Hi all,

Just wondering about this, I am new to mercedes as well as autoboxes, I have been reading the manual for my W210 E300 I am picking up this weekend, if I am correct it has a 722.6 autobox.

I noticed in the manual when looking at the different settings for the box eg 1,2,3,4 and D. It states that for D it is best for optimal driving conditions and setting '4' is good for 'performance driving' as stated in the book. This makes sense as D uses all 5 gears with 4 just using 4 gears.

Just wondering how much difference it makes between the 2 settings and if anyone has had a go with 'performance driving' with the box in setting 4?

Just curious!

you are correct in your thinking, the lever when moved to 4 will only allow the transmission to shift to 4 and not engage the overdrive gear.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

You have the one on the right.

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CENSORED due to not family friendly words

Thanks for the replies, am I correct that running in 4 would yield better performance as it will keep it in 4th until it runs out of revs? I am guessing that if my transmission is the right option of the 2 with the higher gearing ratios it would be better for acceleration in 1st to 3rd gears?

From memory 5th gear allows the transmission to lock-up avoiding any loss of power from TC.

That was my understanding but it was a while back.

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David


1996 Mercedes S124 E300TD - 129k - rolling restoration project -

1998 Mercedes W210 300TD - 118k (assimilated into above vehicle)

it would be best to leave it in D, that way the torque converter clutch application remains at its best. Its not like a switch that you find in other cars, this one is variable.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

AFIK the 722.6 can lock up in 3rd, 4th and 5th as well 1st and 2nd for engine braking. 6 solenoids and 12 valve gearbox is a beautiful thing. The main reason I got a 97 over a 96.

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CENSORED due to not family friendly words

What year is the car?

For a 722.6 :
Running in 4 just prevents the 4 -5 - 4 - 5 up down up down, if you are in and out of the throttle a lot and won't be holding a steady speed but it won't affect what 1 through 4 does.

There is a W / S switch on the shifter box. W has the trans start out in 2nd and maybe a different shift speed. S has the trans starting out in 1st.

These trans have an adaptive controller that will hold a lower gear with you lift the throttle rather than up shift if it sees that you have been on the off the throttle with some regularity.

W also makes reverse taller IIRC.

The 722.6 really is a nice driving transmission. On the 2002 I drove I found leaving it in D was all I needed to do, the fuzzy logic did a good job of picking the correct gear / sport factor.

-J

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1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

Its a diesel and will never, ever be an E55 of the same vintage. Good torque and fun torque, but cant compete horsepower wise. Get over it, get a gasser with a bigger engine, or get something newer like my 09 bluetec with more of everything. Compared to an E65, my Bluetec is still more like a '65 VW bug.......paddle shifters rock.

Floor the E300, hit the kick down button, and hold it down and if you are already rolling it will downshift as many gears as the current speed will allow and will then rev to ~5200 RPM in each gear before it up shifts. Usually by 3rd or 4th gear you are running out of road and will let off.

"W" setting starts out in 2nd and up shifts earlier to reduce torque. Useful in winter driving in snowy/slippery conditions, not much else.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

When you get your car, you may find that the shift sequence seems strange if an old person had the car. The transmission can learn the way you like to drive, so search out the adaptive re-education procedure so it can learn how you like to drive. It made a world of difference on our car.

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'97 E 300 D

Huh, that is interesting and so I googled it. So I can train my trans...I did not know this thanks. This seems to be the procedure and I am now wondering if others have tried it?

"Post-Graduate" Education for your 722.6X Transmission - Mercedes-Benz Forum

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Treetops
06 E320 CDI 127K Miles
87 300TD 231K Miles

99 E300 269K Miles-Sold

I found the W setting nice for creeping in traffic too, it avoided constant 1-2-1-2-1 shifts.

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1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

Thanks for all of these comments, the car is a 1997 so i'm not sure what differences there were between the years (again new to all of this!).

I have researched into the 722.6 box, I know of the issues with the conductor plate and the gearbox plug leaks. I have also researched into the procedure to reset the adaptive gearbox settings as I saw that it adaptors for either performance or economy depending on how you are driving it within the first 40 shifts or so.

I also know of a gearbox controller which allows for a different shift pattern and I think I have also seen someone fit a paddle shift to one of these boxes - I guess its just like an ECU remap in that respect.

I will get the 722.6 replacement parts - eg the conductor plate for the valve body as well as the plug as a precaution, they aren't expensive and I would rather have them to hand if I do have shifting issues at some point.

Thanks for the comment about using the Winter setting in traffic, I think in other cars it can be marked as a 'comfort' setting as it does start in 2nd for a smoother pull away.

Am I correct that this gearbox doesn't have a Bowden cable like before? I guess as its being actuated via solinoids and electronic signals its no longer needed etc?

Just had another quick research into the box, seems as there was an upgrade in 2001 with the C32 AMG box, the box is also called a NAG1 box and it seems that as these are used in more powerful US cars for Dodge and Chrysler there are upgraded valvebodies available.

I will see what my box is like, I will be swapping out the fluid anyway after buying a dipstick for it - will look into upgrading to an AMG box with perhaps upgraded valvebodies in the future.