Transmission advice please
 

I would like some input on a decision I need to make regarding my transmission. I’ve recently purchased a 2003 C320 for my daughter. It has 161,000 miles. The original owner recently traded the vehicle in due to some needed maintenance items. The items were repaired and the vehicle was then sold to me. The items repaired were thrust arm bushings, left catalytic converter, B service and brakes and rotors at all four corners. The body and paint are near perfect so I decided to buy the car. I was aware that there was a slight flare in RPM’s at the 2-3 shift. By the way it is an automatic transmission.

At first I thought I could live with it but the car is so perfect I just can’t stand it anymore. I had a trusted transmission specialist change the regulator spring in the valve body for the 2-3 shift. The problem didn’t change and he said that it had been driven for too long with a broken spring thus causing undue wear on the clutches. He has quoted me a price of $2000 for a soft rebuild.

My main question is should I soft rebuild or try to purchase a used transmission with low miles? I welcome all ideas and suggestions.

Thanks ahead.

srb1194

I recommend a good MB dealer to look at it first. could just be low fluid or maybe a re adaption of the shift points

What color is the fluid? I heard that the Transmission fluid that is blue from MB is the stuff that they use in other countries and that might be the problem. If it is red, that is the stuff the US dealers are kind of forced to use to meet EPA requirements, so you might have to go to a non-dealer service center. It's worth checking into. Again, I am to sure that this will solve your problem and it has to do with chemicals that are removed, but cause transmission problems and it isn't a problem with just Mercedes, other car mfg have the similar issues with fluids that the dealers have to use and how certain chemicals have to be taken out. But these chemicals prevent a lot of problems.