds as if your best bet is to get your specialist to do the R&R and then ship it to Sun Valley. I did this in England. My specialist sent it to a reputable auto box place in Glasgow. All now seems well.

RayH