Just saw a 1982 240D with a 4 speed manual. I have read posts about people swapping in a 5 speed, but assuming it is original, how were the 4 speeds sticks? I have only been looking at autos so far. The shifting seems a bit twitchy on most of them so a manual has some appeal. It isn't a sportscar so I don't NEED a stick, but don't mind them either. Beyond replacing clutch, how reliable are they? Other thoughts or things particular to a 4 speed stick I should watch out for?

-adam

It is nice.

Though, I wouldn't know extensively, the extent of my manny tranny 240D experience goes as far as reaching second gear in a Kohl's parking lot (I was going to buy that car, until I saw all of the rust on the unibody frame rails)

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1982 240D.
My name is Michael, and I am an 18 year old binge-drinkin', cigar-smokin', novel-writin', all around unsavory and unnattractive guy. I tell long-winded stories, and I only shave once a week, although I've had to do it every day since I was 16.

My parents ran a (74) 240D 4sp for 24 yrs, from 17K to 245K -- rebuilt the tranny once. I think they had recently put in the clutch when they sold the car -- making a total of two for those miles ...

I have a 240 5sp, probably essentially the same tranny -- 215K on mine & no issues i am aware of. They shift a bit slow -- no slap shifting -- but precisely. I think it's the only way to run a 240 --- and many people like to put them in 300s.

It's a damn shame too....the interior on that car was absolutely flawless...I looked all around and I could not find anything wrong with the interior.

It's too bad that the guy who was trying to sell it lied and said that the car was in mint condition...the fact of the matter was that I couldn't lift the car with a floor jack, because the rust on the frame would have given away and collapsed.

What a crock.

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1982 240D.
My name is Michael, and I am an 18 year old binge-drinkin', cigar-smokin', novel-writin', all around unsavory and unnattractive guy. I tell long-winded stories, and I only shave once a week, although I've had to do it every day since I was 16.

What's the best way to catch a 5-speed tranny? Scan the market for euro (Grey-market) 240D's as a parts car?

the early fivers offered in the 123 are essentially four speeds with a case added with the fifth gear in it. the fivers offered in the later cars such as the 190 is different. i am not sure if the later fiver was ever offered in the 240 in europe. i suspect is was but dont know if it will bolt to the 616 motor (240d).

the 240 was not offered in the us with the fiver (that i know of). but in other markets it was.

the early fivers are extremely rare. i have one but it is not for sale.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

sure it is, someone just has to offer you enough money for it.

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1982 240D.
My name is Michael, and I am an 18 year old binge-drinkin', cigar-smokin', novel-writin', all around unsavory and unnattractive guy. I tell long-winded stories, and I only shave once a week, although I've had to do it every day since I was 16.

I paid $1500 for my late model (integrated alloy bellhousing) five-speed. But, it also came with a set of Euro headlights, Euro bumpers, bundt cake wheels, decent tires, an OM616 and a perfectly useable W123 1984 chassis attached to it...

I'd say that they are plenty stout. Scan though the forum and somewhere there are pics of a cast-iron 5-speed (essentially the 4-speed with an overdrive tailpiece) in a G-wagen chassis, bolted to a 617.

Additionally, I've been running the cast-iron 4-speed for over a year in my wagon on a bad (I knew this going in) transmission final drive bearing that groans and buzzes but still pushes the car down the road and has for over 30k miles now.

The item in question.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

I've never had ANY problems with a 240D manual transmissin including my '84 Euro 4 speed with 533,000 miles. Same transmission, never been apart, works perfect. Now if the engine only ran.

To me the simplicity, reliability and long life of the 123, 240D manual transmission car makes it one of the very best cars of all time IMHO.

Good luck,

The MB manual trannys that came in the 123s are great. The clutch is easy to replace as are the components, even the clutch master is not too bad if you remove the drivers seat, or if your not old with stiff joints

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

The 4-speed in my 240D is excellent, except for minor stiffness when going into 2nd gear when the transmission is cold. Otherwise the transmission is butter-smooth and the car is a joy to drive. Keep in mind the manual tranny offers noticably better acceleration in the 240D than the auto and generally manual trannys also offer better fuel economy, though I'm not sure if that's the case with the 240D. As far as a 5-speed tranny is concerned, I've thought about what it would be like in the 240D, but I've figured that with only 67 hp I wouldn't be using the 5th gear all that much anyway so I'm fine with the 4-speed.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

I loved the 4-spd manual on my 240d. I put 150,000 miles on it without ever having to change the clutch. The only issue I ever had was the clutch master cylinder cracked, leaking all my fluid out. They are incredibly easy to shift. In fact, I learned to drive a manual on that. To this day, though, I cannot drive any other manual tranmissions with any more skill than a rank beginner.

The only issue I had was that it could have used a 5th gear. At 67 HP, it's on the line, but having the option to shift to 5th would have been nice. Even better, having a 5 speed with different gear ratios would have also been good. At speeds over 65MPH, it started to sound like being inside a jet engine. As Larry Bible says, the 240D with the manual tranmission is about the most reliable vehicle out there. Next to the VW bug, I cannot think of a simpler, more dependable vehicle to drive.

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Casey Cooper
"From a long line of Mercedes ownership"

'86 300SDL 250K miles (Gone, but not forgotten); best diesel I have ever driven, too bad about the Achilles heel.

'81 240D 370K miles (Sold to my brother after 9 years and 150K miles of reliable driving!)

[Five other Mercedes in family clipped for less length.]

On my car I realize that you can't quickly row between gears on the 1-2 shift. If you do, the gears crunch.

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1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k

Defintely. Its not a speed shifter my any means.

But damn that clutch is nice...every time I get in my 240D I want to part with it less and less

Oh well.