Hello all,

I've got a 1971 300SEL 3.5 with the 4-speed automatic. The car isn't in front of me right now... I was wondering what the part# was for the 4-speed available on the '69-'71 300SEL and 280SE with the 3.5 V8. Thanks ahead.

-S

<<4-speed available on the '69-'71 300SEL 3.5>>

3.5 on 300sel did not come out until 1970.
That would be a 722.000 trans

Okay... I'm confused then. I thought the 722.000 was the 3-speed on the 4.5L cars. My research shows the 722.000 on '72-'73 280SEL 4.5s... and I'm pretty sure they were all 3-speed by then (4-speed on a Mercedes V8 was a rare bird before the 80s).

So... if the 4-speed on the 3.5 cars was 722.000, what # was the 3-speed on, say, a 280SEL 4.5?

-S

http://catalog.eautopartscatalog.com/mercedesshop/sophio/wizard.jsp?partner=mercedesshop&clientid=catalog.mercedesshop&baseurl=http://catalog.peachparts.com/&cookieid=1W70PZW4N2000D2INZ&year=1970&make=MB&model=300-SEL-004&category=J&part=AT+Gasket+Set


http://catalog.eautopartscatalog.com/mercedesshop/sophio/wizard.jsp?partner=mercedesshop&clientid=catalog.mercedesshop&baseurl=http://catalog.peachparts.com/&cookieid=1W70PZW4N2000D4LSV&year=1972&make=MB&model=280-SE-002&category=J&part=AT+Gasket+Set

The 3.5 had a 4-speed until 1972. The motor appeared in 69 outside the US. The "1971-only" info is strictly for US delivered cars. -CTH

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http://www.111lakeside.com/

So... the '72 280SE 4.5 also had a 4-speed? I though all the 4.5s were 3-speed.

Sorry for the continued questions... I just want to be clear on this.

-S

I believe thay start out in 2nd gear unless you step on the kick-down or hold the shifter down.

All 4.5's have a 3-speed auto. The 3.5 had a fluid-coupling 4-speed auto replaced in the 4.5 with a torque-converter unit.

__________________
Current:
2021 Charger Scat Pack Widebody "Sinabee"
2018 Durango R/T

Previous:
1972 280SE 4.5
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited "Hefe", 1992 Jeep Cherokee Laredo "Jeepy", 2006 Charger R/T "Hemi"
1999 Chrysler 300M - RIP @ 221k

< Chassis: 109.057
Trans Type: 4 Speed
Trans: 722.000

Model: 300SEL 4.5 >>

it's easy to remember, as there are exactly 3 rules...

- All the 3.5 motors were mated to 4-speed automatics until 1973.
- All the 3.5 motors after that change point were mated to the same 3-speed transmission as the 4.5
- All the 4.5 motors were mated to 3-speed automatics always.

-CTH

__________________
- cth350@gmail.com
http://www.111lakeside.com/

Now we're getting somewhere...

So how is it possible that the links in Arthur's post above show the same 722.000 transmission for the '70 300SEL 3.5 and the '72 280SE 4.5? Shouldn't the former be a 4-speed and the latter be a 3-speed? Is 722.000 a 4-speed or a 3-speed?

-S

That was from a tranny parts house.


To make sure which tranny one has, the trans type # is stamped into the casing on the right side , just above the pan gasket parting line...

I have a trans book here and will look these up and post the results..just got to get to it.