Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Vintage Mercedes Forum

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 05-24-2018, 07:33 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 2
Floor shift vs column shift on w108 4.5s

Does anyone have any info regarding the numbers of column shifters vs Floor shifts in w108s 4.5s? I understand that floor shift trans are more coveted, but is it due to rarity (small production numbers), or something else? Based on following numerous auction sites, I’d say about 1 out of 4 w108s has a floor shift trans. Anyone have any insights?

Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 05-24-2018, 09:14 PM
cth350's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 4,354
it's the same trans, just a different steering column setup.
You can search this forum for the instructions on how to switch, presuming you have the spare steering column handy.

-CTH
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 05-25-2018, 07:43 AM
ejboyd5's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Southold, NY
Posts: 291
"What difference – at this point, what difference does it make?"
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 06-11-2018, 01:55 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 31
shifters

Purely an aesthetic difference. To some (myself included), the column shifter looks more crowded and cumbersome than the floor shift. I have had both, and both are equal in all qualities otherwise. I am refurbishing a floorshift model now. Silver over red leather. It's the second time that I've owned this car. It's
an awesome drive.

Pat
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 06-11-2018, 06:25 AM
CTD's Avatar
CTD CTD is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 280
With an automatic, I never thought much about where the shifter is located since it is not frequently used during motoring.

I bet, though, that a 4.5 W108 would be lots of fun with a four speed manual. Has anybody here ever converted one over?
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 06-11-2018, 03:15 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 21,821
When these were for sale new the market was changing. Mercedes had the column shift in production, BMW was changing to a floor shift. So was Audi which had just entered the US market. Volvo was going that way, too.

You could also get bench seating in a 108. I have seen one of these since the individual seats were more comfortable everyone went with those. Since the individual seats were the going thing, and had been since the days of the Ponton, it was easy to install a floor shift in response to customer demand.

I thought floor shifts were nice; older guys (then) thought it was some sort of hippie thing and too wild and crazy. So Mercedes didn't play favorites but the US dealers did. They could see what was selling and would just tell a customer, "Well, we can always get just what you want, but it might take three months. But you can have this one with the floor shift (sunroof, nicer radio, rear speaker, block heater, etc.) today."

Because truthfully they had ordered nothing but floor shift cars and it was all they had to sell.

Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:49 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page