[OGMERC]

just bought a 1990 300ce. 145k miles. In really good shape - so i am hoping that my transmission issues are not related to internal parts/bands/clutches being worn out from abuse or high miles -- which the car shows no signs of either.


Checked the fluid and is full, looks fresh and does not smell burnt.


Here are my observations(im hoping some are related to a common faulty part, etc):


-No delay in engagement of R or D.. but it does lurch into gear, no clunking.

-shifter linkage is a little out of alignment(presumably bushings) - and apparently this can cause internal issues with the transmission as well as affecting shift timing/pressure/etc

- no slipping while in gear, but a"flare" in 3rd and 4th gear shifts - speed sensitive; light gas, light flare -- heavy gas, longer flare as the rpms rise faster with more gas.. k1 kit for 3rd flare? and is there a similar "$10 plug n play part/kit" for 4th gear flare? the 4th gear flare is less pronounces. no flare from 1st to 2nd gear.

-No kickdown in any gears(although i have not tried to floor the car from a stop) -- it does start in 1st gear if i pull the shifter down to "2" and back again.



I am going to take the car to a shop called Transmeister in Orange, CA. From what i can tell, they only do transmission work on MB's. DOes anyone happen to have experience with this shop?

Before taking it to the shop, i was hoping i could check out some basic things first, in case something obvious pops out at me that is an easy DIY. I also have a mobile mechanic that i trust that may be able to save me some money.. however, he is a BMW mechanic, and has no experience with MB's -- so if i have him come see the car i would have to give him instructions on looking/troubleshooting.


I searched a dozen or so "w124 flare" posts and found a decent amount of info, but nobody seemed to have ALL of my problems listed, lol -- so i guess i was hoping to get some basic advice on some DIY troubleshooting, starting with the easy stuff - i.e I wont be dropping the pan myself, etc. I also wanted to post ALL my issues to see if anyone would post "duuude, thats a shitload of transmission issues; better budget for a rebuild" <--- would seem like a "logical" reply to a typical "faulty transmission", but im hoping nobody will jump the gun with this same response unless they that quite sure ive described a toasted gearbox.


Thanks!!

 

[lee polowczuk]

just bought a 1990 300ce. 145k miles. In really good shape - so i am hoping that my transmission issues are not related to internal parts/bands/clutches being worn out from abuse or high miles -- which the car shows no signs of either.


Checked the fluid and is full, looks fresh and does not smell burnt.


Here are my observations(im hoping some are related to a common faulty part, etc):


-No delay in engagement of R or D.. but it does lurch into gear, no clunking.

-shifter linkage is a little out of alignment(presumably bushings) - and apparently this can cause internal issues with the transmission as well as affecting shift timing/pressure/etc

- no slipping while in gear, but a"flare" in 3rd and 4th gear shifts - speed sensitive; light gas, light flare -- heavy gas, longer flare as the rpms rise faster with more gas.. k1 kit for 3rd flare? and is there a similar "$10 plug n play part/kit" for 4th gear flare? the 4th gear flare is less pronounces. no flare from 1st to 2nd gear.

-No kickdown in any gears(although i have not tried to floor the car from a stop) -- it does start in 1st gear if i pull the shifter down to "2" and back again.



I am going to take the car to a shop called Transmeister in Orange, CA. From what i can tell, they only do transmission work on MB's. DOes anyone happen to have experience with this shop?

Before taking it to the shop, i was hoping i could check out some basic things first, in case something obvious pops out at me that is an easy DIY. I also have a mobile mechanic that i trust that may be able to save me some money.. however, he is a BMW mechanic, and has no experience with MB's -- so if i have him come see the car i would have to give him instructions on looking/troubleshooting.


I searched a dozen or so "w124 flare" posts and found a decent amount of info, but nobody seemed to have ALL of my problems listed, lol -- so i guess i was hoping to get some basic advice on some DIY troubleshooting, starting with the easy stuff - i.e I wont be dropping the pan myself, etc. I also wanted to post ALL my issues to see if anyone would post "duuude, thats a shitload of transmission issues; better budget for a rebuild" <--- would seem like a "logical" reply to a typical "faulty transmission", but im hoping nobody will jump the gun with this same response unless they that quite sure ive described a toasted gearbox.


Thanks!!

i would do a k1 kit before taking it to a shop... very easy to do

 

[OGMERC]

^yeah, the k1, or k2, seem pretty straight forward.. I just dont want to make a mess dropping the pan, or risk doing anything stupid(it seems i always do something wrong the first time i tackle something new, lol).. I really do not enjoy working on cars when it involves fluids under pressure, gaskets, etc; i kinda only do plug n play "parts changing" that i can do from the engine bay-side; ya'know - the no-brainer zero risk DIY's..


I may buy the k1&k2 kit, linkage bushings, filter & gasket kit and some fluid from the dealer to have my mobile mechanic do it.. but, id feel more comfortably bringing it to a MB transmission specialist, which i have located near by.


So my next question is:

What do most "indy" shops charge to do a basic trans service? Drop pan, install spring(s), drain tq converter, etc?

I am hoping 1.5 hrs for the above, and .5 hrs for the shift linkage bushings? Seems fair right, since it can probably be banged out in 30-45 minutes actual time??

im trying to keep the overall bill under $300 for parts and labor.. parts being ~$10 each for the k1 and k2 spring kit, $40 for filter and gasket, and $30 for trans fluid.. another $50 if the modulator is leaking..

my mobile mechanic charges me $50 and hour labor, actual time.. but he's not gonna be able to really "adjust" the trans as it relates to checking vacuum lines and tinkering with the bowden cable and modulator, etc.. so id rather have a specialist do the work and the tweaking.. i just want to know what a fair labor quote would be??

 

[OGMERC]

just got the car serviced; trans fluid was overfilled by 1 qt, and the bowden cable was unplugged.. they drained the fluid, re aligned my shift linkage, and did some other adjustments.. and all is well!

 

[adam83]

What is a K1 kit?

 

[OGMERC]

tons of info available on what the k1 spring is and what it is responsible for.

k1 spring is accessible from below the car without removing the trnasmission pan. This spring somehow regulates(?) partial operation of the 2-3 shift, and after time it losses its taughtness(springyness? lol)

You can buy this spring individually from MB, or you can buy MB's spring "kit", which comes wit 2 or 3 springs? (k1, k2, b1??) -- this kit is only $16 or so..

Or.. you can buy a full spring kit that replaces every spring in the valve body. This is called a "shift correction kit" and is made by Superior Transmission -- you cannot buy directly from them, you need to find one of their distributors.. I bought mine from ebay for ~$75 including shipping.. I did not need the kit to fix my problem, and have it for sale, $60 shipped, if anyone happens to be in need of one..