E-Class autobox types and servicing

[brandwooddixon]

As I am currently going through the expensive task of having a gearbox replaced. I was just wondering about the various types of gearbox fitted to the E-Class series, W210 and after.

Can anyone tell me what the various types are in relation to car model and also when MB started to stipulate that they should have an oil change every 30,000 miles or so?

For example, I believe that my W210 has a 722 something and supposedly sealed for life, with no service interval stipulated.

Basically I'm wondering why later series W211 etc have a gearbox service interval and whether this should have been applied retrospectively, so to speak, to earlier vehicles.

 

[BlackC55]

Most of the 210's have a 722.6 box in them. The early 210's had the S and E box fitted. Your will have a 722.6 box as most MB's have. The early 211's had the 722.6 and the 7 speed boxes are 722.9 and are very different.

The miliage interval is very hazy for replacement. I tend to recomend every 40k.

 

[Aussie Nick]

What happened with the old gear box Chris? Can you explain some of the symptoms so that we may know what to look for.

 

[brandwooddixon]

So early 211s had the same gearbox - did they have a service interval stipulated for the gearbox?

OK here's a full run down on the symptoms which occured on the day of failure.

When stationary and in drive, there was noticeable lag between depressing the accelerator to move away and drive being applied to the wheels. This gave a thump through the transmission as if someone had hit the back of the car. It was more noticeable when attempting to move off quickly. There was no thump or delay when moving off gently.

I did notice a thump and drive lag if I only stopped for a second and then went to pull away - say when approaching a roundabout and pausing momentarily before continuing.

I wondered if there was transmission noise when driving (whining) but couldn't be sure.

Final faillure. Went to pull away sharpish at some lights. Lots of noisey metallic clanking from the gearbox, which was worse in drive and neutral than in park. Drive to the back wheels was intermittent, almost as if someone was putting an iron bar into the transmission.

Fault - idle gear set bearing failure -apparantly a known problem as the design was later changed. As it breaks up parts then jam the rest of the gearset, causing the gearbox to self destruct.

Prevention: yearly servicing would help, comment from the autobox people "replace the gearbox oil as often as you would the oil for the engine, it works a lot harder after all."

 

[BlackC55]

So early 211s had the same gearbox - did they have a service interval stipulated for the gearbox?
OK here's a full run down on the symptoms which occured on the day of failure.

When stationary and in drive, there was noticeable lag between depressing the accelerator to move away and drive being applied to the wheels. This gave a thump through the transmission as if someone had hit the back of the car. It was more noticeable when attempting to move off quickly. There was no thump or delay when moving off gently.

I did notice a thump and drive lag if I only stopped for a second and then went to pull away - say when approaching a roundabout and pausing momentarily before continuing.

I wondered if there was transmission noise when driving (whining) but couldn't be sure.

Final faillure. Went to pull away sharpish at some lights. Lots of noisey metallic clanking from the gearbox, which was worse in drive and neutral than in park. Drive to the back wheels was intermittent, almost as if someone was putting an iron bar into the transmission.

Fault - idle gear set bearing failure -apparantly a known problem as the design was later changed. As it breaks up parts then jam the rest of the gearset, causing the gearbox to self destruct.

Prevention: yearly servicing would help, comment from the autobox people "replace the gearbox oil as often as you would the oil for the engine, it works a lot harder after all."

Not that I can remember

 

[Aussie Nick]

Any Chance of a DIY thread on a full gear box replacement??????
Only Kidding;-)

 

[BlackC55]

I am replacing one very soon.

Will take some pics.

 

[Aussie Nick]

Excellent.Look forward to it.

 

[jberks]

Prevention: yearly servicing would help, comment from the autobox people "replace the gearbox oil as often as you would the oil for the engine, it works a lot harder after all."

Sounds a bit excessive to me but at the same time, the sealed for life thing was equally daft. I don't believe they ever resolved this one during the lifetime of the 210. In fact I'm pretty sure my 211 was sealed for life when it was built (04) but the dealers have clearly been given new instructions since as mine came up as needing a change at 45k when they ran it through the computer.

Generally it's regarded as a solid gearbox and failures under 100k with no changes and well over 100k with regular (40k changes) are rare afaik.

 

[Aussie Nick]

I have to agree with jberks Chris. The gear box oil is not subjected to and in close proximity to carbon burning..I think the 210 gear box failures were more due to metal fatigue than lubrication