1985 300D. The crack is in what I guess would be considered the "bellhousing" area. This tranny is a one piece unit but is cracked in an area that would not cause leakage and the crack runs in a direction that probably never would cause a leak.

Is it common for these trannies to develop cracks in them?

Kevin

I don't know the answer to your question but I would just mix up a bead of JB Weld and get it in there just for grins.

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

The bellhousing area of the transmission "contains" most of the torque that the engine puts out. Cracks never get smaller. It will eventually break and you'll get a big surprise.

JB Weld is great stuff, but this application is beyond its capabilities. The trans needs to be changed or, at the minimum, stop drill the crack & weld it up.

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Norm in NJ
Next oil change at 230,000miles

can't tell without more info, like a picture. It could have been caused by a previous bozo - who knows? Is the area under a great deal of stress? If it is you might want to stres relieve it with a very small hole, but if it is not stressed it may be OK. I sure wouldn't yank the transmission unless it's really necessary. My old Chevy Blazer has some horrible gashy hole in the side of the bellhousing from previous bozo that you can put a few fingers through. I've plowed many, many driveways with it., never a problem with trans

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'82 300SD - 361K mi - "Blue"

"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

listen, look, .........and duck.

Norm hit it right on the money!!

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Lenny

There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games. --Ernest Hemingway

'10 GL550/'04 BMW 545/'99 BMW 323/'98 ML320/'87 VW GTI (race)