does anybody here have a 5-speed w124? if so, is it a conversion or euro? or did they actually ever send any to the US?

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1991 300 D 2.5 Turbo, 220k
also in the family:
1981 240 D 185k
1991 350 SD 185k
2006 S 500
2005 SLK 350

There are several of us here who have them.

They were brought to the US as US certified cars in the 1986 and 1988 model years. about 700 in '86 and about 300 in '88.

I would expect that if there are any manual transmission Euro cars in the US, they are small engined versions, not 300E's. Most of these cars sold in Europes were sold with smaller engines.

I am a stick shift lover and won't buy a car to drive myself unless it is a stick. For a stick shift lover, the 300E makes a FABULOUS car with a stick.

A few weeks ago my good friend Paul (Suginami here on Mshop) came to Dallas on business and I picked him up in my 300E for dinner. We met a few other Mshoppers and had a great time. He has a 104 engined version which has more horsepower than the earlier 103 engined cars like mine. He remarked about the acceleration of my car saying that "the manual transmission makes these cars come alive." Remember, that was someone who drives the same car with about 15% more horsepower but coupled through an automatic transmission.

In 1986 Road and Track road tested a new 300E with a stick shift and raved and raved about it. I still have their article. That is one of the things that made me seek out one of these great cars and it wasn't easy. In two years of searching locally I found two, but couldn't get to the first one before it was sold in a single day.

Have a great day,

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5 speed '91 190E 2.6 320,000 mi. (new car, fast, smooth as silk six, couldn't find any more Peugeots)
5 speed '85 Peugeot 505 2.5l Turbo Diesel 266,000 mi. (old car, fast for a diesel, had 2 others)
5 speed '01 Jetta V6 (new wifes car, pretty quick)
5 speed '85 Peugeot 505 2.2l Turbo Gas 197,000 mi. (wifes car, faster, sadly gone just short of 200k )
5 speed '83 Yamaha 750 Maxim 14,000 mi. (fastest)
0 speed 4' x 8' 1800 lb Harbor Freight utility trailer (only as fast as what's pulling it)

can a manual transmission from a 190D be used in a 1990 300D with 2.5L? Thanks

yes, 201 will count. and i have always wondered about putting a 190D tranny into a 300D. the 190D 2.5 has the same engine as the '90-'92 300D, but without a turbo (i think).

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1991 300 D 2.5 Turbo, 220k
also in the family:
1981 240 D 185k
1991 350 SD 185k
2006 S 500
2005 SLK 350

My brother has one of the 300E manny's. nice car- very impressed w/ the W124 refinement. 6cyl makes lots of low end and pulls stumps like nothin' (not much high end though, maybe thats part of the work that needs done)
His cyl head needs work I think, and the motor, as much oomph as it makes, just doesn say "flog me" like my old '84 Jetta GLI.
(I bought the GLI from that same brother...)

300E stick- refined, stately, comfortable, luxurious, great compromise between interior space and external dimetntions. The car is great, but I'd never be able to drive it hard, for hear I'd break something.

-John

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2009 Kia Sedona
2009 Honda Odyssey EX-L
12006 Jetta Pumpe Duse
(insert Mercedes here)

Husband, Father, sometimes friend =)

Lots of low end and no high end power? His engine sure isn't kin to mine. Every 103 I've driven didn't have enough torque to run hay baler until it was over about 3200 RPM.

Have a great day,