Is this the end of the line for the 300CE-24V?

[alexpress]

gearbox

I have been in denial for a few days now. I visited a trusted Merc specialist last weekend (who fixed of my erratic idle issue) and mentioned in passing my long standing gearbox issue.

The issue is thatwhen cold, it reverses fine, but when the car is warm and reverse is selected, nothing happens unless you give it some throttle and then the car jumps back. I have lerned to live with this by covering the brake whilst giving a little throttle.

Anyway, when I mentioned said issue to said specialist, he advised, without a moments hestitation, that I would need a gearbox rebuild. I have also today spoken with a Gearbox specialist who confirmed that at the mileage (100-120k) that a number of things could/would be wrong and a rebuild at £1200+vat is needed!.

Ive only done 3000 miles in the old thing and am now loving it anew with the idle all sweetly purring (alright tappety tappeting a bit) but is it worth spending £1400 on it. It may also need a head gasket done at some stage (nowhere near urgent) which could be around £500. Of course there will always be other niggling things to spend.

So is it worth saving the car? it really seems too good to scrap, but it simply wont repay what needs to be spent on it, despite its very good condition I dont see it being worth more than the £2000 I originially paid for it even with a new gearbox.

Views?

I have a 1994 BMW 325i M-Tech which I have had for a few years and last year the head went again. I priced a new head which ranged from £600 to £1200 plus fitting etc.

My local garage said that at this age it 's not worth it so fit a whole used engine which is what I did. The engine cost me £350 with only 60000 on the clock.

I sourced it through the web. I think I used 24/7 spares. I had the choice of a few engines. Maybe this would work for your box.

I had a 1992 220CE and I was sorry to see it go in part exchange for the BMW. I also have a CLK 230 Elegance cabriolet now with factory fitted avantegarde suspension.

Hope you are lucky. Keep it going.

 

[crammy69]

Ive been giving it alot of thought, once I find some time Ill take it to the autobox people to give it the once over and get a definate diagnosis. However I spoke with one gearbox guy who said that if my car has the 5 sped box ( which it appears to have) then he has no interest! he said the 1990 5 speed boxes are a pig to do and he didnt need the hassle!.

If im lucky enough to find someone to fix it for around £650 then itll be worth doing, as I love driving it now the tickover is running sweetly. I spend alot of time (too much in fact) looking at alternative cars on Ebay etc but I cant find much other than an S Class W126 or W140 series that is likely to have that solid feel and 'commanding' driving position that I enjoy in the Coupe.

 

[Howard]

Is there a reason you don't want to consider a box from a breakers ?

 

[crammy69]

I thought that there would be no way of knowing how good it is, and that most of the costs involved is the actual fitting itself? I have spoken to 3 gearbox places so far and they all said they didnt want to know when I suggested getting a 2nd hand box.

Im happy to look at all options that would keep the old thing alive, especially if it can be done for a reasonable price!

 

[Howard]

Spoke to Olly about fitting a secondhand box instead of a specialist gearbox place ?

 

[Smiley]

Is it a known and definite problem that causes the reverse gear to fail like this? If it is and assuming you can get some help to get the gearbox out of the car then how about doing the repair yourself. If you know what the problem is (with help on here) then there is no need for the expertise of the gearbox specialist. Or are they mega complex inside - cant believe that the gearbox specialists are rocket scientists thaey just have more confidence because they have done it before.
I guess it will need somewhere clean like a kitchen to do the rebuild; it could be fun.

 

[Mercedes cozy]

Ive been giving it alot of thought, once I find some time Ill take it to the autobox people to give it the once over and get a definate diagnosis. However I spoke with one gearbox guy who said that if my car has the 5 sped box ( which it appears to have) then he has no interest! he said the 1990 5 speed boxes are a pig to do and he didnt need the hassle!.

If im lucky enough to find someone to fix it for around £650 then itll be worth doing, as I love driving it now the tickover is running sweetly. I spend alot of time (too much in fact) looking at alternative cars on Ebay etc but I cant find much other than an S Class W126 or W140 series that is likely to have that solid feel and 'commanding' driving position that I enjoy in the Coupe.

Hi mate,

Take a picture of the gear lever area and I can tell you if its a 5 Speed or not.

Don't Loose faith, the guy who I sold my ce has written the car off and that has a recon 5 speed gear box in it.

Also I know someone who has a 4 speed and he will let it go for £100.


So the chose is yours.

 

[crammy69]

Thanks, Ive just looked on the russian site and it says "5-speed automatic transmission (с 01.02.1988)" and the transmission the number says 722501 02 342753

An weirdly just noted it says mine is an AMG!! "300 CE-24,AMG 300 CE 3.4". I guess its not but wouldnt that be nice if it was .

The Gear lever shows P,D R, 4,3,2. Ill try and get a picture tonight if you think it could still be a 4 speed based on the above.

Cheers

 

[Mercedes cozy]

Thanks, Ive just looked on the russian site and it says "5-speed automatic transmission (с 01.02.1988)" and the transmission the number says 722501 02 342753

An weirdly just noted it says mine is an AMG!! "300 CE-24,AMG 300 CE 3.4". I guess its not but wouldnt that be nice if it was .

The Gear lever shows P,D R, 4,3,2. Ill try and get a picture tonight if you think it could still be a 4 speed based on the above.

Cheers

Funny mine said AMG a well.

So it looks like you need a 5 Speed box. Well the box in my old car I had it re-conded. But now the current owner has writted it off.

He is now breaking the car for spares, it also has a carot kit.

 

[crammy69]

Spoke to Olly about fitting a secondhand box instead of a specialist gearbox place ?

Cheers, I just phone him, and he could indeed fit one in about 4-5 hours, so its now a possible avenue dependant on whether a known good 5 speeder becomes available ( ideally with a torque converter still attached).

 

[Mercedes cozy]

The car still runs and can be test driven.

 

[crammy69]

Funny mine said AMG a well.

So it looks like you need a 5 Speed box. Well the box in my old car I had it re-conded. But now the current owner has writted it off.

He is now breaking the car for spares, it also has a carot kit.

Great can you let me know (via pm if you prefer) how much he wants for the box and whereabouts he is? Also is he dismantling it himself or would I need to get someone to take it out the car, as I understand it is likley to be a messy and heavy job!.

Cheers

 

[Mercedes cozy]

Great can you let me know (via pm if you prefer) how much he wants for the box and whereabouts he is? Also is he dismantling it himself or would I need to get someone to take it out the car, as I understand it is likley to be a messy and heavy job!.

Cheers

I will find out and let you know via PM

 

[petef]

I have been in denial for a few days now. I visited a trusted Merc specialist last weekend (who fixed of my erratic idle issue) and mentioned in passing my long standing gearbox issue.

The issue is thatwhen cold, it reverses fine, but when the car is warm and reverse is selected, nothing happens unless you give it some throttle and then the car jumps back. I have lerned to live with this by covering the brake whilst giving a little throttle.

Anyway, when I mentioned said issue to said specialist, he advised, without a moments hestitation, that I would need a gearbox rebuild. I have also today spoken with a Gearbox specialist who confirmed that at the mileage (100-120k) that a number of things could/would be wrong and a rebuild at £1200+vat is needed!.

Ive only done 3000 miles in the old thing and am now loving it anew with the idle all sweetly purring (alright tappety tappeting a bit) but is it worth spending £1400 on it. It may also need a head gasket done at some stage (nowhere near urgent) which could be around £500. Of course there will always be other niggling things to spend.

So is it worth saving the car? it really seems too good to scrap, but it simply wont repay what needs to be spent on it, despite its very good condition I dont see it being worth more than the £2000 I originially paid for it even with a new gearbox.

Views?

Been there...difficult one..depends how much disposable incomme you have and your circumstances. When I bought mine I had bill after bill...but £500 bills ! and having a young family, a big mortgage, a wife who likes shopping and going out for meals etc and only one adult working( me ) it was not a sensible idea to keep the thing ...a luxury I could not afford at the time...Would I buy one now ? No...I like to budget my money. I like knowing where I am each month. A new car on a scheme is the best bet for me....But each to their own. I am sure you will make the right decision at the end of the day. Good luck