From what I have recall, MB has always used ZF or Getrag trannies, and the one on the 240D is TX-18 from ZF. The 5 speed is G-18 from ZF.

I'll tell you this about MBZ manuals: after one look at the gears in the MBZ 4speed (its a cast iron)I have, it looks significantly more robust than the old Chevy 3-spds that I flogged senseless as a teenager with a 283 4bbl and 4.26:1 rear end. I split spider gears in the differential of that truck but never did anything to the tranny.

These diesels don't make anywhere NEAR the torque/HP that engine made and they have a better tranny. Quit worrying about the immense POWER of the 617 beating up that MBZ tansmission. It isn't gonna happen.

FWIW, my current transmission does have some problems (I think). It has a bad harmonic vibration at 1600 RPM in 3rd and 4th gear which, I think, is worn layshaft bearings. But, the thing you have to remember is that the donor was in a JUNKYARD! That car had been whipped bad...the rubber in the center driveline support was MIA and, from the damage to the metal ring from the shaft flailing around inside, it was apparent that the car had been driven like that for a while too. That a gearbox will take that kind of abuse and still function is testament to their robust construction.

Someday soon, I'll swap the tranny from my parts car (a running 240D when a failed harmonic balancer) and see if that fixes the vibration.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

FWIW-The cast iron, 3-piece transmisssion has a '115' part number cast into the side of it...I know that's not the part number of the transmission, probably just the housing/case.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Yikes!
Guess I'll stick with the automatic.

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Think Alternative Energy!
300CD '80 (now gone but not forgotten...)

out bid again I bid 4 times quite at $500

I was tempted to bid on it when it was in the $500 range. The selling price is way too rich for my budget.

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012