convoyduel Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 Does anyone have word on the Mack M Drive transmission? I'm contemplating a new CHU and curious about the M Drive's experience thus far. I had terrible luck with the '04 CHN613's with the AC427's. I was hoping to avoid that kind of experience again. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/22502-m-drive-and-mp8/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackdaddy Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 I took a drive at the Mack customer center with one and I will say it was very impressive. It was quite a nice ride!! Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/22502-m-drive-and-mp8/#findComment-96867 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MackMann85 Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 MP8+mDrive is probably one of the most popular highway combos being sold right now. the transmission just had its ten year anniversary from when it was first introduced Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/22502-m-drive-and-mp8/#findComment-96894 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mackpro Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 Our sister store sold 15 to a customer and after a month the customer ordered 15 more. I cant remember if it was a 415 or 445 MP-8 but all did have the M-drive trans and small sleeper. I can get the specs if you want. Customer reported 7+ MPG and some in the 8 MPG range. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/22502-m-drive-and-mp8/#findComment-96896 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Higgy Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 (edited) I'll chime in here. I just joined this forum and I feel like I'm posting all over the place.. as if anyone cares what I have to say...I like the mDrive, also known as Volvo iShift. The only difference that I am aware of is that Volvo uses a shift knob mounted next to the driver's seat and Mack has a dashboard mounted shift pad. They pull hard. They do get good fuel economy. A week or so ago I happened to check the fuel trip history on a Volvo VN with an iShift and 475HP D13 (which is a green MP8) and according to the ECM it was getting 8.1mpg. It's kinda cool to sit there and do nothing except hold the throttle on the floor and let it do it's thing. I have only driven one mDrive so far but with a Volvo you can you can hold down the engine brake switch and slow to a crawl from 65mph just hitting that one switch. It works smooth. I think it is the smoothest operating automated truck transmission ever. It's years and years ahead of any Eaton Autoshift that I know of. Maybe Eaton has something in the works, I don't know. They better if they intend to compete with Volvo. The iShift has been in the Volvos for several years now and I do not remember seeing a major iShift failure come through our shop. The only times I can think of an iShift with a problem in our shop were just air leaks from around where the ECU mounts on top of the case and we've replaced a couple iShift ECUs. The only campaigns I can remember on it were just software updates. It's pretty cool to see inside because you look down inside the case and there's not much there. It's a single counter shaft design.I still would not have one if I was an owner operator.This should be an interesting read if you are interested in the mDrive. Someone please let me know if this file doesn't work. It was too big to upload so I had to compress it.mDrive - Design and FunctionPV776-88979192.zip Edited January 10, 2012 by Higgy Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/22502-m-drive-and-mp8/#findComment-97448 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mack 3P Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I know it's not a MP8. But if a M-drive can handle a MP10...Article about Aus MP10 Titan with M-Drivehttp://www.truckinli...p10-first-driveDailyTelegraph_171211 (2).pdf Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/22502-m-drive-and-mp8/#findComment-97910 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olivetroad Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I'll chime in here. I just joined this forum and I feel like I'm posting all over the place.. as if anyone cares what I have to say...Hey - Folks care what you have to say - when you can't find someone to brag on you, just go ahead and do it yourself! Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/22502-m-drive-and-mp8/#findComment-97919 Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjh Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 I'll chime in here. I just joined this forum and I feel like I'm posting all over the place.. as if anyone cares what I have to say...I like the mDrive, also known as Volvo iShift. The only difference that I am aware of is that Volvo uses a shift knob mounted next to the driver's seat and Mack has a dashboard mounted shift pad. They pull hard. They do get good fuel economy. A week or so ago I happened to check the fuel trip history on a Volvo VN with an iShift and 475HP D13 (which is a green MP8) and according to the ECM it was getting 8.1mpg. It's kinda cool to sit there and do nothing except hold the throttle on the floor and let it do it's thing. I have only driven one mDrive so far but with a Volvo you can you can hold down the engine brake switch and slow to a crawl from 65mph just hitting that one switch. It works smooth. I think it is the smoothest operating automated truck transmission ever. It's years and years ahead of any Eaton Autoshift that I know of. Maybe Eaton has something in the works, I don't know. They better if they intend to compete with Volvo. The iShift has been in the Volvos for several years now and I do not remember seeing a major iShift failure come through our shop. The only times I can think of an iShift with a problem in our shop were just air leaks from around where the ECU mounts on top of the case and we've replaced a couple iShift ECUs. The only campaigns I can remember on it were just software updates. It's pretty cool to see inside because you look down inside the case and there's not much there. It's a single counter shaft design.I still would not have one if I was an owner operator.This should be an interesting read if you are interested in the mDrive. Someone please let me know if this file doesn't work. It was too big to upload so I had to compress it.mDrive - Design and FunctionPV776-88979192.zipI beleive there is some politics going on with allison and there is no available Mp10 M drive in vocational apps yet So if ya want an M drive in a dump app you can't have it If you want it in a tractor you can!That is straight from the rummor mill Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/22502-m-drive-and-mp8/#findComment-98775 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mackpro Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 From what I have looked up the M-drive is not rated for the MP-10 torque output. We had a customer wanting a MP-10 605 HP with M-drive and we could not get it. Customer wanted big HP and an automatic, he bought a Kenworth with a Cummins and unknow automatic trans. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/22502-m-drive-and-mp8/#findComment-98780 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Register c Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 M-drive is available in both MP8 and MP10 here in AusM-drive in MP8 goes into Tipper Dog ( Dumpers ) with no problems Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/22502-m-drive-and-mp8/#findComment-98816 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackboy Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 hey guys you can realy trust they M-drive here in europe they drive it already for years only the software could be a little bit different than the i -shift from volvo they match the M-drive with the MP 8 or the MP 10 in australia they heva tested the M-drive with the MP 10 685 HP in it and they are very happy with it Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/22502-m-drive-and-mp8/#findComment-99312 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThaddeusW Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 From what I have looked up the M-drive is not rated for the MP-10 torque output. We had a customer wanting a MP-10 605 HP with M-drive and we could not get it. Customer wanted big HP and an automatic, he bought a Kenworth with a Cummins and unknow automatic trans.The M-Drive/i-Shift can handle the full HP output of the Volvo 750HP D16. In fact all of the high HP European engines are only offered with an automated manual transmission. You cant get a 750HP Volvo FH with a manual gearbox. I think that is the case because with all that torque, a simple erroneous gear change or clutch pop would tear the drive line apart. So to reduce the chance of drive line damage, they only offer auto gear boxes. Quote -Thad What America needs is less bull and more Bulldog! Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/22502-m-drive-and-mp8/#findComment-99315 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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