There's a lot of speculation as to why turbocharged W123s were never sold with manual transmissions. Allow me to add to that speculation ...

1. Some have said it's because the transmission can't take it, but this isn't true because the same transmissions were put behind gas engines with equal or greater torque.

2. Others say it's because the turbo engine falls off boost too fast and thus the driveability didn't meet Mercedes standards.

3. Finally is marketing. There were only a limited number of turbocharged cars made. Most were for the US market, where we like automatics. The euro cars were all high-dollar wagons (and sedans?) loaded with options. The number of turbo / manual cars sold, had that been an option, would probably have been too low to justify demand.

Reasons 2 and 3 seem plausible. As it turns out though, all manual 616/617 diesels have a small dashpot or "shock absorber" in the control linkage near the IP. The purpose is to damp the control when the driver comes off the accelerator quickly, such as during a shift. Even the 300D manuals had it. Check out:

http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.asp?TP=1&F=123130&M=617%2E912&GA=722%2E118405&GM=716%2E005++++++++++++++717%2E400&CT=M&cat=143&SID=07&SGR=165&SGN=05

It should be possible to retrofit this dashpot to the converted turbo cars here. When I bought a new one for my old 240D, it was only a few dollars and did improve shifting ease.

Question is, do you have to remove to IP to install the bracket it mounts to?!

Ted

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1983 240D automatic, Orient Red, 174K
1983 240D manual, Biscayne Blue, sold at 341K