I am getting ready to remove the transmission from my 300E.
I am trying to figure out a way of lifting the car high enough so that i can pull the transmission under it.
I have calculated that the I need 23" clearance from the ground.
Question is how do i lift the car that high? I have three hydraulic 3 ton jacks and four jackstands as well as a pair of ramps about 7" tall.
Can anyone who has done the jod offer any input ?
Thanks in advance.

I just pulled a transmission from a 123 and perhaps it is different and maybe you will need a few more inches but all I did was jack up the car about 18 inches, I used 4 heavy duty jack stands and I had plenty of room to pull the transmission and the differential and the axles and the drive shaft...I left the front of the drive shaft attached to the transmission...maybe you can recheck your calculations...and it is easier to pull the engine with the transmission attached if you can't get to the top bolts connecting the transmission to the engine...in that case you will need to completely remove the drive shaft.....but if you are just removing the transmission use your floor jack to let the transmission down and then pull the jack out from under the transmission...Jim

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James A. Harris

Thanks James, the way i figure out 23 inches is by adding the height of the transmission housing which is 18" to the height of my transmission jack which is about 5". So I get a total of 23". But if i do not use a transmission jack then how do I lower the transmission and how do i lift it back up during assembly?
It is very heavy about 150-170 lbs.
How did you lower it and lift it back up?

You can but wood blocks under the jacks.

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1992 Mercedes-Benz 400E
2002 Mercedes-Benz ML500

I usually let it down with the jack and then I pull the jack out from under the transmission, slowly and carefully with a couple helpers to balance the trans...I usually pull towards the rear of the transmission and let the large end down first and when the large end touches the floor I complete pulling the jack out...I will measure my jack stands tomorrow...I am using a set from a auto repair shop and they might be taller..

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James A. Harris

A 2 1/2 to 3 ton jack under the front crossmember (behind the oil pan) with a 4x4 chunk of wood so you get 4" extra lift.

Then jack it up to max travel.

Place 2 appropriate height jack stands under frame rails (behind the curve).

Place jack under the tranny pan, raise slightly

remove flex disc and driveshaft

remove crossmember and mount bolts

remove jack

get a stout cardboard box and place 2 smaller boces inside

place them underneath the tranny pan

remove all bellhousig bolts

remove dipstick

remove tranny cooler lines

pry on bellhousing and push tranny back, it will fall on the boxes crumpling them, but will land softly.

pull put by tugging on cardboard


drink massive quantities of Belgian beer

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1982 300SD (214 k, excellent shape) kidmobile running mostly biodiesel, gets 31 mpg hwy with 2.82 rear from a euro 500SEL



1976 115 body 240D 4-speed (traded for Jeep parts) - Engine lives on in my CJ7

Thanks guys. Dropping down the old tranny seems fairly easy. But how do I lift the new transmission up to mount it?

Do I push it under the car and then put it on the jack or what?

as long as the engine is in place you will have to wrestle your transmission or use a hoist...good luck...

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James A. Harris

These trannys only weigh about 75 lbs, so they can be moved about fairly easily. When putting it back in, use a floor jack to lift, balance and guide by hand. Use a floor jack with the largest pad you can find. Be sure to line up the torque converter to the flexplate. I did my 84 this way recently and it was not too bad.

If you are swapping torque converters, be carefull when putting it in the new trans. They can appear to be seated when they really aren't.

I am using industrial jack stands...they go up to 27 inches....maybe you can borrow some from a friend....goodluck...Jim

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James A. Harris