Jim Banville

Since my first post went way off topic, I thought I'd ask this question where it might get answered.
I'm pretty sure the light vibrations I feel through the shifter while sitting idle are normal. What I'm not sure is normal is that when I turn on the A/C, the vibrations become much stronger and sometimes feel like a "knock" through the shifter at the frequency of about 2 per second. For those of you with the 6 speed manual that use the A/C, would you mind paying attention for this vibration for a couple of days while sitting at idle with the A/C on after having driven for a while, and let me know something? Thanks!!!!

thanks!
Jim

mbny

i've only used the A/C a couple of times so far, however i did not notice any vibration when at idle with the A/C off. but when i turn it on, i do notice some vibration so i'm guessing it's normal.

Outland

Jim,

With the manual, youve got a direct link to the drivetrain, youre going to feel a lot of stuff you never did with the auto. Just drive it. THere's always the warranty.

tyro

A logical answer could be that Jim has the Delerium Tremens (DT's) now that he, theoritically, got his substance abuse under control, and his hands, etc., are doing the shaking/vibrating.
This is, of course, Opinion only and not a statement of fact.

ctC230K

loooool!!
I thought we already answered this question. It's NORMAL. don't sweat it. I feel it too, deal.
i haven't used AC much either. i could try and see for you. :p

heheheh
ROFL

Capt Nemo o2

Naturally you would feel more vibration with the A/C on. Your engine is now running an extra compressor, which could use around 25-30 HP. Thats quite a bit of strain to put on the engine at idle and not have any extra vibration. And like Outland said... There is a direct mechanical link to the engine and shifter in a manual tranny. An automatic has a liquid filled torque convertor that only has a solid link to the engine when the TC lock is turned on, which is usually while cruising above 40-50 mph. Since there is no solid link, the TC acts like a liquid filled vibration isolator, and does it pretty well. Then on top of that, the shifter in and auto is either by a cable or electronic, MB being the latter so you wont get any vibration felt only in the shifter and not the entire car.

ctC230K

Jim Banville

Thnaks guy's. I realize I would feel more vibrations w/ A/C on. My main concern is the "knock" (about 2 per second) I'm feeling.

Outland

Go ask your dealer to sit in another one with the AC on, and grab the stick.

ctC230K

that sounds so dirty :p

Jim Banville

Not sure about your area, but manual MB's are RARE in the southeast.

jigga619

I have a manual, and I too feel the vibrations when sitting at a stop light (w/ no AC on). I'm taking my car in tomorrow to get it checked out.. so I'll let you know what happens.

vadim

Don't hold your breath - nothing will happen, you will have wasted your time. As many stated here, vibrations in the stick at idle are normal.

I suppose this is more pronounced in 2005+ gear box with solid linkages between the stick and the box itself as opposed to the pre-2005 version that has cable links.

Jim Banville

AGAIN, I realize you're going to feel vibrations through the stick. I'm concerned about the 2 knocks pers second I feel through the stick sitting at idle, with the A/C on, after you've been driving for a while.

vadim

Jim--

I do not feel knocks with AC on, but we have different transmissions. Have it checked at the dealer. And to get peace of mind, try to find another 2005+ MB with a manual tranny (does not have to be a C-Class SS, BTW), and see if it is present.

mick1

no 2 knocks per second on my car.

Jim Banville

Do you notice any change in the vibrations through the stick while sitting idle w/ the A/C on and after having driven for a while?

mick1

Nope. on the V6, it's the same all the way through. there's vibration with the A/C off and with the A/C on, the vibration level stays the same (after an hour of driving). The engine's vibration caught my attention the first few days i drove the car because my old '99 bmw 328i had less vibration at 75,000 miles than my C320 at 18 miles. On the bmw, sometimes I could not tell if the engine was running. However, the vibration on the C320 isn't all that much, so I got used to it

ctC230K

lol @ Jim. i thought you said u were gonna trade it in for an auto??

Jim Banville

The story of my trip to trade it is in the thread titled "Wild coincedence!". Suffice is to say that I don't want to lose that much money since my car is 99% the way I want it. I "may" retrofit an auto tranny in it in the not-to-distant future if I don't start enjoying shifting gears.

Capt Nemo o2

Thats the beauty of inline 6's They are so smooth. They are the most naturally balanced engine of any piston configuration other than V12s which is nothing more than 2 I6's

ctC230K

ohhh that's right. what ever happened ? sorry i can't remember. did you trade with him?? oh wait nevermind. i should read more then the first line of posts sometimes but i'm moving in lightspeed right now, i have no time for anything anymore.

http://home.earthlink.net/~ct323i/carerragt/

vadim

... you forgot to mention the boxer

ctC230K

you mean the boxster right? hahahaha

vadim

No, idiot, I meant "boxer". Noone it talking about Porsche here.