503C43 ////AMG

So we were talking about a 6 speed manual tranny for the W202 in another thread and there was some debate. I contacted AMG and they stated there was NEVER a manual tranny put into an AMG BY AMG, they would not confirm or deny that 6 speed trannys were used in W202. I found this article which BLEW MY MIND!!!

At the launch all W202 variants were equipped with a 5-speed manual gearbox. The 722.4 4-speed automatic transmission, also called 4G-TRONIC, was available as extra cost (standard on the C 36 AMG). In 1996 this old transmission - which was on sale since 1981 - was replaced by a 5-speed automatic gearbox (aka 722.5 or 5G-TRONIC), which received the manual shifting in 1999 (722.6). In 2000 the T-Modell, the only still on sale, was equipped with the G56 6-speed manual transmission.

Whats that you say????? A MANUAL 6 SPEED MADE FOR THE W202!!!! Anyone ever seen one of these???? Would it bolt right up??? I swear I have seen someone on this forum with the C43-T model, can you chime in here PLEASE.

PJmak

This car would rape with a 6 speed manual

jayrasheed

yes the 6 speed manual of any of the new V6 engines should fit.

Chappy

I don't think that Wiki article refers to a T-model AMG, just the W202 in general. The manual transmission was available for the 4cyl. and 6cyl. variants (but not the C36).

503C43 ////AMG

INDEEED IT WOULD

jumph4x

Caps lock, caps lock, UNDERLINE, UNDERLINE, red, red, red, a million punctuation signs repeated???????????

colt45

This thread is relevant to my interests!
Do tell more- a stock C43 with a 6 speed would be Nirvana!
(imagine a C55 with 6 speed....

503C43 ////AMG

WTF????? what are you saying?

503C43 ////AMG

I am looking into it... does anyone have any info??? part numbers??

edemac8

The only reason it can be done with the 36 is because our engines are from the 280 I6's, which in europe had a choice of transmissions. AMG never put 5 speeds in any of the 36's, its always been an aftermarket mod, however still pretty rare, I have only read about a few and never actually read about the final product. With the M104 engines the c280 transmissions will bolt right up...but as you can imagine alot of other stuff needs to be gutted and replaced with this mod.

This can not be done with the 43's because mercedes never made a transmission for any v8 besides the few earlier ones, and to my knowledge those transmissions wont bolt up (but im not very educated on those cars...) I dont think it will ever be done, a c43 stick shift

edemac8

you will not find a c43 with a 5/6 speed. sorry. if you can prove me wrong than all the power to you, but I have read and read, and asked all over. It hasnt and cant be done, and if it could no one will spend the money needed to figure it out for a 43, youll just end up spending the price of your car

503C43 ////AMG

ANYTHING can be done but you are right it's all about how much $$$ you want to spend. It might be worth spending $5k or $6k to have the ONLY C43 with a 6 speed, if indeed there are none out there (which I find very hard to believe). I can tell you this, if I had the $$$$ to burn I would do it right now. The wife says I can't drop the big $$$$$ on a tranny BUT I CAN buy a W210 E55..... LUCKY ME!!!!! Now imagine a 6 speed in the E55!!!!!!


P.S there is a 6 speed variant used, the 5-speed transmission was marketed as "sealed for life" however Mercedes dealers now recommend changing the fluid at regular intervals. A 5-speed manual is also available, although during facelift in 2000, it was replaced by a 6-speed manual
Transmission

• 5 and 6 speed (optional) auto 722.609 (same as C43, E55, SL/S600/c)
• Final drive ratio 2.82
• 1st gear 3.59
• 2nd gear 2.19
• 3rd gear 1.41
• 4th gear 1.00
• 5th gear 0.83
• 6th gear 1.33
• Reverse gear 3.16

Options available Power adjustable front seats, sport steering wheel, leather upholstery, leather shift knob, 5 and 6 speed automatic transmission, Brake Assist System (BAS), Electronic Stability System (ESP), automatic climate control with charcoal filter, heated front seats, front and side airbags, power windows, metallic paint, xenon HID headlamps. 4 MATIC (Euro spec E55s)

I imagine this would bolt right up or at least take very little modification to make it work.

Chappy

Renntech installed a manual transmission into the clk 60 and clk gtx.

MarcusF

Quote:

Originally Posted by edemac8

The only reason it can be done with the 36 is because our engines are from the 280 I6's, which in

This isn't a flame, but you’ve been posting this for some time and it's simply not true. Chevrolet V8s don’t bolt to 901 Porsche transmissions, but there are V8 914s. Chevrolet V8s don't bolt to Porsche 915 or G50 transmissions, but there are V8 911s. 13b rotary engines don't bolt Datsun transmissions, but there are rotary 510s. Ditto for V8 280Zs. LS powered Rx7s. Subaru powered 914s. V8 Volvos. Rat motored Panteras (ZF to big block Chevrolet).

This is a turbocharged Northstar in a Fiero. I was there and took the photo. That engine and transmission combination were never offered in any production car, and that transmission was never offered in a production Fiero.



Conceptually, putting manual transmission in a W202 is easy. Brand new Tremec T-56 six-speeds have a 700 ft-lb torque capacity and cost less than a 722.6 rebuild. A trans mount has to be welded up (cheap), a custom drive shaft (also cheap), and the adapter plate and flywheel have to be sourced. It's not hard to find someone to build the adapter and flywheel. There's a place named Kennedy that's just outside of Los Angeles, they build adapter plates and flywheels for anything anyone is willing to pay for. Most of their kits are in the $400 to $600 range, and they've been doing this for over 40 years.

If someone wants to build a C43 with a manual, it can be done.

503C43 ////AMG

As usual MarcusF to the rescue.... Thank Marcus for clearing it all up for us. I was sure it wouldn't be as hard as this guy was portraying it to be. Love the pic of the Fiero, I bet it FLEW with that turbo northstar. Now all they need is the F40 body kit they make for the fiero chasis.

P.S a long time ago when I had my 84 Z28 I came across a guy who pulled up next to me in a 280Z RUMBLING like he had a small block. I asked what he had to which he replied "I got a 283 in my 280Z" so if he can put a small block chevy in a datsun I think I can fit a 5 or 6 speed manual in my C43.

edemac8

Point taken, anything is possible. What I refer to is the way that I, and I believe others would theoretically do is use a standard european m104 stick shift and that bolts up to the c36. There isnt a standard transmission that can "easily boltup" made by mercedes to the the 43. Yes with money spent, and work done (custom stuff spending money) it can be done. But like I said, and Like 503 said it will start costing you the price of our cars...

You know your stuff you proved your point, okay I was corrected its possible, but I dont think itll be easy

LawRens

Well, if one loves his car enough, money really won't be too big an issue... Just start saving those pennies!

PJmak

^^ true that, if you really love your car and have lots of funds there should be nothing stopping you



Id have no problem spending 10k to get a manual tranny into my car, even more then that

DRBC43AMG

What about a more modern 6 or 7 speed GTronic box. Apart the electronics needed to get it working, could be a good solution. I'm going to snoop around for info.

Also I can vouch that Kennedy can find a solution to nearly any problem.

503C43 ////AMG

I'm DROOLING just thinking about it. Let us know what you come up with. The 7 speed (100 millisecond shifts) would not only give us quicker times but it would also give us better gas mileage. Then you could rig up the PADDLE SHIFTERS!!!! Like I said before anything that will give me more power + better gas mileage will need to be installed on my car

colt45

I have spent some time thinking about this project and have consulted with some knowlegable individuals regarding the feasability.

The mechanical part of a conversion to manual transmission, while not exactly "easy", would *seem* to be reasonably straighforward. W202s were, in various formats, delivered with manual transmissions in Europe, so the pedals, and various linkages exist and can be studied and/or modified to work. There are any number of transmissions strong enough, though part of the project for converting to manual would be figuring out which one will fit without having to do drastic surgery to the car. I would lean toward a German transmission perhaps a ZF or Getrag out of a BMW (gasp!), though the Tremec looks to be a good option and there are others like Ricardo ($$$).

As illustrated in the above posts, it is well within the skills of a motivated machinist and fabricator to fit the mechanical parts (driveshaft, bell housing, flywheel, mounts, etc) of a manual transmission to a C43 or C36.

The real challenge would be integrating the electronics.
Even though the C43s are 10-12 years old, they still have some pretty sophisticated and complicated electronics which interface with the factory supplied auto trans-- ABS, ESD and ASR, not to mention potentially OBD2 and emissions... Someone will need to hack into the cars computer and give it the inputs it requires... I don't see the guys with the know-how like RennTech getting too excited about this particular project, but who knows?

DRBC43AMG

I agree, the biggest problem would be to get the electronics working and interfacing correctly with the other electronic modules (or else you disconnect all that stuff and drive the "old fashioned" way, i.e. with the seat of your pants ). Getting a manual to fit, would also need to get a third (clutch) pedal with accessories installed.

eundaddy

shouldnt the manual gear boxes put into the current c300 work on the c43?

MarcusF

Too much torque will break a transmission. The C43 puts out over 135% of the torque that a C300 does.

eundaddy

whats the worst that can break on a manual transmission though.... the clutch? the flywheel? these can be easily upgraded to compensate.