Reasonable life span of a w124 tranny.
 

Just curious, that's all.

it seems by some accounts on this thread, they last 100k miles to 300k.

i'd like to know some experiences.

I think they last 100-300k :) I've seen them go longer and seen them die sooner, most die toward the end of the second hundred k. Atleast the ones we see die.

I got 137 k miles out of mine before its rebuild.

Mine started acting funny at around 140K until indie changed the coffee-colored fluid with fresh fluid. Car recently turned 160K.

100k to 300k describes the mileage range of perhaps 95% of the W124s out there, so it's not such a meaningful number.

Data that most die toward end of second hundred K describes a pretty good transmission, I'd say. I'd best most needed some work before then just to stop leaks, however.

A chum of mine has an '87 300E with ~140K on it now, OE trans...

Both of my diesels are on OE trans too.

W124 Transmission Life
 

Use synthetic trans fluid, change every 30,000 miles, and make sure you drain the torque converter. Trans should last a LOOOOOOOONG time.

I think you've got to be fairly abusive to blow one out at 100k but many people are. Don't use it as an emergency brake, don't shift into reverse while moving forward, or vice versa, change the fluid/filter every 30k, drive reasonably, and you should get at least 200k. Of course 722.6s are a different matter.

My 1991 300CE is at 135m, so far so good. My indie thought high 100's was typical. He also added that a rebuilt is routine and not too much of a backbreaker $$ wise.

glenmore
1991 300CE
2000 C280
1990 LS400

My 91 300e has about 250k miles on it. Has had synthetic in it since 130k miles and was always serviced every 30k miles.

It continues to work well.

Haasman

My former '90 300E had 175K when sold. Transmission was fine. My '92 300E has 232K, and shifts exactly like it did at 113K when I bought the car. Fluid and filter every 30K.

I subscribe to this bit of logic. What wears out a transmission is shifting. The shifts per mile for my driving situation are low. Around 90% of the miles are long interstate trips of roughly 8 hours. No wear occurring if it's not shifting.

Steve

I have a 90 300E with 230,000 miles on it. The engine was replaced with a new-rebuild engine, 20,000 miles ago. The tranny still runs like a champ. Change fluid/filter every year.

My 91 300D 2.5 has 160,000 on it an runs like a champ also.

I currently have 90K on my car, and I'd like to get as much mileage as possible out of my tranny. Is the consensus here to replace the fluid and filter every 2 years/30K miles?

I think SOFTCONSULT is hitting on the right idea: How many shifts per mile.


Or put it another way, I would not buy a used car that lived in a downtown metro area if I could buy the exact same car that resided in say an out lying area.

To say simply by time is not enough in my opinion.

Also, I always use MBZ approved filter kits, Synthetic ATF and if there is ANY problem with the trans I go after repairs immediately.

Haasman

124 Transmission Life
 

I have an '87 300E with 175K. Shifts like a dream. Had to reseal twice but otherwise I change fluid/filter every fall at the end of the hot summer. I believe that heat will also shorten the life. We live in the California low desert. 115F is very common during July-August.
Anziani

'87 300E 175K
'91 190E 147K
'95 E420 90K