The transmission is identical - in fact so are the engines. The 500 was first and the 380 is an underbored 500. The 560 is overbored along with minor stroke differences in the line-up.
The 5Litre first showed up in the 1978 (or so) 450SLC 5.0 EURO only model. This was done in case the thing had to be recalled. Vega gave aluminum engines a bad name and having it in a limited model controlled the scope of any recall. Then when it was decided to release the aluminum engine into the W126 model it was also decided that the US should get a wimp version and Mercedes underbored it to come up with the US 380. EUROs got a heathier 380 since once Mercedes designs an engine for one market the home market gets it too. But NOT the wimp version. That's why in the 80's a EURO buyer could get a V8 in a 380, 420, 500 and 560 SEL. A bit of overkill to say the least but once an engine is in production EUROPE doesn't have the restrictions the US market has.
And as for people saying OH you HAVE to use a 722.xxx bla bla bla... all of the transmissions will bolt up and work. Now if you believe Mercedes cheapened the sprags and bearings on the US wimpmobiles (US380 models) then by all means find a transmission for a EURO 300HP 560SEL!
The 5Litre first showed up in the 1978 (or so) 450SLC 5.0 EURO only model. This was done in case the thing had to be recalled. Vega gave aluminum engines a bad name and having it in a limited model controlled the scope of any recall. Then when it was decided to release the aluminum engine into the W126 model it was also decided that the US should get a wimp version and Mercedes underbored it to come up with the US 380. EUROs got a heathier 380 since once Mercedes designs an engine for one market the home market gets it too. But NOT the wimp version. That's why in the 80's a EURO buyer could get a V8 in a 380, 420, 500 and 560 SEL. A bit of overkill to say the least but once an engine is in production EUROPE doesn't have the restrictions the US market has.
And as for people saying OH you HAVE to use a 722.xxx bla bla bla... all of the transmissions will bolt up and work. Now if you believe Mercedes cheapened the sprags and bearings on the US wimpmobiles (US380 models) then by all means find a transmission for a EURO 300HP 560SEL!
So is that a 'no' then? [;)]
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<img src="http://www.rustynails.co.uk/other/Cars/Benz/w140%20500SE/140Avatar.jpg"><p>'92 500SE...Two CCE competition pumps, 6 inch rams all round and a shed-load of strengthening.<p>'95 S280 - Daily hack<p>'99 A160 Elegance - my lovely wifes new car<p>'77 Mazda 323 (currently being stripped for track use).
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