C-class 722.6 transmission

My '99 C280 has a gated shifter and you can manually navigate the gears by working the shifter through the gates. I just got my '00 C280 and it has a different shifter: there is only one Drive position and you navigate the gears by pushing the shifter right (+) to upshift and left (-) to downshift. Does anyone know if this is a different transmission? I have seen this type of shifter setup on E-class cars. One of the reasons I ask is that the 722.6 transmission on the earlier C class cars has a history of problems, at least in the earlier model years. I have heard of these trannys completely failing, requiring replacement, after only 70 some thousand miles.