Conversion to Manual Transmission
 

How much would it run me to convert my 1985 300D Turbo with AT to a manual transmission? Provided i bought the transmission, clutch, clutch pedal, etc
1.) How much does a standard 4 speed trans cost?

2.) How much would a 5 speed trans cost? Speaking of which, I see that according to my Hayne's manual that the 5 speed was an option for these cars. How come the w123's that came with manual transmission had 4 speeds?

3.) Are these transmissions hard to find?
.....And had it installed by a shop? Just wondering what the total cost would be. What vacuum components would need to be removed? I found R. Leo's writeup but didn't see how much it ended up costing him.

Basically, here's what I spent:
$300 — tranny kit from boneyard (transmission, pedal assy, flywheel, clutch, driveshaft, rear cross member and other odd bits — had to pull it all myself too)
$150 — modify and balance driveshaft
$70 — new master cylinder
$80 — new slave cylinder
$140 — new clutch disk
$100 — new pressure plate
$10 — new pilot bearing
$65 — new release bearing
$20 — resurface flywheel
$25 — rental of transmission jack to remove a/t
$955 — TOTAL

This doesn't show any costs for modifying the crossmember because I did it myself. A welding shop might charge $50-$100 to do the mod.

Of course the decision to use new hydraulic components and a clutch is up to you. I might reuse a clutch because it is easy to see how much life is left in it. But, the master and slave cylinders are such a PITA to replace, I'd always stick new ones in.

Personally, I believe the tranny was overpriced. It has a LOT of wear and the car it came from was trashed; nowadays, knowing what I know, I would have offered $150 for the lot understanding that there are plenty of better transmissions around, you just have to look for them (FWIW, since then I've bought entire cars (one with a running engine) with manual trannys for $400.

How much money do you have and where have you been hiding? 5-speeds that fit the M110 or OM616-617 engines are ultra rare. Search the forum for more info. Why a 4 instead of a 5? I'd guess that it has something to do with the US national speed limit only being 55 mph when these cars were manufactured. Hell, you could barely get out of 3rd much less need an overdrive 5th back then. The only stock 5-speeds in 115, 116 123 or 126 chassis you'll see in this country are gray market cars from Europe, not vehicles exported for the US market.

See answer to #1

Take your automatic and "Stick" it! I love my '83 TD 4-speed. - Jacob

Are those 5 speeds just ultra rare in the US?
Hell, I think I will take a trip to Germany....
How much them suckers weigh, anyhow?

5 speeds are rare, and the flywheel needs to be changed, also rare.
I saw a local 280E with a 5-speed go cheap. SHould have grabbed it but I didn't.
It isn't cheap shipping heavy items from Europe, and the laws there state that when cars get rusty they have to recycle 100% of the parts. The Stuttgart factory has to tear down and send parts to rebuilders, maybe the axels are sent to America? That doesn't stop an individual from selling a car for export however, as a look on eBay.de will prove there are lots of cars available that are never sold here through MBNA:
http://search.ebay.de/mercedes_Automobile_W0QQfromZR3QQfsopZ1QQsacatZ9801QQsalisZ77

Now, if the US Dollar were only stronger, prices would be more attractive, but that is something that we have no control over!

On the German eBay site is an example of a 6 speed CDI
 

http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=9835&item=4529105556&rd=1&ssPageName=WD2V
My avatar is a 200 CDI - I sure wish they were available here!

i actually own a 84 300D 5 speed....it has been rearended and everything from the rear doors needs replaced, the fuel tank has been bent up and has a very slow drip....therefore i bought a 84 300D off of ebay wrecked from the from with no motor in it....its entire front end is bad so i am going to take the rear clip and put it on the 5 speed and have a hell of a car.

I also want a W124 300TD, here's a 5 speed wagon:
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=18215&item=4529082322&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW