W140 Gearbox issue

[Rickyk88]

Hi all

New joiner and new to Mercedes. I've recently been gifted a non-running 1997 S280 with a gearbox issue.

The problem with the original gearbox was that there no forward gears and only reverse. The gearbox was removed and stripped by a gearbox specialist who advised that a full re-build is needed due to water damage and suggested changing the radiator.

I have managed to source another gearbox as the rebuild was going to cost £3k.

To stop the replacement gearbox getting water damaged, am I right in thinking that I should replace the radiator and flush the cooling system to remove any gearbox oil that would have mixed?

I'm guessing that there is a gearbox cooler within the radiator that has failed and let the coolant mix with the gearbox oil? - Car still has the original radiator.

There is a metal pipe that runs along the bottom of the radiator which is rusted so will need to replace that too.

Is there anything else that I should look to change whilst I am there?

Thanks

 

[alexanderfoti]

Yes you will need to remove/replace the radiator. At this age it is probably not in amazing condition anyway.

Some 140's have a seperate gearbox cooler, but some integrated into main coolant radiator.

Those are the main bits.

 

[Rickyk88]

Thank you.

If I can't get a replacement 722.419 gearbox, can I swap with a 722.604 from another S280 if I swap the TCM?

 

[alexanderfoti]

No, the 722.4 and 722.6 are completely different.

If you have a 722.4 you shouldn't have a TCM.

If yours was manufactured after June 1996 it should have a 722.6