6 Speed Swapping a W210
 

I've been toying with the idea of swapping my E300 to a 6 speed manual from a SLK for slightly better MPG and because who wouldnt like to be able to control the shift points. Found a couple transmissions and have the pedal set up already. It looks like it hasn't been done, all talk but no action on the forums.

Anyone know any issues I might run into? Or what other parts I should grab?

5spd manual has been done.
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/289711-what-wrong-picture.html

Been done on the superturbodiesel forum plenty of times. Going by those, if you are happy with stock-ish power there's a Sprinter single mass mass conversion flywheel and clutch kit apparently that works (for dual mass FW desgined boxes with the short input shafts)

Cool! Wonder if the six speed is physically bigger than the five speed?

It's designed to fit in the same space as the 5spd so not really. What's very different is the shifter linkage. Outside the US, the W210 was sold with either the 5spd or 6spd depending on model year and engine. Most of the W210 CDIs had the 6spd.

Sounds very good then!

In my Jetta wagon with six speed and diesel, the engine is so quiet that I often find myself on the highway cruising along in fourth or fifth gear....not intentionally. At 65 mph I'll be turning about 1400 rpm I believe.

So correct me if I'm wrong, but the 190 manual swap parts basically bolt right up to a 210? Minus the driveshaft of course..!? Why aren't more people doing the swap? I guess because the 722.6 is a lot better than the older boxes?

OM601
OM602
OM603
OM606
M102
M103
M104
M111
All of the above engines share the same bolt pattern and their transmissions are interchangable. My OM603 has an M103 5spd bolted on. Lots of transmission and engine swaps are possible but is it worth the time/money/effort?

I think it will work, Mercedes transmissions of our era are very short and compact, so it shouldn't be too bad.

Its definitely doable, since the factory produced that arrangement for other markets. But probably there's a few reasons why it's not a common swap here in the US.

1. Sourcing parts from overseas. Maybe it can be done with a mix of parts from other US models? Dunno.

2. The swap has not been clearly documented (that I know of) so a prospective swapper will have to do lots of his own research, trial and error, etc. I know if it was clearly documented what parts were required, I'd serious consider doing it. But I'm not willing to take my car out of commission for months or more while I trial-n-error and guess at it. If I was retired and had the free time, I'd start a Kickstarter campaign to fund this, with the participants getting the complete step-by-step HOWTO document and all part numbers needed. :)

3. The w210's are heavy on electronics, especially the later CAN bus equipped years. I'm guessing a DAS/Xentry is required to let the electronics know that the 722.6 is no longer present in the system. Or maybe even a brand new euro market ECU is required, which won't be cheap.

The check engine light makes this untenable for anyone who has to pass an emissions test. CEL illuminated = automatic fail in Virginia anyways.

There are ways around that.

Perks of the southside is no emissions testing! Thank god! God! You must live in northern Virginia, then.

only issue I see is being that my 99 is all canbus electronic, 96 e300s are perfect for it

well i figure the slk230 used a 6 speed, wonder how the ecu would handle it? if the tcus are swappable? also the crosswords came in 6 speed too...