oldnew MB owner

Hello all. New member here, the site is Great. I have a 1985 190E 2.3 auto that needs a new flywheel. Just bought the car about a month ago from the documented original owner with 99,000 miles & never seen winter. The first week I had it, I put a new starter in. The third week I had it I did it again, (sometimes rebuilts don't last...it happens). When the same symptoms appeared indicating a bad starter I figured "no way" so the flywheel was checked. Dang! Teeth missing. So here's the deal - I'm an old air cooled VW guy & have had several wasserboxers thru the years also. I've dropped trannys out of old chevys, done 2 clutch replacements on a 1987 VW Scirocco, etc, etc......now that I've upgraded to a coveted MB I'm not sure what to expect. It seems MB closely guards servicing manuals? Or am I over-looking something somewhere? Can this repair be done from the ground? (on jack-stands for instance) or is it advisable to have it on a lift? Are there any secrets to getting it done in a timely manner? Of course the dealer quote was over $1300, a good mechanic in town says about $860 - both these prices include the flywheel. I think, if it's possible, that my time would be worth the extra money. Besides, I like getting my hands dirty, haha. So, please share some wisdom of your experiences & I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

Lito

Welcome! I don't have an answer but I am willing to bump your post. For what I have read here (I am a newb too), you've come to the right place

reubengeg

You're going to love your 190E. Buy a haynes manual. It gives you step by step instructions on removal of the transmission. I recently pulled my automatic and replaced it with a 5 speed manual. I seem to remember that there were some 35 steps to remove the automatic. I did it on jack stands. I made my own transmission jack table to fit on my floor jack. Let me know if you want pics.
good luck.
reubengeg
my license plate now reads REUBENZ

StruminJ

I would love to see pic's on this conversion.

reubengeg

I used a piece of steel plate then mounted a pipe flange to the bottom of it. Then screwed in a short piece of 1/2 pipe into the flange. I added wood rails on each side of the steel plate and cut heavy cardboard to cover the heads of the screws that were used to mount the flange. I removed the swivel mount on my jack and replaced it with the flat steel surface. Because the pipe is a smaller diameter than the mounting hole in the jack it allows the steel plate to tilt forward and back. This worked out great when removing the transmission and reinstalling. See my pics of the plate and flange. Good luck on your project.
reubengeg

oldnew MB owner

Lito - yea, I think I've come to the right place too.
Reubengeg, Thanks for the info. I know times in the past the Haynes manuals have been pretty generic &, well, almost useless depending on what you need to do. I'll have to pick one up. The pics of the jack are good too, & that's a catchy license plate you have. Thanks again all & I'll let you know when i find a barn to do this in. A driveway in Michigans winter is not always 'user-friendly'....