Manual Transmission Roll Call
 

Howzabout a nose count of all the diesels with manual transmissions?

Respondents, please supply the following:
1) Vehicle model and year

2) Factory install or owner inflicted retrofit?

3) Any other modifications (i.e. 4 to 5 cyl, turbo/nonturbo, intercooled etc) made to vehicle?

4) Level of satisfaction with manual transmission performance

5) Anything else you can think of?

Thanks all!
R Leo

In the middle right now of an engine swap.

1. 1982 240D 4 speed
2. Turning into a 300DT 4 speed
3. Project with father and son

Don

1) Vehicle model and year

1983, 240D that I've owned since new.

2) Factory install or owner inflicted retrofit?

Came with an automatic. Installed the manual when the transmission went at about 292,000 miles. Parts came from a used MB.

3) Any other modifications (i.e. 4 to 5 cyl, turbo/nonturbo, intercooled etc) made to vehicle?

Nothing else.

4) Level of satisfaction with manual transmission performance

Car now has 335,00 miles and is just great. Feels like it has more get up and go. 0-60 time is about the same, but it feels so much peppier. No change to speak of in mpg, still aropund 28 or so in all conditions.

5) Anything else you can think of?

Absolutely the best improvement I could ever have made to the car. Wish I had done it ten years earlier. Cost was a little over half of what a rebuilt automatic would have been and that's with me paying labor to have it installed. It's pretty much a bolt in operation and if you are a medium to heavy DIY'er, you can probably handle it.

Len

'84 Euro 240D, 533,000 miles, three clutches, transmission never been apart.

'81 240D Euro parts car, will put engine and trans in 300D

'77 US 240D, drove 280,000 miles, one clutch trans never apart.

'80 240D bought used, wife drove it awhile, never put in clutch or disassembled trans.

These are great transmissions in every way. If not abused will last literally forever.

Have a great day,

84 190D 2.2 5-speed

no modifications.

At 342,000 replaced standard transmission due to failure of input shaft bearing.

Clutch was replaced about a year after purchase at 100kmi.

The second clutch was replaced 242kmi later with the transmission.

Runs great.

I have a 240D engine with a manual tranny. The car originally had a turbo 300D in it.

My father drives a euro spec 300D manual 5spd. Fun car to drive.

Mike

1) '82 240D stick 4 spd

2) factory

3) retrofitted pre-'82 emission control system (no EGR/butterfly intake manifold)

4) amazing performance considering horsepower/pound ratio. I get ~ 35 MPG on my daily commute which is 80-90% highway.

5) wish I could get my wife to learn how to drive a stick - then we would dump or convert her 300D

Rick S

1. '82 Euro 300D (non-turbo) 5 speed Getrag

2. Factory install

3. No modifications

4. Very satisfied with transmission. Get 26 to 29 mpg in mostly city driving.

5. Have changed fluid once at about 178,000 miles (bought the car used at about 175,000 miles last summer now at about 181,000). Also had to rebuild the slave cylinder (but that was not the transmission's fault).

1. 1977 240D
2. factory 4-speed
3. totally stock
4. 4-sp shifts great, but wish it had an over drive.
5. best car ever built.


M.

1. 1980 240D
2. Factory 4-speed
3. Stock
4. Wish it were a 5-speed, I keep wanting to shift again.
5. Slave cylinder failed last winter.

Same as Michael on 1-4.

5. No problems as of yet.

I don't want to hijack this thread but I sense a common desire for a 5 speed 240 here.

Is there any reasonable way to make a 5 speed 240D out of a 4 speed 240D?

Does anyone know which (if any) gasser 5 speeds bolt up to the OM616? Any mods needed? (clutch/pressure plate, etc) Were any of these models imported?

Rick S

1. 1978 240D 4 spd (daughter,s car), "79" 240D 4 spd with a fresh "80" engine, a euro "85" 240D 5 spd and a "80' 4 spd parts car .
2. Factory 4-speeds & 5 speed
3. Stock

I am sold on the manual transmission 240Ds for a couple of reasons, They have other manual parts such a the sun roofs and windows which makes for a pretty simple car to work on and its still a "classy" car which does great on the highway or the back roads, AND they are fun to drive. The 5 speed car is nice for long freeway trips when I gota drive a couple of days and make time to just 'get there" but most of the time, 70 mph is fine with me and the 4 speed still has some in reserve before the noise gets me. 5) Anything else you can think of?...... I am starting to think about learning how to do a conversion as there are more nice W123 automatics around than manuals but working upside down under the dash sounds like a bear even with the seats out.

190D 2.2 ('84). Came from the factory that way. No mods (thinking about SVO). Having a manual on a 2.2l n/a diesel is a must--very satisfied, but the tranny isn't as slick as it could be. Still pretty positive shifting action though. Stretch from 3rd to 4th is a bit much. It's hard to keep 40 mph because the engine is really buzzing in 3rd but lugging in 4th.

I hope someday to convert the '73 280 4.5 to a manual.

I may also try (eventually) a 250 C (W114) with a manual diesel if they ever bring the 2.2L or 2.7L CDI engine here with a manual (a sprinter engine would probably work too, if you can get it with a manual). That would be a gas errr-uhmmm Diesel.

Sholin

'82 240D, manual, stock except for upgraded stereo/speakers.

1. 1983 240D
2. Factory original
3. Straight stock
4. Excellent satisfaction with manual transmission. Is there some other kind of transmission?
5. Not really other than it needs another gear like others have mentioned.

1. 1983 240D
2. Factory Original
3. Stock
4. Very happy with it, easiest stick ever once you get used to it.
5. Used to want a 5 speed, but decided the 4speed works fine at 70, and i drive 60 most of the time anyway, 55 with no A/C if i'm being very fuel stingy.

Half & half
 

I've had 3 Peugeot diesel standards ( 2 four speed, 1 five speed turbo) and one Mercedes gas standard.

The MB auto is pretty good as those things go because of 4-spd box, but not as good as the manual for the 123. While daydreaming this one I suddenly had a vision of swapping a 190D2.5 engine and tranny into a 123. Too anemic for a family man, but for a single person with a long freeway commute it might be ideal.....so I guess the real candidate for the coachwork would be the coupe. Lots of 300CDs out there with automatics....

1) 1983 240D

2) From the Factory Baby!

3) No Mods, apart from 300D Wheels.

4) The tranny is fine, the question should be "satisfaction with 240D engine performance" It could use a .9:1 5th gear, that would be excellent.

5) I am seriously thinking about doing a 300D Turbo Motor install in the 240 once I get my Bug done and I have some $$$ again. the 125 hp vs. 67 hp sounds great to me. The car might even be kind of fast with the stick in it?!?!?

1) Vehicles model and years:
1972 220D, 1975 240D, 1982 240D

2) All Factory installations.

3) No other modifications made to any of the vehicles.

4) Simply awesome - never replaced a clutch due to wear with over 200,000 miles on all cars, including the manual transmission in the 190E 2.3-16. Have replaced the slave cylinders on all of them after about 200,000 miles though.

5) Anything else you can think of? Only that MB is missing the bus with their reluctance to offer manual transmissions in their modern Diesel and gas cars. Can you imagine a current E or C model with the 270CDI engine and the absolute minimum electronics/electrical gadetry? 40 to 50 mpg and high reliability/availability and lower initial cost? Could be a new market...for all of us old Diesel drivers. Jim

I
 

1983 Mercedes Benz 240D.

Power windows, power moonroof.

White, with white wheel covers.

Blue interior.

4 speed manual transmission.

330,000 miles

and an old rusty muffler that dropped into traffic after hitting a bump today :mad:

Only 75 dollars for a new one...

Thats its only mechanical failure: a muffler with a rusty neck!

1986 190D2.5 230k miles factory 5 spd. PW, Air, sunroof, lowered, consistant 35MPG.
1987 300E, 135k, converted to 5 spd. All options, lowered, 28 mpg hwy.
1979 6.9 (auto)

1982 240D, manual, stock except for stereo/speakers.

Very satisfied. Fun car.

Only things I'd change would be a 5 speed (instead of a 4 speed) and a turbo 617 instead of the NA 616.

- Patrick

1983 240D 4-speed manual (original as far as I know) and I love it! How do the 5-spd 240D's perform in 5th gear? Aren't they pretty weak in that gear?

Regarding MB making a mistake with not shipping enough manual cars here, you can blame it on the American consumer. In one book I read that MB used to sell W124 300E's with a manual tranny here, but sold only a few hundred in 2 years (out of many thousand) so they dropped the option. Most Americans just have no desire to shift their own gears.

1) 1980 240D

2) Me, retrofit engine

3) 5-cyl Turbo, no exhaust. Air-Water intercooling and propane are in the future

4) I'll find out tonight! :D

5) MEASURE TWICE CUT ONCE. It sucks having to add 1/2" of rod to the shift linkage after it's cut.

EDIT: From the information I've gathered, if you wish to use a 1984 and up OM617, don't. The pilot hole in the crankshaft of late 84's is a few mm too small for the stock bearing. Tom J got away with it but he had to make a custom sleeve for a smaller bearing. I got lucky with my engine being an early '84 model.

1971 220D.

Factory 4-speed

Only mods are a radio (still have the original block-out panel in the trunk) tinytach, and white-painted roof (keeps cabin cooler in the summer)
I'd like to add the factory style driving lights and euro headlights if I could find a set for cheap.

Tranny is nice. Wouldn't mind a bit smoother shift feel though. Doesn't shift so fast, but the car isn't so fast either. I love the old style shifter, like a ping-pong ball on the end of a pencil. Fits the car better than the newer ergonomic style shifter.

I'd like an overdrive as well. With 60hp, I know I could only use it on level ground, but it would be great when I could use it!

1) 1980 280c euro 4 speed manual converted to 1984 300 turbo diesel.
(m110 is the worst engine mb ever made)
2) switched out the orginal trans with a lower milage one i had. orginal
is good.
3) straight pipe, no muffler. 3.07 rear end.

4) a diesel rocket ship! :D

5) manual heat. no a/c. cloth seats (mahogney). no dashboard insulation.
sound like a muscle car. can't get the tachometer to work.

don

1) Vehicle model and year 1967 200D

2) Factory install or owner inflicted retrofit? Factory. on second clutch.

3) Any other modifications (i.e. 4 to 5 cyl, turbo/nonturbo, intercooled etc) made to vehicle? Stereo.

4) Level of satisfaction with manual transmission performance
Satisfied but I'd love to have a 5- speed in it and 15" wheels.... wind it out!

5) Anything else you can think of? yes, a 5 speed for my '83 300D while we're at it.... wouldn't change the diesel bimmer! 4 speed auto with OD

1) Vehicle model and year: 1982 Mercedes 240d 249,000 miles.

2) Factory install or owner inflicted retrofit? Factory, AFAIK.

3) Any other modifications (i.e. 4 to 5 cyl, turbo/nonturbo, intercooled etc) made to vehicle? None

4) Level of satisfaction with manual transmission performance: Very pleased with the way it shifts and how the clutch engages, once I got used to it. Maintenance records show that the clutch has never been replaced. :confused: :eek: Wish there was an easy way to mate a Dana 18 up to this box. :(

5) Anything else you can think of? I've only had this car for a few weeks and it drives like a dream. However it has severe frame rot underneath. Ergo, I plan on parting it out soon and using the engine to repower my M38a1 Jeep. I wanna get another in better shape!

Frau Frankenbenz Countess of Chocula
1) 1983 manual 4sp 240D w/ 1984 300SD engine transplant.
2) manual tranny factory installed (engine transplant owner inflicted...haha)
3) P.O. painted the car brown (yuck.) 2.88 rear differential installed, newer radio and rear speakers, custom made wood center console (where the shifter and window switches are and back) to add cup holders into that dumb rectangular dirt receptacle under the armrest. Armrest soon to be removed, WVO kit soon to be installed, paint job sometime later... we're way far from stock, and drifting further...
4) Performance is great. Good pickup, very agile on the highway. ~ 2500 mi on the transplant, love it. ~ 308,000 mi on the transmission. Still shifts smooth and precisely. Looking forward to the performance after a diesel purge, a valve adjustment and replacing the leak lines.

1] 1983 240d

2] factory installed, original engine

3] shifts smooth with 245k

4] has the henna red interior. I know its rare but to me ugly. Just installed new starter and now needs flywheel.:mad: Needs upper control arm too. Other than that, nice car with virtually no rust, no fluid leaks, no speed demon but gets you there with 31mpg, was given to me needing a clutch slave at that time. Used as my beater car to keep the TD out of the winter salt.

Cheers,

Bill

1981 300d

Factory installed 4 speed

No known modifications

Just bought it, get it friday so I will report back. Felt great compared to a friend's 4 speed 240, very solid.

1984 300TD non-turbo

factory installed 4 speed

no mods, other than a few rust holes in the floorboard

some rust, runs good.

1979 300D Euro, no other mods, 4 speed is satisfactory as long as you shift slow (needs 2-3 synchro), god-awful green.

Woohoo- I get to add the 190 here!

1987 190d (greymarket import)-all stock
2.0L diesel
4 Speed Manual (Yes really)
We've been very happy so far- the wife even learned to drive stick in it.

It will need a clutch soon- starting to chatter at 165,000

81 240d 4 speed

factory 4 speed

runs pretty good even at this 4500' elevation

happy.. that is all

Yoko's 240D
 

1) 82 240D 4 speed

2) factory setup

3) mods, vegoil conversion http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/kobayashigeisha/my_photos

4) very satisified with manual tranny after owning a 123 with a tempermental auto.

Recycled
 

for new members

My 240 still shifting smooth, now with almost 300K.

1) Vehicle model and year 82 300 CD (but motor and tranny will soon be moved to "pancakes" an 82 240d.

2) Factory install or owner inflicted retrofit? not factory

3) Any other modifications (i.e. 4 to 5 cyl, turbo/nonturbo, intercooled etc) made to vehicle? no4) Level of satisfaction with manual transmission performance 100%5) Anything else you can think of? 240 fw.

1) Vehicle model and year 83 240d us car, 83 euro 300 na. five speed originally from my 84 280e. real 300 fw.2) Factory install or owner inflicted retrofit? not factory

3) Any other modifications (i.e. 4 to 5 cyl, turbo/nonturbo, intercooled etc) made to vehicle? 307 diff4) Level of satisfaction with manual transmission performance 100%

5) Anything else you can think of? I get 35 mpg with this one hiway with regularity. I will get a slight harmonic vibration at certain rpm through the stickshift when accelerating. The car will win no drag races with the 307 diff but it has more power at any given rpm than a stock 240d and is much quieter on the highway and beats the factory 240d for fuel economy with the od tranny. With this gearing the motor has enough torque to pull minor hills on the freeway without coming out of fifth and will run 100 mph in either fourth or fifth.

Love it.;)

1981 240d
factory 4 speed
box stock
I think I need to tinker with the throttle linkage a bit as the 82 auto seems peppier but I still love driving my stick and it is in much better condition

1982 240d 4cyl factory 4-speed 208k miles. a little better then 30mpg average(full tank calculations, using gps verified mileage at the same pump & no AC) and 35mpg being my one time best. i am figuring that running the AC will drop these figures but hoping not much(AC is being repaired today. A VERY important option for a Florida driven car)

I love the 4 speed but shifter was VERY sloppy when i bought it! I rebuilt the shifter and it's wonderful now!! also replaced master & slave clutch cyl.

My only complaint is at highway speed it revs high at 70mph or higher. I have installed taller tires(205-75-14) which helped a little(aprox 5mph and made the speed dead on). I'm now looking into finding a 5speed and do the swap or a rear end gear ratio change.

This is a wonderful car to drive in all aspects as long as you're not in a hurry. stop light to stop light racer it is not!

Question: do you think a 5-speed swap will hurt or help the value of this 100% original antique car???

Help. In fact unless your car is very sharp the five speed might be worth more than the car.;)

IF you get a factory 5 speed and the installation is flawless, it can only help your car's value. as mentioned, the 5 speed is worth more than all but the nicest 240D complete car... I've been offered crazy prices for mine, and did not sell it.
with your car's mileage, it's only value is to other MB enthusiasts, and unless it's TOTALLY pristine, I can't see anything you could do to the car that would lower it's value... if done well.

yeah,....well, maybe if you installed an automatic.;)

I have a very nice 83 240D with four speed that I converted with an 85 300D that I owned for the past six years and knew it was a great engine. I love my 83 and it is my "keeper". The body has about 300,000 on it. One of the ears is broken of the back end of the transmission. There are two ears of course, and they are used to mount the exhaust. I do suffer extra "power pulse" vibrations at low RPM, which I think would be reduced it the exhaust was properly mounted. This summer I am going to pull the transmission to make the repair and I believe parts can be obtained to make it a 5 speed. I am going to check that out. The extra gear would be wonderful and would allow me to go to a little lower rear end gearing. Also, I have a very nice 86 300E 5 speed which is a really awesome car. I like it better then our 2003 Jaguar, though it doesn't have all the toys the Jaguar have. But it is so much easier to get in and out of the Mercedes.

Thank you so much for your replies. I'm still considering the 5speed to make it a more usable daily driver. I was lucky to find this pristine garage kept one owner car. no dash cracks, no wood cracks. It came with a log book of every time the owner put fuel in it since 1982! I've showed it a couple times but just appreciate owning one in really good shape. the body and interior is great, but badly required routine maintenance $1600 in parts 1st time to shop (Suspension, brakes, calipers, brake lines, shifter bushings, clutch cyls, water pump, belts, hoses, AC & of course the rubber air cleaner mounts). It now runs as good as it looks.

There is a 5 speed forsale for $1,300
FS: w123 717.400 5 speed

1) Vehicle model and year: 1973 220D 4 speed

2) Factory install or owner inflicted retrofit: Factory

3) Any other modifications (i.e. 4 to 5 cyl, turbo/nonturbo, intercooled etc) made to vehicle: Sedan body modified to a pickup truck style about 20 years ago. (not by me!)

4) Level of satisfaction with manual transmission performance: The transmission is great, the shifter leaves a little to be desired.