Hello

I was wondering how many Mercedes manual shifting people
are on this web site? After having 5 MB's all with stick shift,
and numerous friends and family with manual's , I have NEVER
seen a broken tranny. I see the auto's are being rebuilt all the time, and I had one auto once, it needed a rebuild,
So ,I would like to know have many people broke there
4 or 5 spd MB trans? not the clutch or the driveshaft, but the tranny
thanks
Dave

240D 4 spd
300TD 4 spd
190E 2.3 5 spd
300E 5 spd
190e 2.3-16v 5 spd wish it was 6 !

speaking of auto rebuilds..
i am buying a rebuilt tranny, since the reverse in my 77 350SLC just gave up..
i wish i could get a stick on my benz

I have a 1982 Euro 300D with a 5 speed Getrag manual transmission. I bought it last July and changed the fluid (ATF) last fall. No other problems. Works perfectly.

__________________
Paul Crawford

Manual Transmission MB's:

Currently own:

'84 Euro 240D 4 Speed
'80 Euro 240D 4 Speed parts car
'88 US 300E 5 Speed only about 300 imported to US
'01 US C240 6 Speed

Past Manual Transmission MB's

'77 US 240D 4 Speed
'68 US 230 4 Speed


Love my manual trasmission cars. The only down side is that it narrows my selection of available cars considerably. It took my two years to find a manual transmission 300E, but it wast worth it.

Have a great day,

WOW , there was only 300 5 spd 300e's, I guess i was luckly
in that find. and it sold really fast to, mine had over 300K
when I sold it, with no tranny problems ever!!
My guess are these transmissions are bullet proof and would be hard pressed to break one, any of the techs ever see one
blown or worn out?

I had to rebuild mine on a 220D at 200k but I was the third college student to own it, so I actually thought that in itself was damn good.

__________________
Martin Ingram
Colorado Springs
2005 320 CDI
2006.5 VW Jetta TDI
1991 560SEL (179000 Sold)
1972 280SEL 4.5 ('The Lead Sled' 320000 miles when sold.)
1972 220D (225000 when sold)

No, there were about 300 '88's with manuals and about 700 '86's with manuals that were imported by MBUSA.

The MB manuals are as durable as any properly built, constant mesh manual. The only need for them to need repair is if they have been abused or driven by someone not very good with a clutch. My 240D has 533,000 miles and the transmission has NEVER been apart. It is on its fourth clutch.

Have a great day,

I had a '70 280SL that needed a new synchro ring on 2nd gear at 185K miles. And there are times when I think possibly the 2nd gear ring on my '90 300SL is showing signs of wear. That car has 117K miles.

Have an '88 190E with 240K on original clutch.

kool Bob , you must drive those Sl's like a mad man,

Current manual gearbox MB's in the garage:
1979 350SE Euro (W116) 4-speed
1986 230E Euro (W124) 4-speed

Past manual MB's:
1968 280S Euro (W108) 4-speed
1982 230E Euro (W123) 4-speed

After going through several MB's with automatic transmission (two 123's, a 201, and a 108) -- I've come to the conclusion that I prefer to do my own shifting, thank you. The automatics just can't pick the right gear for me, half of the time.

regards,

__________________
Johan Limcangco
Manila, Philippines
79 350SE
86 230E
http://www.geocities.com/johan01.geo

I was attracted to my 190E 2.3 Sportline because it was a manual. In fact, I was not even looking to buy another car! It was the fact that not only was it a manual which is rare here but a 2.3 (most, especially manuals, are 2.0 or 1.8) and a Sportline. That combination makes it very rare here. I have been told it may be the only one in Australia so I'm happy I purchased it. With 215,000km the gearbox still feels fine. The synchros are all good and the shift action is sweet. Previous owners records show that it has had gearbox seals replaced. Unfortunately the clutch action on these is not great. A low kilometre 180E (190E 1.8) I owned for a short time that my brother now owns felt the same. I would prefer shorter pedal travel even if it meant a heavier pedal. Mine also suffers a little clutch shudder when cold. A fellow club member with a 190E 2.3-16 (fairly rare in Oz) also complains of a little clutch shudder (despite being a new clutch). He also had to have his Getrag 5-speed rebuilt due to bearing failure.

__________________
107.023: 350SLC, 3-speed auto, icon gold, parchment MBtex (sold 2012 after 29 years ownership).
107.026: 500SLC, 4-speed auto, thistle green, green velour.
124.090: 300TE, 4-speed auto, arctic white, cream-beige MBtex.
201.028: 190E 2.3 Sportline, 5-speed manual, arctic white, blue leather.
201.028: 190E 2.3, 4-speed auto, blue-black, grey MBtex.
201.034: 190E 2.3-16, 5-speed manual, blue-black, black leather.

The auto gearbox in my 1987 190E is nearing rebuild time with 100,000mls on the clock whereas the Getrag 5 speed on my factory 190 Evolution feels like new. It's a little cantankerous when it's cold and it like a good beating before it starts to work smoothly - lol - it's not a gearbox for casual changes but it's great apart from that. Next Benz I get will be a manual for sure.

I had cold problems with shifting until I went with Redline MTL years ago.

what i like about my 190e2.6 5spd is that top speed can be attained in 4th or 5th gear. The 4th gear ratio is the same as 4th on the auto-box, and 5th is overdrive.

so for relaxed highway cruising, 5th is just the ticket, with the tach at slightly below 3000rpm at 80mph.

i use 4th when I need to do an italian tuneup (e.g., in the winter), when driving fast on back country roads, or when there are honda civics around ... ;-)