Cheap Mercedes-Benz SL Gearbox Mount

Yes, all generations of the Mercedes-Benz SL have a gearbox mount — it is a rear-wheel-drive grand tourer across every generation, so the gearbox is physically mounted in the car and secured via rubber mounts to the bodyshell or subframe. Whether your SL has a manual or automatic gearbox, the mount exists on both configurations. This is a genuine wear item and used examples are regularly available from breakers.

The R107 ran from 1971 to 1989 and the R129 from 1989 to 2001 — these are completely different generations with different engine and transmission packages, so the gearbox mounts are not interchangeable. Engine code is the critical factor here, and even where engines were shared across eras, mounting geometry typically changed. Confirm compatibility with the breaker using your registration or VIN before ordering.

The R230 ran from 2001 to 2011 and the R231 from 2012 to 2022, and these are distinct generations with different platform architecture, so their gearbox mounts are not the same. Even within each generation, the mount can vary depending on engine code — for example, a V8-engined SL500 and a V12-engined SL600 may use different mounts. Always quote your engine code (found on your V5 or via a VIN check) to the breaker so they can match the correct part.

Trim or badge designation on its own does not determine the gearbox mount — what matters is the engine code fitted to your car, which is the mechanical reality behind the badge. An SL400 and an SL500 use different engines and will likely use different mounts, whereas two cars carrying the same badge but built in different years may also differ if there was a mid-production change. Get the engine code from your V5 or a VIN check and give it to the breaker so they can confirm the right mount for your car.

The gearbox type does affect the mount, because a manual gearbox and an automatic gearbox have different casings, dimensions, and weight distribution, so their mounts are engineered differently. Most modern-era SLs — particularly the R230 and R231 — were overwhelmingly automatic, but earlier generations such as the R107 and R129 were available with manual transmissions, and the mounts are not interchangeable between the two types. Tell the breaker both your engine code and your gearbox type to ensure you get the correct mount.

It is possible that mounting specifications changed during a generation's production run — for example within the R230 (2001–2011) or R231 (2012–2022) — without a formal facelift necessarily marking the boundary. Because these mid-production changes can be difficult to pin down without checking against a specific registration, you should confirm with the breaker by providing your full registration or VIN so they can verify the mount matches your exact build date and engine code.