300sd transmission

[kbpenney]

Can any of you give me an approximate life expectancy on the auto trans in a 300sd?? I'm looking to purchase one with 185k and it shifts fine now. Thanks. FYI the car is in washington state so it has seen it's fair share of hills and traffic. thanks

[kerry]

What year SD? 116SD's had a problem with the ears on the torque convertor shearing off from the incredible torque of a turbocharged 617.

[pawoSD]

Originally Posted by kerry

What year SD? 116SD's had a problem with the ears on the torque convertor shearing off from the incredible torque of a turbocharged 617.

I've never heard of that happening.

That 190ft/lb torque eh.....

[pawoSD]

Originally Posted by kbpenney

Can any of you give me an approximate life expectancy on the auto trans in a 300sd?? I'm looking to purchase one with 185k and it shifts fine now. Thanks. FYI the car is in washington state so it has seen it's fair share of hills and traffic. thanks

Depends on how it has been maintained. A well maintained one that has not been abused could easily last to 300-350k.....some less. My transmission lasted to 281,000.....

If it is well maintained, 185k is low and it still has a long ways to go.

[tbomachines]

Originally Posted by kbpenney

Can any of you give me an approximate life expectancy on the auto trans in a 300sd?? I'm looking to purchase one with 185k and it shifts fine now. Thanks. FYI the car is in washington state so it has seen it's fair share of hills and traffic. thanks

Ask the seller how often he changed the fluid and filter. Also something to keep in mind would be the B2 piston, which has a tendency to fail (lots of info on here about it) and if it has already been replaced with a new unit. As PawoSD said, the transmissions last as long as the engines if properly maintained. Asking for service history is always a good idea.

[Wodnek]

They last forever... until the day they go bad.
The real bummer is that they sometimes give no warning whatsoever.

None of my diesels have toasted a transmission yet (knock on wood) over 300,000 on my 79 300SD, 218,000 on my 87 300TD and 220,000 on my 87 300D. My 85 300D isnt broken in yet with under 150,000 miles.

[John Schroader]

My 300D has 217K and is just starting to have B2 problems. My 300SD has at least 310K (broken odometer) and trans is just great, but I don't know any history on it (whether it was rebuilt)

[kbpenney]

Thanks for the info. According to the owner it has been maintained.

[kerry]

Originally Posted by Lance Newcomb

The W116 models had a low gear torque control valve (same ad the overboost valve) for good reason.

Where is this valve and is there a way to test it's functionality? I'd had to lose my ears.

[pawoSD]

Sounds hard to believe that a 617 could rip the ears off a torque converter.....with a max torque of around 190ft/lbs.....divided by three mount points....that is less than 64ft/lbs per mounting point, and less than 32 per bolt. Weak!