Mercedes-Benz Transmission

722.3

The Mercedes-Benz 722.3 is a 4-speed automatic transmission with hydraulic shift control.

Years
1979–1996
Speeds
4
Control
Hydraulic
Max torque
392 N·m

The big 4G-TRONIC — Mercedes-Benz’s hydraulic four-speed for six-, eight- and twelve-cylinder cars.

Introduced with the W126 S-Class in 1979 as type 722.3, the W4A040 (and later W4A040 II) replaced the earlier three- and four-speed automatics with a stronger hydraulically shifted four-speed rated to about 392 N·m. A related W4A028 variant served G-Class and other off-road applications. Controls are mechanical and pneumatic — no torque-converter lock-up — and many cars are calibrated to move off in second gear for a smoother take-up.

It backed everything from the W123 280 E to the R129 500 SL and 600 SL, the W124 500 E and the W140 S-Class V8s. From the mid-1990s the electronic 722.6 5G-TRONIC took over, but enthusiasts still rate the 722.3 among Mercedes-Benz’s most durable automatics.

Versions.

Every factory version of the 722.3.

VersionClassificationMax torqueApplications
722.300W4A040392 N·m (289 lb·ft)W123
722.303W4A040392 N·m (289 lb·ft)W123
722.308W4A040392 N·m (289 lb·ft)W123
722.309W4A040392 N·m (289 lb·ft)W123
722.315W4A040392 N·m (289 lb·ft)W123
722.350W4A040392 N·m (289 lb·ft)C126, W126
722.351W4A040392 N·m (289 lb·ft)W126
722.353W4A040392 N·m (289 lb·ft)R129
722.354W4A040392 N·m (289 lb·ft)W124
722.355W4A040392 N·m (289 lb·ft)W126
722.358W4A040392 N·m (289 lb·ft)W124
722.359W4A040392 N·m (289 lb·ft)W124
722.361W4A040392 N·m (289 lb·ft)W126
722.365W4A040392 N·m (289 lb·ft)W124
722.366W4A040392 N·m (289 lb·ft)W124, W140
722.367W4A040392 N·m (289 lb·ft)W126, W140
722.368W4A040392 N·m (289 lb·ft)W140
722.369W4A040392 N·m (289 lb·ft)W124
722.370W4A040392 N·m (289 lb·ft)W124, W140
722.394W4A028275 N·m (203 lb·ft)W463
722.396W4A028275 N·m (203 lb·ft)W461, W463

Version-to-chassis mappings drawn from Mitchell and mbmanuals application charts. Dozens of further 722.3xx spare and market-specific codes exist beyond those listed; W4A028 (.394/.396) is the G-Class off-road calibration.

Applications.

Every model shifted by the 722.3.

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