What trans. model number is '84 500sel EURO?

My W126 500sel Euro transmission does not have any numbers after the 126 271 2301 to indicate if it is a 722.0, 722.1, 722.3 does anyone know how to tell what 722 this euro is?

For anyone else who's interested, the number appears at the very, very bottom of the trans. my number was 722.311

[fz500sel]

Hi Woody,

How does your Hydro-pneumatic suspension work? Supposedly when this system is working at its optimum, it is smoother than conventional shocks and struts.

I have never been in a car that rides like this one with the hydraulic suspension. I wanted to buy another S-class Mercedes so I went shopping for one. I drove everything from the newer (92 up to 2000) to many 560sel's, but they all rode like crap compared to this one. I had to drive with my huge German Shepard to Oregon, three times from San Diego. The first two times I rented new Lincoln Continental and Town cars. My dog was uncomfortable in both. The last time, I took him in the 500sel and he loved it. Nuff said! So, I keep fixing it. In fact I have enough spare parts to build an additional car, except for suspension parts, which I would buy new. BTW, the guy who owned it before me spent $3500 replacing almost all the suspension parts because he put the wrong hydraulic fluid in it. I have replaced the rest at fairly reasonable prices. The big problem I had was with a tiny little filter inside a valve which sits on top of the reservoir. It was clogged and no one knew this could cause such problems. My son, a computer tech was convinced it was something simple, so I kept looking until I found the filter inside the valve. Mercedes had to have one made for me special in Germany and it still was only $5. Now I have factory suspension manual translated into english for future reference.

[fz500sel]

I have a manual also but it is just a photocopy and the pics are dark and hard to see sometimes.

Do you do the work yourself on the suspension? I'm tempted to try but it seems a little complicated. My Euro 500SEL rides like a bicycle with too much air in the tiresd. It is harsh and you feel every bump in the road.

Yes, I do all my own work. No one here in AZ seems competent and/or they are crooks. Sorry, but that's the way it is here. You may be the person who told me about the manual in the first place. Isn't harsh ride usually caused by the gas cells? It would be well worth the effort and expense, if you can afford it, to get the proper ride which is nothing short of fantastic. I have driven over roads in the 500 and later in another car and couldn't believe how bad the road was! You don't feel anything, yet the car is solid as a rock, no wallowing, and good handling with the bigger wheels and tires from the newer w126. Good luck and let me know how you make out. If you need any help, let me know.

[fz500sel]

Thanks Woody.

Have you ever replaced the cells? I've been told that they are the most common thing to go and that they last on the average about 5 years. Supposedly the spheres lose their nitrogen and are replaced by the hydraulic fluid and since there is no longer any gas to compress all the suspension has is hydraulic fluid and since fluid doesnt compress.....hence the stiff ride.

How much are spheres? Easy to replace?

Your information about the cells is what I have read on this forum also. No, my cells were all replaced before I bought the car. Had the previous owner not gone ahead and had all the new parts replaced, I probably would have not bought the car. My initial reaction was to avoid such a complicated system. Why have all this stuff when springs and shocks are so simple? The answer is THE RIDE! When I took a course in vehicle dynamics years ago, at the Univ of MIch, we learned about suspension frequency- the lower the frequency the better the ride. You can only go so low with springs by making them very long and compressing them a lot, etc. However, oil allows you to go much lower, say 60 to 40 cycles per second, I don't remember, but it is significant. The new MB uses air, probably cheaper, to get a lower frequency also. Very easy to replace I am told however. Wouldn't it be cheaper in the long run to replace the cells rather than pay the chiropractor for back adjustments and the dentist to replace your fillings? Keep me posted.