I have a 1976 240D with a 1989 560SL engine and 1987 420SEL transmission in. just installed the replacement trans after destroying the oil pump in the old 722.

put 7.7 liters of Febi fluid and a new OE filter kit in the trans. when hot and idling the fluid on the dipstick is at the top twist on the lower section of the dipstick.

slips under load in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. gets progressively better when the car is being driven and warmed up potentially? reverse is a little more solid but still slips with throttle input. fourth gear, when engaged is solid as a rock. I can hammer down on the healthy 5.5 and no issues.

really feels to me like low fluid even though the dipstick may be reading as full.

anyone have a W126 or R107 owners booklette they can snap a photo of on that page?

I'm hesitant to add more fluid due to potentially causing other issues or damage.

__________________
1992 850i 6 speed
1991 M3 S54B32 swap
2007 328iT/6 RWD sport wagon
1987 325E 330iZHP engine swap
2004 Vespa 200GT
1976 W115 240D getting a much bigger engine. 5.5L
1997 R129 SL600 5AT

bump

__________________
1992 850i 6 speed
1991 M3 S54B32 swap
2007 328iT/6 RWD sport wagon
1987 325E 330iZHP engine swap
2004 Vespa 200GT
1976 W115 240D getting a much bigger engine. 5.5L
1997 R129 SL600 5AT

I just went out and looked at the transmission stick in my 500SEL that has an 87 420 transmission. You said something about the oil being at the "top twist" on the stick. My stick doesn't have any twist in it. There is a wavy section a few inches from the bottom of the stick that keeps the stick center in the tube.
On my stick, the add mark is about 1 inch from the bottom and the full mark is about 1 1/4 in from the bottom. Could you possibly have the stick from the old 240 transmission? It doesn't sound like you have the same stick I have.

PaulM

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84 500 SEL (307,xxx miles)

the stick is from my original 722.3 trans. the 240D was a 4 speed, so I know I at least have the stick that came with the donor car.

does yours have two wave sections? one near the bottom, one near the top?

__________________
1992 850i 6 speed
1991 M3 S54B32 swap
2007 328iT/6 RWD sport wagon
1987 325E 330iZHP engine swap
2004 Vespa 200GT
1976 W115 240D getting a much bigger engine. 5.5L
1997 R129 SL600 5AT

attached is a basic image of the dipstick. circled in red are the two level measuring fields, trans in the upper right, top of tube lower left. the blue line I drew is where the 'twist' is on my dipstick and where the fluid level is when the trans is hot and at idle.

__________________
1992 850i 6 speed
1991 M3 S54B32 swap
2007 328iT/6 RWD sport wagon
1987 325E 330iZHP engine swap
2004 Vespa 200GT
1976 W115 240D getting a much bigger engine. 5.5L
1997 R129 SL600 5AT

2.5:

I agree with pmc on this. The stick from a 722.323 ('86 560 SEL/SEC) has hot low and high marks located at 1.125" & 1.75" respectively, from the bottom end, which is curled into a ring. Irrespective of the overall length (26.75" for the .323) I consider the distance of marks from the bottom end to be definitive, as the overall length will vary with the length of the tube, whereas the position of the bottom end of the stick is held constant.
If the hot fluid level is above the lower wavy section, as you state, the level is way too high.

What Frank said. To add to that, yes my stick looks like the one you pictured. The waves in the stick just keep the stick centered and keep it from rattling around in the tube. If you are at the bottom wave, you are WAY over full. Look at the bottom if the stick about 1.5 inches up and you should see 2 lines. These are the LOW and MAX levels when HOT. Cold level will be below the LOW line about .25 inches or so. Always check with the engine running and in PARK. The gear really doesn't make any difference, it's just that PARK is the safest one to use.

PaulM

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84 500 SEL (307,xxx miles)

Thanks guys! I'll take a closer look and see. sounds like I am definitely over full then. Hopefully didn't do damage to the trans in the process!

__________________
1992 850i 6 speed
1991 M3 S54B32 swap
2007 328iT/6 RWD sport wagon
1987 325E 330iZHP engine swap
2004 Vespa 200GT
1976 W115 240D getting a much bigger engine. 5.5L
1997 R129 SL600 5AT

found the marking on the dipstick, evacuated fluid until it was just below the full mark idling up to temp. trans shifts into reverse more solidly now but still slips in 1st 2nd and 3rd gear.

__________________
1992 850i 6 speed
1991 M3 S54B32 swap
2007 328iT/6 RWD sport wagon
1987 325E 330iZHP engine swap
2004 Vespa 200GT
1976 W115 240D getting a much bigger engine. 5.5L
1997 R129 SL600 5AT

well, I guess I'll try this again.

__________________
1992 850i 6 speed
1991 M3 S54B32 swap
2007 328iT/6 RWD sport wagon
1987 325E 330iZHP engine swap
2004 Vespa 200GT
1976 W115 240D getting a much bigger engine. 5.5L
1997 R129 SL600 5AT

it was just a dud trans. replaced it with another used trans, works much better.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0upjgIf8Xmw

__________________
1992 850i 6 speed
1991 M3 S54B32 swap
2007 328iT/6 RWD sport wagon
1987 325E 330iZHP engine swap
2004 Vespa 200GT
1976 W115 240D getting a much bigger engine. 5.5L
1997 R129 SL600 5AT

replaced trans with another used box. shifts great but leaked from front seal.

pulled it out to replace front seal and found something that looks like a bearing race on the converter -- am I ****ed?







here's my original converter from my first box for reference.

__________________
1992 850i 6 speed
1991 M3 S54B32 swap
2007 328iT/6 RWD sport wagon
1987 325E 330iZHP engine swap
2004 Vespa 200GT
1976 W115 240D getting a much bigger engine. 5.5L
1997 R129 SL600 5AT

You are a seasoned import car guy, but I see a big problem-Toooo Much Blue Moon-Hehehe....

Nice shop....

Now you have two trannies, correct? you have three trannies?

What do each of them have wrong, or which one do you like so far?

We can make a good one?

Martin

I've got three trannies now.

first one has a bad front pump, good in all other ways
second one doesnt leak, good pump but slips badly in all but third gear
third one worked great but leaked, pulled the converter off and found that thing on the converter.

thinking about putting the pump and converter from trans #2 on to trans #3 and shoving it back in the car. hate these things.

blue moon, goose island 312 and New Glarus spotted cow there.

722.350 is garbage apparently.

__________________
1992 850i 6 speed
1991 M3 S54B32 swap
2007 328iT/6 RWD sport wagon
1987 325E 330iZHP engine swap
2004 Vespa 200GT
1976 W115 240D getting a much bigger engine. 5.5L
1997 R129 SL600 5AT

The thing on the converter is the front pump bushing, you need a new front pump and converter