In the USA, the S320's (S-class) that come with a 5-speed were AUTOMATICS bolted to the M104 engine. They also used an electronic controller to place it into overdrive 5th, and these trannys are very weak.

Now if you're talking about the 320SL's from 1990-1992, yes, these are available with a 5-speed manual transmission, and they can be swapped with the 4-speed automatic and HFM M104 engine until about 1995/1996.

Don't forget the driveshaft!

:-) neil

I think I understand. So the five speed automatic in the 94 s320 can be swapped with the five speed manual from the 90-92? I take it we need the driveshaft from the 90-92. That 90-92 driveshaft will couple with the rear axle? This five speed gearbox will bolt on to the 94s320 m104? wow cool.

What about the clutch? Im thinking you just run the hydraulics - slave and master - and bolt it wherever you can. (accessible of course for filling) Drill a hole in the body for the clutch pedal line. bolt in a clutch pedal. It doesnt seem like all that much. Am I missing something?

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94 SL320
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www.KriminalDefense.com

Let's get it straight, are we talking about a 1994 S-class (4-door sedan), or a 1994 SL-class (convertible) ?

In short, it should be any swap, however, I would NOT want to attempt this without having the donor car next to you. There will be some braces and wiring that will need to be done, and there might be a change in the rear-diff flange, so you might need to make a custom driveshaft.

Good luck!

:-) neil

PS: the hardest part is finding the manual 5-speed from the 1990-1992 R129 SL.

I spoke w a guy today (o the convertible sl320) and the guy said that another stumbling block would be the computer and what the transmission signals to the engine as far as needed power.

Bs? partially true? not at all?

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94 SL320
71 porsche 911S


www.KriminalDefense.com

If he's talking about the newer electronic 5-speed (1996+) then he's correct.

But if you have a post 1996 5-speed, a proper MB tech can disable the blackbox that does the shift into 5th, and still put in the 5-speed manual.

:-) neil

Its a 94. I know im gona regret it but im gona go ahead and have the cheesy automatic rebuilt. Maybe in the mean time Ill start looking for that five speed so when it goes out in three or four years I can swap it.

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94 SL320
71 porsche 911S


www.KriminalDefense.com

I've been looking for 5-years for SL 5-speed manual. NO DICE!

You're probably better off purchasing a 5-speed SL . . .

:-) neil

So after over nine months my car is back in my possesion. First shop, a referral, who did some body work for me had it forever. Every two weeks - "i promise this Friday its almost done". A hundred fridays came and went until I went with a tow truck and demanded my car back. He begged for more time. Two months later I finally got my transmission ( a box of metal) from this idiot. I take the car and the box to another shop - "O we can do it no problem" Four weeks later "ummmm how much do you want to spend? - blablablabla we cant do it". I pick up the box and ship it to Adsit. Two and half weeks and the trans is done and sent back and is now in my car. (they didnt believe my torque was in the box, which it was, but it wasnt a deal breaker after all this).

Now....time to get the money back I gave the first guy.

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94 SL320
71 porsche 911S


www.KriminalDefense.com

This kid claims his sl320 is a standard. I asked if it was stock standard but no reply yet.

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=sale785

O yes update. So nightmare was solved by adsit kinda. I finally just grabbed car and trans (in a box of mess) and sent to adsit. they rebuilt it but after one month its slipping. I need to send it back for them to repair. Im kinda bummed cuz now I have to pay to have trans removed and sent to adsit because they didnt get it right. But they did get it going....

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94 SL320
71 porsche 911S


www.KriminalDefense.com

300sl stick

This forum has two threads discussing the conversion, one even by a mb mechanic and no one ever mentioned this. This mb is a 300 which is different than the 320 and not just by the slight diff in engine.

But more importantly surely this 300 trans can be easily modified to fit and work with the 320...

True? Anyone?

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94 SL320
71 porsche 911S


www.KriminalDefense.com

I'm putting a 16V trans in a 300CE with the 24V. All 104's have the same block, more or less. There isn't a lot of documentation, but I hope to get started within a couple of weeks.
I would say yes easily. The only difference in the engine is the management anyway as far as I know, and the 2/10 of a liter. You'd just have to do it and if you get stuck someone should be able to help. I don't even know about modified, more like straight forward.
PS, i have done an Auto-Manual swap but it was a Toyota. There isn't much to it. On wiring issues, I don't know, I don't think that far ahead. The Toyota was easy. On my CE, I'm switching to EFI and a couple turbos as well, so thats another story altogether.

Mercedes tuning is for pioneers. Short answer is almost always no-it hasn't been done. But as far as bolt patterns and bolting it up, most likely from the research I've tried to do and asking on here, yes it does.

Austin,

what flywheel are you going to use with the 16v tranny, also what clutch ?

I heard you cannot use the dual-mass flywheel due to space constraints, and if you use the 16v or 300E flywheel, you'll need to weld on the "windows"/segmentation for the crankshaft position sensor.

If you're using an aftermarket EFI, then I guess you'll do something else for the crankshaft sensor/trigger.

:-) neil

Good luckk w/ that Adist box.. I gave up after my 3rd transmission from them ate itself in less then 10K. The first one started shifting improperly after about 2K, the other had the front pump let go 5K into it's life...

Hopefully yours turns out better!

Jonathan

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Jonathan Hodgman
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I have the 16V flywheel and clutch, but in time when the money is here that will probably be something custom. I'm not real clear on what will and will not work on the clutch and flywheel. I don't want anything dual mass anyway, but the 16V is? And the 2.6 isn't.. I think I have to find a single mass from the 2.6, but bolt patterns are common on all the stuff so, in the end it will likely be the Bekkers beefed 16V clutch components and a custom single mass flywheel, unless I actually find a single mass but even then it would be temporary. Unless the dual mass works, then it will be temporary.

And yes, the crank trigger is going on the front of the crank.