Idiot's guide to Auto boxes in an E300 TD

[pcman_jh]

I'm thinking about swapping my A class for a E300 TD with an auto box, but I like to know what I'm taking on as I've never had an autobox car before.

As a fairly competent DIYer, what's the service requirements of an autobox - is there a clutch plate that can wear like a manual box; Does the autobox transmission oil need regular changing etc; are Mercedes autoboxes bullet proof like their pre-CDI engines etc...

Thanks in anticipation.

 

[Bolide]

Auto boxes

what's the service requirements of an autobox - is there a clutch plate that can wear like a manual box; Does the autobox transmission oil need regular changing etc; are Mercedes autoboxes bullet proof like their pre-CDI engines etc

Just change the fluid & filter regularly. Probably more often than Mercedes recommend. There's nothing else DIY-able in them in my opinion

No auto box is bullet proof. Reckon on a rebuild before 200k


Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Covered 120,000 miles in a 124 series auto and stuck to the recommended service intervals of 36K for trans fluid changes. Box was as good when I parted with the car as when bought.

The E320CDi I am running now has an autobox supposedly sealed for life but I will change the fluid anf filter at 50K. There is no dipstick on this model so a slight fluid loss can be a problem if un-noticed and result in box failure or erratic changes. I would imagine the 300TD uses the same 5 speed box but without the tiptronic (which I never use anyway).
Hope this helps!

 

[tom7035]

Auto-box.

Mine gave up after 130k, but had no available history. I was probably just unlucky. Apparently nothing to do with wear of the clutches or brakebands though, it had been performing impeccably up to that moment, something just broke.

 

[Chazchuzzlewitt]

the 'box in my old 300E was still going strong when I sold it at 200K+ miles. It hadn't been rebuilt and I had no probs with it, apart from fairly hard shifts.