I have a 1986 16V 5-speed which is a great unit, superbly matched to the car's engine. My other car, a 1994 E420+ begs for a BMW 540i six-speed. I am actively thinking of swapping my perfectly good autobox for the BMW (presumably ZF) unit.

__________________
Charles Cleaver
1975 350SE + 1992 300CE-24 SportLine 5-speed + 2002 SLK320 6-speed + 1974 W114 280
1986 190E 2.3-16 (Decomm rear self-leveling suspension; Euro-code headlamps) sold
2004 Audi S4 6-spd - sold
1969 (2) and 1980 Porsche 911T, S, and SC - alas gone
1987 300SDL - Graf Spee; Euro-code headlamps; 16-inch 8-hole wheels - sold
1994 E420+(E500 suspension/E-code headlamps/PAD chip) sold
1968 250SE 4-speed (NICE car) - long gone
1962 220S 4-speed/column mount - long gone

I have a 1990 190e 2.6 w/ 5-speed manual OD. MUCH better than the auto version for all types of driving IMHO.

__________________
1990 190e 2.6 - The only one I can really call "My Car".

1987 190e 2.3 - The donor car's up and running, only mods are Euros and a Sony headunit. My Dad's runabout now.

1990 300e 2.6 - The parents' ride.

I have a 1991 190e 2.6 w/ 5-speed manual OD, and a son and brother in Huntington Beach, for what that's worth

__________________
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)

got two mb's with 5 speed manual
1-1984 280sl euro 5 speed with 12500 miles
2-1984 300d wagon 5 speed with 180k miles
a host of 4 speed mostly 220d and 240d, do have a 1982 240d wagon with 4 speed
love that extra work we do to get away from the stop light.

larry perkins

My 1985 190D is going strong with 5-speed and the mini-motor. Has 572K miles. Clutch was replaced @ 292K miles, no tranny repairs that I know of.
I do change tranny fluid at 25K intervals.
Al

Al,

I admire your extreme maintenance measures. I am known on here as an extremist maniac when it comes to engine oil changes and many people tell me that I change it too often, but I have to tell you that changing lubricant in a manual transmission every 25K is EXTREME OVERKILL.

I have one manual transmission car that has gone 533,000 miles with about 4 trans lube changes.

Oil in a transmission lives a very easy life as opposed to an engine where combustion is putting nasty contaminants in the oil constantly.

100,000 mile oil changes in a manual transmission are more than adequate.

Have a great day,

Hi Larry,
Thanks for the input, I totally agree on the tranny and Differential lube schedule (change at 100K miles) that you mentioned if you're using the 70-90or 90-140 weight lube. I do disagree when the tranny is lubed with automatic transmission fluid (in my case the 190D with Dextron).

I also have a '97 Ford pickup with 5-spd manual that is lubed with Dextron.
I also change the tranny fluid in it at 25K mile intervals. The Ford has 196K miles and the 190D has 572K miles. At the 25K mile change intervals the Dextron that comes out is very dark, almost black. My guess is that the frequent fluid changes keep crud from accumulating in the gearbox.

Let's see who can get to 600K miles first, I've got only 28K to go. Again, thanks for the input, I respect your opinions very much
Al

Well, I "know" Glen T. and just recently have been back in contact with him about my quest to get a 5 speed 300E. I'd consider a 190 2.3-16, I suppose, but those are probably going to be pretty dear. I suppose in lieu of that I could always get a E30, but I'd like to stay with M-B. So, if anyone has or would consider selling their 300E, I'm certainly in the market, but I want a driver and not wall/garage art. If I'm successful (and I plan to be, it might just take some time) I want to get the Mercedeshop's Sportline suspension as well. And, of course I will travel/transport for the "right" car...

Thanks,
Tom Reynolds
Sand Springs, OK

84 240D Euro 5 speed, unknown mileage.

__________________
Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



TRUMP .......... WHITEHOUSE
HILLARY .........JAILHOUSE
BERNIE .......... NUTHOUSE
0BAMA .......... OUTHOUSE

Tom, if you don't mind the smaller 190E, have you considered the 2.6 (6-cylinder M103) with a 5-speed and Sportline suspension.

They do exist, and are a delight to drive.

Unfortunately, IMHO, they are even more rare than the 2.3-16v, but fortunately, are usually cheaper!

:-) neil

Mine will be available soon. Certainly not "art". Gets me to work everyday.

__________________
1986 300E 5-Speed 240k mi.

I came across this thread while searching for what fluid to place in my transmission (I still have not found a definate answer to this though).
Both of my MBZ are 5 speeds. I will not own a car that is not a manual if I am going to be the primary driver.

__________________
Fantom71 aka Dale
Madison, AL

91 190E 2.6 5 speed 220k miles and this car still scoots!

I use "Redline MTL" just dont use the 90W stuff

__________________


1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

I wrote in this thread five years ago that I was in love with my five speed 300E. The car now has 288,000 miles and is in mechanically excellent condition. It has taken a good bit of work to keep it that way, but it is mechanically pristine.

The car now, however, is suffering a little cosmetically. I hit a deer a few years ago on the right side of the car will drifting sideways trying to miss it. I straightened it up, but with the sunlight on it just right, you can tell there was damage.

The paint is really chipped on the front and the lower part of the front plastic bumper is torn up some.

I have gone through a number of shock and swaybar combinations but now have stock front bar, rear 500E bar and Bilsteins all around. I have later model eight hole wheels but still only 195/65-15's. The car drives WONDERFULLY on my winding country roads.

The car STILL has the original clutch and transmission that have never been removed for any reason. I have run Mobil One 10W30 in the transmission since I've owned it and it still shifts perfectly with no leaks.

To update my feeling for this car since posting five years ago, I am STILL in love with this car. In those five years I have gone through a six speed, 2001 C240 that I loved to drive as much as this car, but it had all sorts of technology problems and I got rid of it. The 300E has kept its place though. Kind of like the old horse standing around watching the young one come and go and then be the favorite again.

I drove the old 300E well over 2,000 miles on vacation up into the mountains last October and it did GREAT. It was fun to drive in the mountains and on the highway and gave me an average of 29.36 MPG for the trip.

I told my wife yesterday that if I won the lottery I would have this car professionally redone cosmetically, but would not touch it mechanically except to keep it in top mechanical shape.

Long live the 5 speed 124 cars.

Have a great day,

Larry...I went back where I posted a couple pages after the "beginning" and I didn't realize you were talking 126 & 190, anyway I still love my Euro 5 spd 240D, haven put many miles on it as I drive the wifes "79" unless I do a road trip. It was well taken of before it got it with only 89K on the clock. I changed out the interior (you what) except the headliner. The cloth seats were a pale greenish/yellow and no MB tex on the outer panels also the dash had a little crack. I found a beautiful (blown eng) w123 "parts car" with a pristine Pallameno interior and an uncracked dash. So I swapped.
This is still only a 240 but with the suspension in good shape (Bilsteins all around) and her 67 HP running fine, shes a nice car to drive and I wouldn't trade her for anything. I really appreciate a nice SD, or the "luxury" feel of the bigger and newer 126s and if I could find a manual, Euro one, I sure wouldn't turn it. Do they have manual heating & windows?
Sorry to hear about your "dear incounter", we have that problem, all country roads here too.

Phil, you better check in, I know your out there.

__________________


1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"