Drove the '68 220D for twenty years starting in Dec of 1970 and had to use reverse the first thing every day winter or summer. Can not ever remember it having any issues going into reverse or any other gear for that matter. It definitely had the ATF for the tranny fluid, so if anything it should have had even worse issues about shafts rotating. Had also driven a fair number of other manual tranny equipped cars over the years and this was by far the best one ever for feel and ease of operation. Some of the other trannys would refuse to go into reverse or low now and then, but that was because there were no syncros and the gears were just hitting tooth to tooth.

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1961 190Db retired
1968 220D/8 325,000
1983 300D 164,150

yep. i agree with lycomming

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.