E320 Gearboxes (124(

[Craneboy]

Can anyone give me an opinion of the 4 & 5 speed auto boxes, ive heard all sorts of things, that the 4 speed is better by a mile, but is the 5 speed really that bad. Is it true that rebuilds are common and the reverse is prone to problems on the 5 speed.

Thanks

 

[television]

It will be the first that I have heard on this, I do not know what others think

 

[jaymanek]

never heard such things either

 

[Bolide]

I've heard people say that the 5-speed isn't as tough as the 4-speed. But as there are relatively few 5-speeds around I don't know what they base their opinion on

The 5-speed is a 4-speed with an electrically-operated overdrive gear. So the bottom gears are the same (albeit probably different ratios) to the 5-speed

A good 4-speed is great and you'd never miss the 5th. But a good 5-speed always seems to be in the right gear and the way it slips down to 4th for overtaking is great. The 5-speeds don't seem to creep when stationary so there may be other differences as well

Given the choice I'd take the 5-speed but I wouldn't feel shortchanged with a decent 4-speed

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[rayhennig]

5 speed: Some issues but basically good

My old 5 speed keeps soldiering on.

Recently, it will sometimes fail to engage reverse. If I switch of completely and re-start, it usually engages. The other day, I tried that and it didn't. So, I left it for about 4 minutes, started again and 'problem solved'. How long for, I do not know.

I cannot help feeling that this problem is linked to the issue of stalling when selecting reverse from drive after some time on the road. Also, it will stall sometimes when coming to a rest after reversing. I'm convinced it's an electrical or electronic intermittent problem.

Overall, though, I am very happy with my five speed and, at 320K KMs (200 K miles) I would recommend a 5 speed to anyone.

All the best to all.

RayH

 

[kth286]

It's the same old story.

There is an extra layer of complication (parts, mechanisms, electics etc) on the 5 speed.

When buying a car which went out of production over 12 years ago and the older 5 speed boxes are now about 18 years old - why would you knowingly choose to have that extra layer of unecessary complication when there is no significant improvement in overall mpg in normal driving.

 

[television]

My old 5 speed keeps soldiering on.

Recently, it will sometimes fail to engage reverse. If I switch of completely and re-start, it usually engages. The other day, I tried that and it didn't. So, I left it for about 4 minutes, started again and 'problem solved'. How long for, I do not know.

I cannot help feeling that this problem is linked to the issue of stalling when selecting reverse from drive after some time on the road. Also, it will stall sometimes when coming to a rest after reversing. I'm convinced it's an electrical or electronic intermittent problem.

Overall, though, I am very happy with my five speed and, at 320K KMs (200 K miles) I would recommend a 5 speed to anyone.

All the best to all.

RayH

There are switches on the selector that increase the idle when going from R or D from N

 

[Craneboy]

gearboxes

Many Thanks for all your inputs.

Tony