Mr Split,

The manuals out there are crap compared to 722.6, 722.3-722.1(and parts too..) The 722.5 is "Bald-Headed Step Child that could not play with the other 722's..."

I'm about to rebuild my 722.5 starting this week. I lost reverse, and I drove my 96 S320 for about 1year with no reverse, but when I got the car in 2006 reverse was fine, and one warm day, BANG!!! backing-out of a parking stall loaded with four people; I had no reverse. I have my transmission out, and slightly dissembled.I can concur that I lost gear as the result of the B3 clutch pack not working(not pressurizing). Mine has this exact same problem as in this post:

no reverse / jerks in reverse when cold - Benzworld.org - Mercedes-Benz Discussion Forum

See post 15-the picture of the torn oring which in the center of the B3 in the same picture. This $5 dollar oring is the result of no reverse, the transmission needs to be dropped, torque converter removed, main pump removed, and the B3 is behind the pump. The slamming into gear. I got that a few times like every four months. take a look at post 26-the Master PDF attachment-that is another repair manual for 722.5. Take a look at all the other attachments. I will do a full rebuild on mine, and I'm going to use three sources: ATSG Manual, The Mitchell Manual(see master.pdf), and very good DIY of a 722.1 on this site :

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/304903-722-118-automatic-transmission-rebuild-monster-diy.html

I ordered my rebuild kit(it was $320) from Dacco Transmissions

DACCO Transmission Parts | America's Largest Remanufacturer of Torque Converters

The service diagram is top notch with part numbers:

Automatic Transmission Parts Catalog - DACCO, Inc.

I'm going to change all the soft parts, clutches, torque converter(its only 200 bucks), most of the bearings(roller and bushing), and maybe the planets. Rebuild that valve-body too..

My oil was always gray.It never stayed nice and red, and I was changing it every year(15 to 20kmiles).

I used this process to remove my trany:

Transmission removal -M104_S320 - Benzworld.org - Mercedes-Benz Discussion Forum

To get to the B3 Clutch you need to make a tool. I followed this:

722.5 transmission oil pump rebuid DIY - Benzworld.org - Mercedes-Benz Discussion Forum

I will photograph and video my process, but I will not not post on any site until I'm done, or else it will take a long time. I want to do it while the parts are fresh in my head.

Let me know if you need something?

Best of luck,

Martin