looking at a few options for replacing my 87 auto transmission.is it worth taking a risk on a used one for 1/3 the price of a rebuilt with a 1 year warranty?anyone have any experience with a rebuilt from a generic transmission rebuilder?is it worth rebuilding mine or cheaper to buy rebuilt?thanks.

 

Voted for as second worst thread title of the year!

 

what gem holds the title?

 

Sidehatch? Is that you?

928 Intl has their 1/2 price sale on right now, good time to buy used. I wouldn't go with a generic re builder but one that specializes in Mercedes transmissions like Steve Cattaneo at Master Tech.

 

You really nailed it with your question.

Its a crapshoot. All about risk / reward. That's partly what makes this so freakin fun as a hobby for us guys with relatively restricted budgets. I've rolled those dice so many times. Now am addicted to the roll of the dice.

Not sure of your situation. If DIY, take the risk, shop for a while, buy and install. I've done exactly that (from a private party) and won. Actually 3 times. Sooner or later I'll do it again and loose.


to logical for hatch

 

I bought a used one for my race car from 928 Intl and probably need to buy the '88 they have up there for my '88...I wouldn't hesitate to buy a used one from them personally...

 

yea, 928 int has a great price,but only one left and has over 100k on it.with shipping it will cost me alittle under a thou.one on ebay with 50 k on it going for about 1500 or so with shipping.i had a very bad experience with rebuilt outboard motors on my fish boat .grenaded two from the same company in the same summer.of course warranties were void due to so called overheating.

 

Its the name of the game when we operate in the low-end of the market.

Build relationships, add value, one will appear for a more logical price. Take the risk on it.

Identify another non runner, split it with somebody, lots of ways to go-about this.

Sub $400 is possible. I've bought them and sold them (gotta give back, too) under that mark.

Again, if money isn't an issue, then you are playing in the wrong end of the market.

or, if you are going to rely on a mechanic, and money is an issue, you are in the wrong end + maybe shouldn't be in at all.
Tranny is only the beginning for you on this S4 and you realize that.

I'd be measuring endplay now before even thinking about a swap much.

 

The one on ebay-- Warranty? How do you know the 50k history? Good News from Mark A is that he actually keeps valid traceable records of the cars from which the parts were extracted. So you have at least something beyond the crayon marks that a stripper put on the one from the pile. Plus there is a genuine 1-year warranty.

Mark also has a very good rebuilder for these transmission. As much fun as it is swapping out the trans, I'm not sure I'd want to do it two or three 'extra' times fiddling with a no-name used one. For me, the benefit of getting a known-good-rebuilt is that I won't have to worry about it during my lifetime. Contrast with the 25 year old used one where age-related deterioration is always there, regardless of miles. I don't like working on the same thing twice due to my own frugality or stupidity. I don't like getting stranded by stupid stuff when it can be avoided. So 'rebuilt' by a known-good rebuilder would be my instant choice. 928 International is pretty close to me, so that's an easy choice. Steve Cattaneo in New York has an excellent reputation, and might be the go-to guy if you want heavy-dudty bits for your turbo or stroker car.

My opinion.

 

I would not risk buying a trans from E-bay.

 

all depends on the rebuilder......

 

Unless you know the history of the car, paying to put one in seems too risky.

928Intl knows which trannies they can sell used, and which are cores for rebuilding.

First I think you should have somebody that knows 928's look over your car and the tranny it has.

 

I'll sell you mine for $300 if you come and pick it up. It's a non-LSD transmission from an '87. If your transmission has a LSD, you could just switch it over. I think it's fine; however, if it ends up having issues, we could work something out. That being said, i still recommend a rebuilt if you are paying someone to do the work.

 

Nice offer.

 

Holy! that is a nice offer Gary