What do you think... 1980 300D
 

I am looking to get opinions. I have a line on a 1980 300D with a bad transmission. The engine has 168K on it. Car is in pretty good shape otherwise. Guy is asking $800 but I think I can get him down to $500. I also have a line on a transmission from a 1984 300TD for $250. So, for $750 and some elbow grease, I should have decent car. Is this worth it? I've done tranny swaps before, but not in a mercedes. How hard is the swap?

RE: What do you think... 1980 300D
 

Another question to ask would be "in what way is the transmission broke"? I bought by car with a "bad transmission", but $180. for a b-piston and 3 hours later I had a perfectly fine car.

RE: What do you think... 1980 300D
 

The guy told me that it was slipping for a while and then it just "broke" so it wont go anywhere, like its locked up.

As far as the mileage, the mileage seems right all things considered.

RE: What do you think... 1980 300D
 

I'm assuming this is an automatic? If so, and he'll let you test it, fire her up and see if you can nurse it to go. If it won't go at first and then thunks into gear, but then shifts fine until you stop again, it's the B2 piston. If it really won't go and you have another transmission waiting to go, that's not a bad option.

I don't know if the TD transmission is the same though. Perhaps someone else can answer that for you.

RE: What do you think... 1980 300D
 

Also, the seller says that he just had the timing chain and gears done before the tranny went. Does this sound right, or does this car sounds like a piece of...?