I'v got manny transmission on my c200k sedan and feel its a bit floppy ! what do you people think of the manny box on the w203's ?

 

The 6spd manny is very rough and hard shifting especially between 1st and 2nd. The gears are spaced well though.

 

I think the manual gearbox is okay..like you said..maybe a bit floppy...I would call it "long" shifts. If you got the sport package option - I believe that the shifter would feel better - since the shifts are shorter. However, there is no more sport option here in the US on the C-class. Did you have an option to get the sport package in the UK?

 

nope theres no "sport" option here in the uk, only elegance. classic and avantgarde !

Mines the classic, with 15" steels and fake wooden trim on dash oh and also the crappy fake "mb lex" synthetic leather. do u get that in the states ?

is it possible to upgrade the fake wooden trim to the aluminium one that comes with the avantgarde package? also is there no short shift kit available for the manuals?

I also feel its totaly impossible to shift fast on the mannual cause the gaiters are just so far away !

 

Yes, we also get the MB tex here in the states. Some people really like it...I have all leather. I dont know if anyone could really tell the difference.

I believe you can change out the interior trim - from the wood to the CF/aluminum.

I believe the C230 Coupe has a shorter throw 6spd manual. I dont know how cost effective it would be to exchange it out. You can also probably check with Renntech or Brabus - they make manual trans and may offer a shorter throw shifter. But, again, i think the cost would be greater than the benefit. Unless you have an unlimited supply of cash - Euro's and/or Pounds.

 

the money isnt the problem, its the availability of any parts for the new C over here in the uk, i cant even get hold of lowering springs for it over here !! any idea how much the cf/aluminium interior trim would cost ?

 

I've driven three of these, including our car, and the gearbox is excellent - clean shifting, precise, quiet. Perhaps if you're into brutalising the gearbox with power shifts and the like it's not ideal, but for regular/fast driving it's superb.

 

Both Bos and Davidta have already changed their shifters to the C7 short-throw (the dealer did the work, if I remember properly).

http://www.zvolution.com/c230k/C7Shifter.htm

jlm

 

I find the 6 speed in our C240 to be excellent. Very smooth shifting, light but solid action, no problems at all.

I've also driven the C7 Hatchback and thought its manny transmission was also excellent.

The only thing I would change on both is making 1st gear (and maybe second) a little higher.

 

is the c7 a merc shifter ? is that the one in the coupe? how much is it ?

 

The C7 (or Evolution) package shifter is a factory Mercedes shifter. The part was around $435 US. I think it's about an hour of two or labor to swap it out. Since it's a factory part, the dealer shouldn't have any problem swapping it out (I'd guess it fits in the sedan - but not sure).

Cheers, BT

 

I like the manny too. Yes it's sometimes hard to get into first when moving, but 2nd is so low and the 2.3 so torquey that you can start in 2nd from a very slow crawl. I don't bother with 1st unless I'm stopped anyway. So what's the problem?

I wouldn't raise the ratios. Those "granny" gears are great for slow moving traffic (along with the low end torque). Saves riding the clutch. I do wish 6th was a bit higher though (or at least further away from 5th).

 

Double clutch and it will slip right into first.

I agree, would save on gas at highway speeds. Cruise in sixth and downshift to fifth for any passing maneuvers (fifth will go all the way to the US 130 mph limit, so it's quite useful for passing).

Cheers, BT

 

I would. 1st and 2nd need to be a little taller. The car has enough torque that the result would probably shave a half second or so off the 0-60 time(you'd save the shift to third). The MINI has what I found to be the best gearing in a six speed car, the RSX also has good gear ratios...if that car had real torque, it would be a real terror.

On the C240 I wouldn't change em, the car is too underpowered as it is thru the first three gears.

And yes, the C7 shifter makes a world of difference...the throws are too long on the stock shifter. Otherwise its a nice gearbox.

 

I don't have any problems getting into first while moving - but like you say, that's not really an issue anyways. When I drive the car, if I am even going 2 mph, I just use 2d - the 2nd gear in these cars feels like it isn't too much higher than 1st gear in a lot of other cars.

 

I'm not a huge fan of the manny (but anything's better than an auto).

For those of you who might want an improvement over the C7, UUC should be finalizing their short shift kit before Turkey Day (and hopefully will have a billet shift knob as well), and I should have pics/report of how well it works about then. Stay tuned!

 

In line with other's comments, I'd say 1st is waaaaay too short. The other ratios are fine. Feel is a little rubbery, but the clutch is very forgiving, so overall I'd say it's a good manual. Only other downside I can think of is the pedal spacing, but that's not really a fault with the transmission per se.

The 5-spd in my 325 has ideal ratios and far better shift feel, but the clutch is an unforgiving monster and I sometimes wish for a 6th (5th is direct drive, so at 70 MPH it's turning around 3,300 RPM).

 

Really? The 325 doesn't have an overdrive ratio?

 

Nope, 5th is 1:1.

Ratios are : 4.23/2.52/1.66/1.22/1.00

 

I didn't know MB had fake wood trim -- my C240 has real wood trim -- are you sure it's fake?

The C240/C320 sedans have MB-Tex bolsters w/ leather center inserts standard. Full leather option adds leather bolsters, headrests, side door inserts and nicer (i.e., "French seam") stitching.
I saw both the standard and full leather interiors before I ordered my car -- you would be very hard pressed to notice or feel the difference. The visible clues are the double-row stitching and "gathers" on the door insert trim.

Actually I think the gates are pretty close together, compared w/ my previous '99 Passat.

I agree -- I'd like to drive an example of one of the "problem" tranny's. Also, I'm wondering if the short throw linkage is standard on the C240 because I don't find the throws long.

 

So the overall opinion is that its a decent gearbox ? cause overhere in the uk 99% of mercs are bought auto's and if you do buy a manual ure seen as a bit of a dick as they totally slate the manual box here? even though i bought the manual as the thought of an auto just pissed me off.

Also overhere they rate the new A4, 3 series and is200 much better than the c200k sedan, why is this? bmw's are sooo common over here !

 

Tommy, make sure you let us know when the new shifter is done! I have a non-C7 shifter and it is terrible. Sloppy, vague, and still has that nasty 1st to 2nd shift. Hopefully, the UUC shifter will fix some of these problems.

 

in europe they do from what i understand unless you get the upgraded wood trim. i may be wrong, but they do have alot more options over there.

also when i test drove the 02 it was a non C7. when i test drove a 03 it was was equipped with C7. though the test drives were 4 months apart i didnt notice a difference in the manny's from non C7 and C7. probably because of the time frame. the auto was never an option for me so i never test drove one. i just prefer a manual transmission!

 

Why not just get the C7 unit?

 

Hopefully, the new UUC shifter will be better than the C7-and maybe cheaper too.