Reconditioned Volvo Gearbox

5-speed or 6-speed manual: why the Volvo engine code is the deciding factor

On Volvo models from 2001 to 2016, the model and engine capacity alone are not enough to identify the correct gearbox for a vehicle. It is the engine code — stamped on the block or found in the manufacturer's documentation — that points you to the right part, and sometimes to a different number of speeds for the same engine. Every gearbox in this collection is manual, either 5-speed or 6-speed, with no automated manual or dual-clutch units.

Diesel: D5244T, D4204T and D4162T — three distinct families

The 2.4 D5 is the most widely represented diesel engine in this collection, covered by five codes: D5244T, D5244T4, D5244T5, D5244T15 and D5244T18. These variants span several generations of the V50, XC60, XC70 and XC90; they do not necessarily share the same gearbox, and the numerical suffix of the code is the only reliable way to tell them apart. The 2.0 D4 uses codes D4204T4 and D4204T14, found in particular on the latest-generation V40 and V60. The 1.6 D2 (code D4162T) is fitted to more recent V40 models and takes a specific gearbox that is not interchangeable with D5 or D4 blocks.

Petrol: B4164, B4184 and B4204 — codes not to be confused

On the petrol side, four codes structure the range. The 1.6 T3 carries code B4164T3 and the 1.6 naturally aspirated version carries code B4164S3 — two similar codes, two different parts. The 1.8 (B4184S11) applies mainly to the S40 and C30 from the early part of the period. The 2.0 T4 Drive-E (B4204T, formerly B4204T47) represents the most recent generation in the collection, fitted to the V40 and XC60 from around 2013 onwards. The gearboxes associated with these petrol engines are mostly 6-speed, though some 5-speed versions remain for engines built before 2010: checking the engine code before placing any order is essential. The collection covers eight models — V40, V50, C30, XC60, V60, XC70, XC90 and S40 — with reconditioned gearboxes available on an exchange basis or as a rebuild of the customer's own unit, depending on the reference.