W124 reverse gear not working - advice on cost?

[IMD]

Hi all,

I've been offered a 1992 E300 saloon by a friend, in pretty decent condition, with fair history, good beige leather, air con and 130000 miles. It seems a lovely car, but the reverse gear is not working at all. It doesn't even go into reverse. Forward gears work smoothly.

My friend wants shot of it, as he hasn't used it for a while due to the problem. He's happy to take minimum cash for it...I may even get it for free if I do a few odd jobs for him!

My question is, what's the worst case scenario for this and how much should I be prepared to have to spend to get it sorted. I assume a gearbox rebuild or replacement could be on the cards, but I've no idea how much this could cost including fitting. I appreciate that it might cost more than the car is worth, but maybe not?

Any advice would be appreciated on cost / fitting.

Thanks

Ian

 

[Number_Cruncher]

>>It doesn't even go into reverse.

Do you mean that the lever can't be moved to the reverse position?, or do you mean that with the lever in the reverse position, nothing happens?

 

[grober]

Gear selector rod might need adjusting? Does the selector lever lock the transmission in the P park position? In P the car should not roll on a slope with handbrake off? Will it even go to the park position? I am assuming its an automatic?

 

[moakesr]

This forum thread might prove helpful ?

http://www.mercedesshop.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=215898&highlight=reverse+piston

 

[bolide]

Budget about £250 to take a box out & replace it. Add the cost of a "new" secondhand box and shipping. Add cost of a new filter, gasket & oil. Add costs for faff factor. Deduct from notional market value. Make offer

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[IMD]

Hi,

It is an automatic and I'm going to contact my friend to get a bit more info. Will let you know later.

Cheers

Ian

 

[Number_Cruncher]

>> Do you mean that the lever can't be moved to the reverse position?

If this is the case, and the lever is blocked, does the lever go into reverse with the ignition on, and the engine off?

 

[IMD]

Hi all, thanks for your responses.

I asked my friend about the gearbox. Unfortunately, I couldn't get mobile network to chat with him in detail earlier, so he emailed me the response...a bit vague, but does it help?

"All the gears work fine and the park position also. Into reverse it does select but then seems to work but then no torque and no movement backwards"

If it does require a new 'secondhand' box, as Nick described, what sort of costs for the box and associated parts? Has anyone got a good supplier in mind?

I'm seriously tempted, as I might be able to get the car for a couple of hundred quid as it is, but don't really want to be stung with a horrendously huge bill on top. It would be nice if the car + gearbox cost = it's value or near, just in case I need to sell.

Cheers

Ian

 

[Number_Cruncher]

>>nto reverse it does select but then seems to work but then no torque and no movement backwards"

Yes, that helps - it's probably serious internal wear, and would need a replacement gearbox, or a re-build. I suspect it will be cheaper to obtain a good SH unit than to rebuild the existing one.

 

[IMD]

Nick suggested approx £250 + for fitting, but any thoughts on what either a recon unit might cost?

 

[Sp!ke]

If BlackC55 wasnt so bloomin busy... He's pretty local.

 

[Ian B Walker]

If BlackC55 wasnt so bloomin busy... He's pretty local.

I am sure there are 24 hours in a day

 

[grober]

Nick suggested approx £250 + for fitting, but any thoughts on what either a recon unit might cost?

I suggest you ask a local reputable autotransmission specialist for a rebuild price ( must include a reasonable warranty)

 

[bolide]

I suggest you ask a local reputable autotransmission specialist for a rebuild price ( must include a reasonable warranty)

About £1200. I don't know if that includes VAT or not

I think that for most cars a new secondhand box is a more sensible prospect but it requires you to rely on the supplier when they say it's good

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[Matt_Bigwood]

I've got a weird intermittent reverse problem with my W210 E280. Sometimes it works perfectly all day, then on another occasion I'll put it in reverse and it will either judder severely or rev highly and barely move. I had a quote of £1800+VAT from Bristol Transmissions to remove and rebuild the auto box.

I've also found it extremely difficult to get anyone interested in actually doing anything with the auto box - I've contacted several places and haven't had a response, and contacted a local garage about the possibility of fitting a replacement gearbox but they fobbed me off with stories about it 'not being as easy as taking one out and fitting another'....

Matt

 

[IMD]

Thanks for all the info guys. I might just take the plunge and then look for a secondhand unit from a supplier or scrappy. I could just drive it as is and hope that I'll never need to reverse (!).

If all else fails, i suppose i could sell the interior and parts and make my money back.

Anyone got a good secondhand gearbox for a 300 engine?

Ian

 

[IMD]

Well, after a quick search on Google, I contacted 'thepartsgateway.co.uk' and within 30 minutes had the following quotes sent to me, which was pretty swift!

Dronsfield Mercedes: Used gearbox from £175.00 + £47 delivery

Prestige Allparts: Used gearbox £440.62 + £29.37 delivery

Both offer a 90 day warranty on these.

I assume that the cheaper Dronsfield box will be higher mileage and therefore cheaper to buy?

Does anyone have experience of these two suppliers and are the used auto boxes tested beforehand. I don't really want to pay for it to be fitted, only to find it's a dog!

Ian

 

[Howard]

Why not drive the car to a scrappy ...

Pick up a gearbox , chuck it in the boot , therefore saving on shipping ...

Drive up to Ollys at Prestige ( Horndean ) and get Olly to fit it for you ...

Problem solved ....

 

[IMD]

Hi Howard,

Thanks for that idea.

My only concern with a box from a scrappy is that i would have no idea whether it worked properly or not. I assume that scrap dealers aren't too concerned if it works well!

I should just get on with it and buy the darn thing!

Just Do It, as some well known sports wear brand once said....

 

[Howard]

If the cars only two hundred quid , i would take a gamble on a box from a scrappy personally ...

Not worth getting a five hundred quid box i wouldn't have thought.

I've not heard much of gearbox failures on w124's , are you sure it isn't something simple with the existing box ?

Why not PM Olly ( BlackC55 ) and ask him how much he would charge to swap boxes , then get one from a scrappy ... shouldn't be much.