mercedes sl300 r129

iremex

hey guys i was wondering if you could help me out with some advice. my poor old car seems to be going to a rough patch at the moment..

i have sent it into a few mechanics and the general consensis is that it needs a rebuild/new transmission box (4speed auto). what it does is that when i accelerate, the box just wont change up a gear, wants to rev to the limit and after a few moments the change occurs. the transmission also isnt working when i engage the kickdown, it seems to kick down 2 lower gears instead of 1..does anyone know a place where i can get the transmission fixed? i have looked all over the net but dont know who can do this work.


the second little irk is that new catalytic converters might be needed but preferably a new exhaust system. would anyone have any recommendation as to an after market exhaust thats better than the oem?
cheers

3ps

Somebody might be along soon with merc specific info but you could try Mr. gearbox in Dublin?

MercMad

I would suggest you talk to M&A transmission in Dublin. The thing with an auto' car is the 'box must still be in situ for them to test it with various hydraulic gauges etc...

I take it the car has enough of the correct fluid in it ?

Have you had any electrical problems in the past and how long have you owned the car. Not being nosey it just may be relevant !

Saabdub

Have you tried Benzworld http://www.benzworld.org/forums/ there's a section dedicated to the R129 with almost 37,000 posts on it. The people on the site are very helpful with diagnosing problems:D

Saabdub

Oldmerc

I have a w111 and got the gearbox rebuilt about 4 years with southside gearbox in rathfarnham (cost 2,000) for a similar problem. I hope they are still around as it was a good job and its gone again(uses bands). The crowd in Derry, forgot the name, are supposed to be very good.

MercMad

Oldmerc wrote: »

I have a w111 and got the gearbox rebuilt about 4 years with southside gearbox in rathfarnham (cost 2,000) for a similar problem. I hope they are still around as it was a good job and its gone again(uses bands). The crowd in Derry, forgot the name, are supposed to be very good.

T&D Heaney are the Derry people but they will just remove it and sent it for reconditioning !

When you say the W111 Gearbox is gone again, after only 4 years, it doesn't sound like they did a good job to me !!

However if you want a W111 Gearbox I have 2 spare. One was in my own
W111 and it lost drive in 1st and 2nd so I put the feelers out for a good used one and ended up with 3 !!

One was incorrect, its from and early W113 without oil cooler connection, so therefore no use, the other one I used in my car. It turned out all tyhat was wrong with my original one was one of the pressure valves on the outside !!

Anyway if you need one, even to send out for overhaul, let me know !

johnf2020

Hi Guys, From what I have heard about autos, about 80% of gearchange problems have nothing to do with the internals of the system. Often gear change problems have to do with the throttle position sensors which tell the gearbox when to change up/down/ kickdown. I believe that the setup has to be spot-on to achieve the correct results.

iremex

MercMad wrote: »

T&D Heaney are the Derry people but they will just remove it and sent it for reconditioning !
/QUOTE]

thanks for the information and apologies for the delay in replying. i've met tommy heaney but his backlog is 5weeks!! and you are correct in saying that he sends it away because that is what was going to happen with mine.

the fluid level seems to be at a resonable level. i have been on the benzworld forum(spent most of sunday last finding out who had similar problems) but there was nothing really there..

just had the exhaust fixed and while the gear change problems are still there, it doesnt seem to be as bad as before. nobody seems to want to have anything to do with autoboxes!

mercmad, have you got the contact details for M&A transmission ?
i have the car about a year and it has been a bit tempermental regarding the electrics. the roof module was causing some serious headaches this time last year, aftermarket alarm was knocking the central locking of sync too but thats all sorted now..
what i would like to do is give the car to somebody and let them sort out EVERYTHING that is needing done to it.. frustration level is through the roof at the moment

MercMad

Sorry it was A & M Transmissions 01-6703713 they've done loads of Merc transmissions!