This was originally posted to the Hot-Rod list as "300E" roll call. There are so few, that talking to all 5 speed owners shouldn't cause much traffic.

Who has a 300e/190e 5 speed besides me? I have seen a few postings here about them. I bought mine from "Glen" after he got the 500e. I have been completely happy. Mine is likely the bottom of the breed. Need seats, paint, A/C and more. Still, it is lots of fun and reliable, despite the 250,000 odometer, (which is currently not working).

I know that MB only shipped 300e 5 speeds in 1986 and 1988 and that few were so equipped. How many? The history of Mercedes book lists production figures for 300e but not the 5 speed. I have to contact MBCA to see if they know. Anyone else know?

What else can anyone say? Happy like me? I hope so. I'm getting the 250KKM badge soon and looking for the 500KKM badge in the next couple of years. My car has earned them.

Current owner list:

Larry Bible
Dave Quint
Jim Anderson
Krahe
Vaughn Smith

I have two Mercedes 5-speeds; a 1967 230SL (W113) and a 190E 2.3-16 (W201). If they weren't 5-speeds, I wouldn't own them. Both are great cars and the transmissions make them extra special.

1989 190e2.6 5spd - bought 3yrs ago at around 150k km, now about 195k km.
Just like Jim Villers, i wouldn't have bought it if it were not a manual.

Well, my C240 is a 6 speed, but I know that doesn't count!
My BMW 535i is an automatic, but not for long! I am pulling out the automatic and converting it to a 5 speed manual next weekend.
I'd imagine that the operation would be pretty similar for a 300E. Since 300E sticks are so hard to find, one might be able to buy a readily available automatic and convert it!The only question mark would be availability of parts, in the US you might have to have the stuff shipped from Europe.
I had a pretty easy time finding all of the parts for my BMW swap, using a combination of used and new parts, the total parts cost was a little under $1000.

I've got a 1985 190E 2.3 5-speed. I love the feel of the mercedes tranny.

Dan

brian k:
sure your c240 counts. It's from people like you that i will potentially be buying my next car ...

1993 C250D(iesel)...not petrol...388.000km and still running like new (with manual 5-speed).

grettingz,

1986 2.3-16, 5 speed.

1986 300E 5 speed 230,000 miles
Ive put 100,000 of those on and love deveryminute of it. I heard a rumor that there were about 500 sold in the U.S. put dont have anything to back that up.

I would like my 190E 2.6 to be a 5 speed but it's a slushbox and I'm still happy with it. I use my 85 Mustang GT 5.0 5 speed and my Suzuki GS750T 16V DOHC to bang gears when I feel the need for speed. The GT is very nice for 170.000 miles. But will nickel and dime you to death.

'88 190E 5 speed 207K+ miles

Gary

As Jim Villers said, "if it wasn't a five speed, I wouldn't own it".

It took me a LONG TIME to find my 300E five speed. The 124 car is great, and I may have given in and bought one with a slushbox, but it would've been awhile.

I have seen it in print that the five speed was only imported to the US in '86 and '88, but I don't think this is correct. I saw a posting here regarding an '87 US car with a five speed. I expect the numbers in the US to be just a few hundred. There was a post some time back by someone who had researched and found that there was a single digit number, four I think, that were sold in New Jersey. Judging by what I've seen and what I went through to find one, I expect something on the order of 250-300 were imported to the US. What a pity that there were so few.

When I began discussing purchasing an '01 C Class six speed on this forum, I got into a debate about MB manual transmissions. There was someone who kept insisting that the MB manuals are no good. I've driven bunches of different makes of manual transmission cars, and have found the MB manuals to be just fine.

I have turned down much more for my 300E than what even a premium slushbox 124 would bring. I'm still in love with the car.

Have a great day,

While not all these count, I have had a 1972 220D, 4-speed, a 1974 240D, 4-speed, I imported and sold a 1982 Euro 300D, 5-speed, and now own a 1982 240D, 4-speed, and a 1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 with a 5-speed. My wife briefly owned a 1967 250S with a 4-speed. My Mother, and 2 sisters each owned Euro 230E's (1981 and 1984 models) with 5-speeds.

I am not a fan of automatic transmissions and find Mercedes manual boxes much better than most brands when you consider how they match the engine and car, the extraordinary reliable clutches (I have driven Mercedes-Benz autos with manual transmissions over a million miles and replaced one clutch in my '75 because I got Mobil 1 oil leaking past the aft crank seal and onto the clutch, which caused some severe chatter and damage to the little circumferential springs in the clutch which were deformed and, as the clutch wore down, eventually "machined" in half, and that was after 170,000 miles, and on my '82 when I had the ring gear replaced at a similar mileage. Neither had a worn out clutch, per se) and robust gears and synchros. Two of my three kids have learned to drive using the 240D and 16 valve 190E. The third will when the time comes, too.

I am presently looking for a 190E 5-speed to replace my '82 240D which is slowly dying. I am also looking for a 300E for my wife with a 5-speed, each with less than 110,000 miles. The offerings are sparse to say the least. Jim

More to add:
My new mechanic said that he saw one other 300e 5 speed in Canada, tried to buy it, but it was sold already. He said that 5 or so were shipped to Canada. No way to prove that, though. He wondered if mine might have been a conversion. I don't think so, but I don't know.

On the car option tag by the rad, which code signifies a 5 speed?

My odometer and air conditioning work again!
Thanks,

wishful thinking
 

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.