Is it possible/feasible/affordable to convert my 1990 190E 2.6 trans. from auto to manual? Any ideas on cost/parts availability or sources?

Thanks much, Todd

Find JUNK (recycled parts) yard with complete stick shift car & obtain all of needed parts. My race was originaly a auto. Quite a few parts to change & labor intensive.

Don't even attempt it unless you have the WHOLE donor car to get parts from.

Good luck,

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Larry Bible
'84 Euro 240D, 523K miles
'88 300E 5 Speed
'81 300D Daughter's Car
Over 800,000 miles in
Mercedes automobiles

I've done this on several non-MB cars, and Larry and Doc are right. You need the WHOLE donor car sitting near where you are doing the work, as many components that you would never imagine to differ between the two cars DO differ. Unless you can get a donor car really inexpensively (like several hundred bucks-unlikely) you'd be better off to sell your automatic car and just buy another 190 with the 5-speed. Good Luck!
Colin

I agree that it is feasible - I did it with a '79 280E and a Euro model donor car. I would recommend getting new or rebuilt hydraulics.

Flywheels are balanced to the engine, so you should mark the old flywheel and crank with a punch when you remove it. Then the new flywheel should be statically balanced to the old and marked with a punch for reinstallation.

I am not sure I explained this very well but any competent machine shop will understand.

There was a long post awhile ago about a guy who put a 3.0 DOHC with a 5 speed in a 190E. He works at Potomac German Auto in Maryland (on web) and you can talk to him.

This is a great thing to do - don't be discouraged by the nay-sayers!



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Chuck Taylor
Falls Church VA
'86 300E 5 speed
'95 C220 (wife's car)
'98 Porsche Boxster
Past: '79 280E, '82 300D (18 yrs), '77 240D,
4 250C's

Some of the older MB's had internal balanced engines but on these engines the engine has EXTERNAL balance so flywheel exchange isn't as noted. Also engine is Crank fired & flywheel can only go on in 1 position, otherwise it won't start.
I know of at least 10 190E's that have been converted, but remember that you need a lot of parts & time to swap.

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MERCEDES BENZ MASTER GUILD TECHNICIAN
ASE MASTER TECHNICIAN
27 YEARS DEALER M.B. Shopforeman
190E 2.3 ITS RACECAR
1986 190E 16V

I agree with Chuck, don't be discouraged by the naysayers. But you will make everything easier if you ensure that you have access to the whole car.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out,

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Larry Bible
'84 Euro 240D, 523K miles
'88 300E 5 Speed
'81 300D Daughter's Car
Over 800,000 miles in
Mercedes automobiles

Sell your auto 2.6, buy a manual 2.6 -- I wouldn't mess with a conversion.

My 2-cents.

Brian

I've done this switch on a volvo 240, also a 3/4 tone gmc pickup. As already noted if you have the donor car it becomes a question only of time and perserverance.
Just be sure to evaluate carefully the value of your time as well as your skill level and your available resources re tools, workspace, etc.
It probably doesn't make sense financially but you'll learn something from it.
Keep a log and write down everything you do, as you do it. Stay relaxed, stay thoughtful. It's not a bad idea to shoot some pictures along the way also.
Good luck and have fun,
Harvey

Don't get me wrong, I totally respect the "naysayers" opinions and ideas. For some, this would be too much time and trouble. But for some of us, it's the challenge and the self satisfaction we get by doing something like this ourselves.

It's easy to understand how others would think that we are nuts. But if you do this for those DIY reasons, absolutely go for it.

Good luck,
Larry

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Larry Bible
'84 Euro 240D, 523K miles
'88 300E 5 Speed
'81 300D Daughter's Car
Over 800,000 miles in
Mercedes automobiles