Mercedes-Benz first series automatic transmission

Mercedes-Benz K4A 025

K4B 050 · K4C 025 · K4A 040 W3A 040 · W3B 050 · W4B 025

W4A 018 · W4B 035
Overview
ManufacturerDaimler AG
Production1961–1983
Body and chassis
Class3 and 4-speed longitudinal automatic transmission
Chronology
Successor4G-Tronic

The Mercedes-Benz first series of automatic transmission was produced from 1961 to 1983 in 4- and 3-speed variants for Mercedes-Benz passenger cars. In addition, variants for commercial vehicles were offered.

This transmission was the first Mercedes-Benz automatic transmission in-house developing.[1] Before this, the company used semi-automatic systems like a vacuum-powered shifting for overdrive or the "Hydrak" hydraulic automatic clutch system. Alternatively, they bought automatic transmissions of other vendors, such as BorgWarner.

The automatic transmissions are for engines with longitudinal layout for rear-wheel-drive layout passenger cars. The control of the fully automatic system is fully hydraulic and it uses electrical wire only for the kickdown solenoid valve and the neutral safety switch.

Physically, it can be recognized for its pan which uses 16 bolts.

Gear Ratios[a]
Gear
Model
R 1 2 3 4 Total
Span
Span
Center
Avg.
Step
Compo-
nents
K4A 025 · 1961 −4.145 3.979 2.520 1.579 1.000 3.979 1.995 1.585 2 Gearsets
3 Brakes
3 Clutches
K4B 050 · 1964 −4.145 3.979 2.459 1.579 1.000 3.979 1.995 1.585 3
Gearsets
3
Brakes
2
Clutches
K4C 025 · 1967
K4A 040 · 1969
W4B 025 · 1972
−5.478 3.983 2.386 1.461 1.000 3.983 1.996 1.585
W4A 018 · 1975 −5.499 4.006 2.391 1.463 1.000 4.006 2.001 1.588
W4B 035 · 1975 −5.881 4.176 2.412 1.462 1.000 4.176 2.043 1.610
W3A 040 · 1971
W3A 050 · 1973
W3A 050 reinf. · 1975
−1.836 2.306 1.461 1.000 2.306 1.519 1.519 2 Gearsets
3 Brakes
2 Clutches
  1. ^ Differences in gear ratios have a measurable, direct impact on vehicle dynamics, performance, waste emissions as well as fuel mileage
  1. ^ "50 years of automatic transmissions from Mercedes-Benz".