What would be the average lifetime/# of miles before rebuild of an '82 240D automatic gearbox?

I'm considering buying one and I need to know how much "life" is left in it at ~200.000 miles. Any advice from members owning such cars would be immensely helpful.

ive heared that if it was properly cared for it should go at least double that. they are pretty bullit proof. the only thing that ive seen go wrong with them is vaccum issues. someone else with more info will chime in probaly

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1983 Euro 240D 277K
2016 Mazda 6
Coming Soon, 2013 Mercedes E350 Bluetec
Formers:
2012- Mazda 3
2007 Outlander- complete pile
1995 E300 Diesel 208K
2007 VW Passat 2.0T 63K SOLD
2003 Jaguar X-type 3.0 Sport Sold 04/11 w/88K
2009 Lexus RX350 9061 miles. Sold 04/09
2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS:Totaled Sept.,09 @ 24,000
2003 Infiniti I35 58K Sold
1984 300 turbo diesel 222K

I have 230k on mine. To my knowledge, it's the origional transmission. When I got the car, I was a bit worried about how much longer the tranny was going to last. After working out the monsterous amount of vacuum discrepancies in the car, it shifts GREAT. No more worries.

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1989 300E 144K

Scratch that: the 240d doesn't have vac controls for the tranny.

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1989 300E 144K

Lots of these trans seem to blow around 200k-250k. Unless the car was driven a ton of highway miles.

258k with the SDL and its getting there, may rebuild it next winter.

240D's may get more mileage out of them because they don't have any power and can't hurt them.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

It can be really hard to know the condition of an automatic if it is shifting good. It could be almost worn out, but there are no outward signs. The good thing is that these are Mercedes Benz automatic transmissions and the quality is excellent and they are overbuilt.

Members of this forum have rebuilt them and there is a guy in Texas that has parts and support. You can get many of the tranny parts here also.

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Doug

1987 300TD x 3
2005 E320CDI

My '83 has vacuum modulation. The original tranny lasted 250k, but after 10k with a turbo engine, it broke.

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'83 240D with 617.952 and 2.88
'01 VW Beetle TDI
'05 Jeep Liberty CRD
'89 Toyota 4x4, needs 2L-T
'78 280Z with L28ET - 12.86@110
Oil Burner Kartel #35

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1...oD/bioclip.jpg

That's the first I've heard that, Old300D. Thanks for clearing that up for me.

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1989 300E 144K

Mine is at almost 400k miles, and still shifts crisp. The transmission is still original. Amazing engineering!

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1983 300TD 315k miles - Work "truck"
1983 300SD 431k miles
1998 VW Jetta TDi 194k miles
Heartless Libertarian

Okay, so maybe I misread something somewhere. I am known for being a little too paranoid at times too. but humour me. your tranny could work fine ostensibly, but one day could just quit on you around 200-250k miles?

Possible. Most automatics start to shift incorrectly first. However, this has more to do with poor maintainance than automatic transmissions. Ours filled with metal shavings --> clogged the front pump --> sheared the tangs off of the torque converter where they enter the front pump. YMMV.

Also, sometimes they will start to slip. I don't think the failure is usually all at once, but it was in our case.

Sure. Its not a MB but my friends Dodge 1500 eat the trans at a stop sign. Shifted perfectly until he stopped, when he hit the gas no go. $2,500 later it works great again!

Usualy MB trans give you a lot of warning, lots of slipping you cannot adjust out. Also if they engage F-R pretty quick they are tight. As they get more full of junk and worn it takes awhile to go from F-R.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

UMmmm. That's good to know. Mine takes a second or two to engage when you shift...

Other than that is seems to work very well. Nice smooth shifts. No slipping. No flaring.

Something in the drive train makes an evil noise when I let off the accelerator quickly after having jumped on it. (Jump on it to pass a car, build up for a couple of seconds, then release the pedal suddenly when you realize you don't have room to pass.) It make a hard thunk. Sounds like it is coming from the rear end or maybe from the back of the transmission.

Ideas?

232K miles. Pretty sure it is the original transmission. Decent records.

-Jim

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1995 S350D, Green with black leather interior.
Bought January 2008 w/ 233,xxx miles.
I did 22,000 miles during the first year of ownership.

According to my records the trans was rebuilt on my 300TD at 220,000 miles.

I will second the idea that highway miles are much, much easier on any transmission. I have a '91 Chrysler Lebaron. The first trans rebuild was at 90,000 miles. I bought it soon after and use it 97% highway. I'm now at 270,000 which is pretty darn good for a rebuilt chrylser transmission.

I'm not sure on nthe W124 you guys have a lot of links and stuff that make up the rear suspension. Sounds like one is getting lose.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200