To the point - Want to put a 5spd manual tranny in my 300SE. I am thinking the best way to go about this would be to purchase a beater/parts 300SE 5spd car from germany and ship it over. Put the transmission in my car, as well as other good parts, and then drive off into the sunset without one bruised knuckle.

Seriously.

The complicated part will be getting the car into the US. Obviously the only way this will be economically reasonable will be to skip the registration/conversion process. If the car is never to be driven, is one allowed to just skip that step? Like importing a refrigerator?

I have been to the gov sites but I don't see anything which would answer my questions.

I really believe this conversion would make for the perfect car (in my eyes) and also think it is do-able. May take a while though, but thats OK, I am a patient fellow.

Any advise mechanical or otherwise??

Mike

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'90 300SE 298k
-300K and it gets put into retirement.
'80 300D 255k Purchased new by family in 1980.

Had a:
1973 220 (gas)
1980 300SD
1992 400E