Auto trans to 5 speed conversion? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

lkchris · #16 11-26-2010, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atikovi

I would think with a Star scanner you could program the PCM to accept the manual transmission. Or any 2-bit hacker could figure something out. Or you could use the 6-spd PCM?

You know of course that Mercedes never produced a W211 with M272 engine (the 350) with manual transmission. Seems then you wouldn't be able to "switch to that program" because it wouldn't be there.

atikovi · #17 11-26-2010, 01:24 PM

So what would happen if someone did this conversion on a 2007 E350 assuming mechanically everything fit? The check engine light would stay on? The abs or traction control would not work? The car wouldn't go over idle? It wouldn't even start? If some two-bit hacker can break into the government computer system, it shouldn't be too hard to write code for a manual transmission.

atikovi · #18 11-26-2010, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lkchris

You know of course that Mercedes never produced a W211 with M272 engine (the 350) with manual transmission. Seems then you wouldn't be able to "switch to that program" because it wouldn't be there.

Sure but how much difference is there between that and the C-class manual cars?

JordaanDMC-12 · #19 12-02-2010, 01:19 PM

That's awesome y'all are into this also! How long would a conversion take? I think it'd be quite exciting and pretty fun to drive my w124 with a manual transmission!

I'd like to turn this idea into maybe a real project, I rely on my car though for work so I'd have to wait until I have all parts and things I need, I'm thinking two days?

(just throwing a number out there)

#20 12-02-2010, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JordaanDMC-12

That's awesome y'all are into this also! How long would a conversion take? I think it'd be quite exciting and pretty fun to drive my w124 with a manual transmission!

I'd like to turn this idea into maybe a real project, I rely on my car though for work so I'd have to wait until I have all parts and things I need, I'm thinking two days?

(just throwing a number out there)

It's not simply FUN to drive a 5 speed 300E, it's an ABSOLUTE BLAST! My 88 5 speed has a little over 300,000 miles and every single mile has been a hoot. The car is showing it's age, but the manual transmission is why I keep it around.

I remember picking up Suginami one time at his hotel to go to a get together. At the time he had an extremely nice M104 E300 and he could tell even sitting in the passenger seat. He kept talking about how the 5 speed made the car "come alive."

I have converted several cars of varying makes from auto to manual and believe me, you don't want to simply "gather up parts." You need the donor car close at hand. It's nearly impossible to think of every single little bit that you will need and simply order parts. A donor car is all but mandatory to do this.

JordaanDMC-12 · #21 12-02-2010, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LarryBible

It's not simply FUN to drive a 5 speed 300E, it's an ABSOLUTE BLAST! My 88 5 speed has a little over 300,000 miles and every single mile has been a hoot. The car is showing it's age, but the manual transmission is why I keep it around.

I remember picking up Suginami one time at his hotel to go to a get together. At the time he had an extremely nice M104 E300 and he could tell even sitting in the passenger seat. He kept talking about how the 5 speed made the car "come alive."

I have converted several cars of varying makes from auto to manual and believe me, you don't want to simply "gather up parts." You need the donor car close at hand. It's nearly impossible to think of every single little bit that you will need and simply order parts. A donor car is all but mandatory to do this.

See, now why'd you have to go and say that? Now I want to go find a donor car and start this project tonight!! haha I wish!

I'm starting to seriously consider this though, imaging my 300E even more of a fun car to drive and not having to worry about an automatic transmission failing sounds like win-win situation. LarryBible, since you've gone about this before many a time how do I go about this?

What are the steps for this process, and guesstimating, roughly, how long and how much did the process cost?

#22 12-02-2010, 07:29 PM

The cost would be the cost of the donor car or if you could find one in a wrecking yard, whatever you could negotiate with them, and then give them back the rest of the car and maybe your working automatic transmission. The problem will be finding the donor car. With only about 1,100 of them sent here as US cars, plus whatever few might have made it as grey market cars, it will be DIFFICULT to find. You might want to budget a new clutch pressure plate and throwout bearing while it's apart, but you might very well find these components in the donor in great condition and not have to spend this money.

As far as the projects complexity, this will be determined largely by the equipment you have to work with. I have a two post lift and a transmission jack. Without this level of equipment, it will be a much more time consuming and challenging project.

Changing the transmission itself is only part of the project. To do it right, you will need the driveshaft, clutch linkage, m/c reservoir, hydraulic lines,
master cylinder, shifter, shifter trim, etc.,

IF you have the donor car in your possession, and I wouldn't even dream of approaching the project under any other conditions, allow a day to strip everything out of the donor car, but DO NOT let it out of your control until the recipient car is COMPLETE. Then allow a day to put everything into the recipient. Then plan on some extra time to deal with whatever you might run into, such as the need to have the flywheel surfaced or something like that.

Doing this without a back up car to drive for the duration of the project is not something I would want to do. The smallest little thing could cost more time.

My 300E is pretty well ragged out. It still runs good, but it's a high mileage car and just generally not a really nice car. I have given thought to finding a nice low mileage car and extracting the stick out of my old car. That's the only way I would ever want to get another 300E. I just have no interest in an automatic transmission 300E. I'm just spoiled.

atikovi · #23 12-02-2010, 07:38 PM

I've got a '95 S-class with a 5-speed.

JordaanDMC-12 · #24 12-02-2010, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LarryBible

The cost would be the cost of the donor car or if you could find one in a wrecking yard, whatever you could negotiate with them, and then give them back the rest of the car and maybe your working automatic transmission. The problem will be finding the donor car. With only about 1,100 of them sent here as US cars, plus whatever few might have made it as grey market cars, it will be DIFFICULT to find. You might want to budget a new clutch pressure plate and throwout bearing while it's apart, but you might very well find these components in the donor in great condition and not have to spend this money.

As far as the projects complexity, this will be determined largely by the equipment you have to work with. I have a two post lift and a transmission jack. Without this level of equipment, it will be a much more time consuming and challenging project.

Changing the transmission itself is only part of the project. To do it right, you will need the driveshaft, clutch linkage, m/c reservoir, hydraulic lines,
master cylinder, shifter, shifter trim, etc.,

IF you have the donor car in your possession, and I wouldn't even dream of approaching the project under any other conditions, allow a day to strip everything out of the donor car, but DO NOT let it out of your control until the recipient car is COMPLETE. Then allow a day to put everything into the recipient. Then plan on some extra time to deal with whatever you might run into, such as the need to have the flywheel surfaced or something like that.

Doing this without a back up car to drive for the duration of the project is not something I would want to do. The smallest little thing could cost more time.

My 300E is pretty well ragged out. It still runs good, but it's a high mileage car and just generally not a really nice car. I have given thought to finding a nice low mileage car and extracting the stick out of my old car. That's the only way I would ever want to get another 300E. I just have no interest in an automatic transmission 300E. I'm just spoiled.

That's excellent information! Thank you!! I mentioned before that I was told the 190E's manual will fit in the w124, but since the 190E is shorter and whatnot, the hydraulic lines and driveshaft are different sizes? So I know it's obviously better to find a w124 manual for the conversion but it's not possible to use a 190E for it? or at least the rest of the parts?

You wern't kidding then...where the heck am I going to find a manual w124 donor car???

#25 12-02-2010, 08:16 PM

I don't doubt that the 201 trans, bellhousing and clutch would work. If you take that approach you will have many more challenges fabricating lines, probably dealing with linkage and possibly fabricating a driveshaft. Doable, but much more time consuming and challenging.

My $0.02,

JordaanDMC-12 · #26 12-02-2010, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LarryBible

I don't doubt that the 201 trans, bellhousing and clutch would work. If you take that approach you will have many more challenges fabricating lines, probably dealing with linkage and possibly fabricating a driveshaft. Doable, but much more time consuming and challenging.

My $0.02,

Yeah, I just don't know how on earth I'm going to find a manual 124 donor car, they're hard enough to come by in driving condition. It's going to have to be one of those right time, right moment deals...

#27 12-02-2010, 08:39 PM

Don't overlook the possibility of buying a nice driving car and simply exchanging transmissions. Who knows, maybe you'll come across a nicer car than yours and decide to just buy it and sell yours.

It took me two years to find my 5 speed 300E and I paid a premium price for it. That was in 1998 and it was worth the wait AND the premium price.

Start checking all the online car trade resources and just keep your eyes open. You never know what you might find.

junqueyardjim · #28 12-02-2010, 09:08 PM

There was a beauty, (at least the views on ebay portrayed that) this past spring and was sold out of Madison, WS. It was a regular driver and the owner had it I believe simply for the good mileage the car put out on the highway. I think it sold for about $4000.00. I bought mine on Ebay in the spring of 2008. It t is a very nice low mileage car, but the engine needed major work. Seems that the 86's and early 87's were just a little weak in the rocker arm section, and this one had one rocker arm pull out and ruined the cam, ect. I bought and installed a beautiful 89 engine from member John Hef in Fredricksburg, MD. The car is just a wonderful driver, I just can't hardly believe how good it is. I have about $4000.00 in mine.

#29 12-03-2010, 08:26 AM

Sounds like Jim is one of the lucky few that understands why I can't part with my old blue mare. What a great driving car.

hanno · #30 12-03-2010, 08:44 AM

My daily driver is a 5 spd conversion, wouldn't part with it for any of the others. As Larry states, its a blast. Got the converison parts from a very understanding salvage yard (they were picking up parts in the mud under the car to make it complete for me). Got another on the shelf by bottom feeding on Craigslist

. Trailered it home, pulled ALL the 5 spd bits, parted the rest.