That's funny, between my brother and I we have six Benz auto trannies, varying in age from 32 to 16 years of age, all with more than 200,000 miles on them, and the only problems we have had, are, litterally, two sets of leaking flex hoses to the cooler in the rad and a worn through steel cooler line.

I've personally been driving one or another of these cars for eight years, no tranny problems.

Your's must have been abused in a previous life, since I'm sure you are good about changing the fluid and filter on a regular basis.

Use synthetic tranny fluid next time, it's very nice.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!