Convert Auto to Manual
 

Hello everyone -

This is a genuine question - what costs can I expect if I'm looking to convert a w203 from auto to manual transmission? Even if it can be done? Most likely looking at a pre facelift C200 kompressor - or even a C320 (pre facelift again)..

Reason I ask is in Australia only the C200/C200k/C180/C180k came with manuals - very, very rare - and usually command a $10,000 extra on the used car market (yeah. crazy.)

Please no 'in the thousands' or 'you're an idiot' replies :)

Cheers!
Daniel

I can only comment on what I know and that is you will need STAR (DAS/SDS) to be able to change the coding. But other than that I am guessing one major thing is the transmission :rolleyes: the shifter (dont really know the proper name) and I guess other minor stuff. I would love to convert my car to manual :)

probably used tranny, and drilling for the master and slave cyclinders for the clutch. Its kinda not worth it unless your gonna diy or your getting a huge discount on labor.

Excuse my lack of knowledge on this topic but all in all wouldn't it be just swapping out the transmission and adding a clutch pedal (little more than that but in a nutshell) and then programming it?

What else would need to be done?

i dunno if the manuals for mercedes have tcu's. You would think they wouldn't since your doing the shifting not a tq converter. On regular cars, the manuals do not have tcu's.

The tranny should link up long as its for the same engine, then probably shift linkage.

Mike you genius, how would you do the clutch pedal? (not mocking you or questioning you a legit question)

Turbo project might turn to a Manual project if Mike gives me the right answers.

Edit:

By the way a buddy said you went to his exhaust shop. Do they do good work?

I must say that the MB autostick version is as close to having a manual as possible. Love it :zoom:

If anyone wants to trade their auto for my manual I'd be down (for a similar spec'd car)... I mean entire car swap not swapping the transmissions.

I love my manual but when I sell the car I think it will be harder to sell than an auto would be.

The manual mode in the Benz is about as close to a manual as a Snicker's bar is to a diamond. It's soooo lame.

Damn! Wish we were closer.

They do not.


There's a very good chancde that if that model car came with either a manual or a slushbox, then the provision(s) for the clutch pedal are already there.


Uhhhhh..... Have you driven a stickshift lately?

Having just been underneath the dash of my C230 Coupe, I think you would have some work in fitting in the clutch mechanisms. Likely, the brake pedal assembly is different from a clutch to an auto car. My car is an auto and the brake assembly and firewall mounting seemed to leave little room for a clutch pedal.

I'd love to convert my car as well, however, having seen the pedal box area, I quickly dismissed this.

Ed

Contacted BenzModz about this, this is what they had to say:

Cheers

I would not put that much effort to change it out. It's a C-Class, if you had a junked out manual next to you I would still say not worth it. Same goes for a motor swap.

I have a manual, it's ok.

Hunt for that rare car or look for something other than Mercedes.

oh is it the muffler place in cypress? if so, yeah i did. I had him reweld my sway bar bracket. They do pretty good work for the money.

Like the others have said, you have to see if the holes are pre drilled or not. I know one the older japanese cars they were, but now there not now since there not many manuals sold in the US.

If its not predrilled, it'll be annoying to drill into the firewall. You need to compare with manual car , see if everything is located in the same spot. Some times certain things are located differently between the auto and manuals version..like abs controller and such.

In the end, you better off just buying a used manual miata, or 240sx then doing this. A manual swap, would barely be faster then the auto and slower then just trading in your car and putting 2k on top for a c55.

Theres a lot involved in doing this. Clutch pedal assembly, clutch slave cylinder.. Way too much imo, Mercedes-benz may not even consider doing this.

I did this swap on a 98 trans am, and it was REALLY easy. Not sure about the benz though.

lol you can do a auto manual conversion with a new motor in a older civic with in a day, but this a benz. The germans like making it difficult.

haha i would love to swap mine and shove in a c350 motor =)

It is definitely possible to change to a manual transmission, but it will be neither cheap nor easy. But I would never try to dissuade this swap, since I am a manual transmission enthusiast.

Remember that in addition to the obvious parts, like the transmission and the shifter, you will have to swap the following:
pedal cluster
master cylinder and slave cylinder
hydraulic lines
under-dash sound insulation
electrical hookups for brake switch and clutch switch
Many of the above parts are specific to right hand drive cars, so the supply may be limited.

Other parts not previously mentioned (not RHD specific), are things like:
drive shaft
clutch and related parts
flywheel
rear differential (gear ratio may be different)

The key to success may be a wrecked W203 with MT as a donor car.

Good luck on your endeavor.

:zoom:

I have a donor car right next to my auto, what if you take Everything from the donor car......wiring, everything?

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