[:@]Well, it looks like the Old Girl has started a new trick!! Now when I shift into reverse, it takse at least 15 to 20 seconds before it goes into gear and then it does it with a rather loud clunk. Please don't tell me I need a new transmission. The forward gears appear okay, except for the fact that they too now shift with a little clunk. Any ideas anyone? The car only has 76,000 original miles and I wouldn't think that a Mercedes transmission would go 'south' after such a short time. BTW, the fluid level is up to par and is a nice shade of red!!!

 

I had to have my 722.362 transmission rebuilt at about 75,000 miles. It is a Euro model car I imported and it looked as the trans fluid had never been changed. Delayed reverse gear engagement and slipping was first sign of trouble, followed by forward gears acting oddly. Changing the fluid and filter did not help the problem.I went to AAMCO -Bad idea. Although the franchise owner had a 1990s MB car, the repairman work was shoddy and the $2.7K rebuild work with new valve body lasted less than one year before troubles resurfaced. Next rebuilt was a send the trans to a Euro Car Transmission specialty place in Georgia, that rebuilt lasted one year. Third rebuild job was at a local area shop specializing only in trans work, with most customers beingcommercial fleets, local city and police vehicles, and trucks. They found stripped bolts, incorrectly installed seals, misadjusted governor, valve body parts in backwards, flex plate cracked from loosening then tightening inner plate bolts marked at factory for not to be disturbed, etc. In three days, I was back on the road and trans works better than when I became the second owner.

Bottom line, get the trans rebuilt sooner than later, skip chain stores, look for a real professional place, and no need to be scarred that it is an expensive, MB car.Unless the trans case iswarped or stressed or governor housing is worn beyond new parts fitting correctly, keep your OEM trans and rebuild vs accept a rebuilt trans replacement with an unknownhistory.I was told my governor housing was worn out, but third repair shop thatit was ok and that statement must have beena trick by first or second repair shopin order to increase profits or reduce labor time by trying to convince me to just install a rebuilt trans from a wholesale trans place.Trans work is a normal nuts and bolts effort. Real good mechanics following the repair manuals for correct installation of trans parts and cable adjustments will result in a repair that will last a long time.

 

Thank you very much for your reply wmercer. Judging by your experences, I may just have to take this car to the dealer to have it rebuilt. I know of no shops that I would trust re-building a bicycle let alone a MB transmission!! Granted, there are a few shops down here that advertise that they work on nothing but MB's and BMWs, but how can I tell if they are any good? No offense, but I sure don't want to go through the hell you went through!! I'm going to try and find a shop that works on only transissions and I may get lucky enough to find one like the one you did. If not, well I guess my only other choice will be the dealer and shortly after that....the poor house!!!! Thanks again for your reply and at least now I know what to stay away from!! (there are 3 Aamco shops in the greater Jackson area!!)

 

I too had the same problem with my '94 S500. When I took it into the shop they told me that the reverse gear is alway the first to go on that model's trans. I had them rebuild and because I brought it in when I did, ASAP!!, they were able to salvage many of the parts from the old transmition and reduse the cost drasticly. I was leary of using the old parts until I found out that the person who rebuilt my trans. formerly worked at MB in Germany rebuilding nothing but that chassis style's transmission. So, my two cents would be to mirror the first response and get it in to an MB certified repairshop as soon as possible.

 

Thanks for your input notica007, every bit helps. I intend to follow the advice from you both and get my Little Girl into the shop ASAP. I've been looking around for a shop and you'd think that in a city the size of Jackson, MS that would be easy. Actually, it probably would be if I wasn't so picky!!! The few I did contact, I asked some of the questions from wmercer's experience and I just didn't feel comfortable with the answers. The one answer I got from a Mercedes 'expert' really put me off. I went to his shop and asked if can rebuild a Mercedes transmission and he said that he did all the time. (AHA, a mechanic at last!!) He asked what model and I told him a '94 S500. He got a weird look on his face and said that he never heard of a S500 and was I sure that I had the right model!!! Guess who ISN'T going to fix my transmission?!!