W124 gearbox question.

[neilrr]

A friend's gearbox on his 1990 300TE-24 will not engage at normal idle, just bogs the car down. The car will take off with squealing tyres if you rev it high & then put it in drive (which has got to be hard on the thing!)

What could the problem be?
The gearbox number is 722359 03 456898.

If it's a big problem would it make more sense to find a good used gb & install it?

I don't know if that's a hard to find gb or if there are millions of them around. Is it the same gb as found in all 3 litre W124s?

 

[Stratman]

Low fluid. I had exactly the same on an old Daimler 250 V8. It made entering a busy road interesting as I could never tell exactly when the 'box would engage.

 

[ADY1983]

These Gearboxes are a nightmare when they go wrong I was told not to bother trying to get mine fixed, as it’s not worth it, I did get a price for recon though only £1200.00

The boxes are the same as in they will all fit but ratios are different so its best to get one the same if you can, I managed to find one the same it took a while though, they are available at most Merc breakers if your willing to pay upwards of £300 plus you fitting time costs etc.

EDIT:- Obviously check fluid etc. how does the car drive once its going?

 

[neilrr]

I haven't seen the car yet but I assumed he'd check the fluid first.

I'll probably see it tomorrow.

Yes, once it's moving it seems to be fine, just a bitch to get moving.