OM621 190D transmission compatibility
 

Hello, I have a 1959 OM621 diesel engine for a project I'm undertaking. I currently has the manual trans on it. Does anyone know if I can install a later year automatic trans to the engine? If so, which one bolts up without a thousand dollar billet aluminum adapter? thanks for any help, I has been searching the web for a long time, without a confirmed answer.

This will sound a pain. If I was in your situation, I would be drawing a template of the bell housing & going & looking at some later cars at a junk yard. I suspect that a trans off a later 200D may fit. Even a 240D may fit. Is your starter on the passengers side?

Have you a destroyed manual trans in it? An auto would be challenging to drive because of the lack of power.

If I remember right those had the starter on the drivers side and the gas cars like the sl had them on the PS like the 614-617 diesels at that time, But it might or might not work, Someone up in the northeast always has one of each of the early bells on ebay, you just need to get one like in the car and a newer type to make tracings off of.

nothing worse than u spend $$ and only to find out wish u had not switch to an auto trans.

the old 180d must only have 40 hp or so, same reason VW didnt install any autos on their dsl for many yrs after.

I think that any Mercedes transmission with the starter on the passenger side will bolt right up. The factory 4 speed transmission in my 1967 230S bolted directly up to a 1979 OM617.95 5 cylinder turbo diesel engine. The transmissions are very interchangeable with the engines, just as long as you have the proper gear ratios.