pyy116

I own a 2003 c230 sport coupe with manual transmission... Whenever i shift from 1st to 2nd gear, i always have to put extra force to shift to the 2nd gear.... it feels like it is stuck or something... it only occurs when shifting from 1st to 2nd while the car is running... (when it is not moving, the shifting is fine...) Is it b/c my transmission all f**k up or it is just the way it is ??? by the way, i test-drove a c230 sport SEDAN, with manual transmission. and the shifting is a lot better than my c-coupe... why???

hphan

My 2002 was the same way at first. around 10K miles it started to smooth out. I have a little over 20K miles now and there is a slight notch, but it's not very noticeable anymore.

levelr123g

replace the tranny fluid with synthetic atf fluid, it will help the problem

TonyG230

Sorry to disagree, and I know there are lots who have used ATF in a manual tranny but gear oil contains extreme pressure additives meant for gears that mess together. Also, I think that our trannys come with synthetic from the factory that is as slipery as any fluid out there. It could be a defect. First thing to do is to see your dealer and check to see what they will do for you. Some people say that the manuals get better with time, that could be the synchros seating in. That is normal in manual transmissions. Good Luck!

nukblazi

my 02 coupe was ruff at first, smoothed out around 7 - 9k, then began to get progressively worse as the miles went on.

I am at 30k now and it is to the point that I get a "crunch" noise on the 1 -2 shift. The car is going in on the 10th, I told my service manager that it is unacceptable and that I expect the problem to be resolved even if it requires a new transmission. I told him no more add some fluid, remove some fluid, change the fluid bs. Something is clearly wrong, even if "they are all like that."

levelr123g

yes the atf fix is an mb suggestion. yes you can use atf in a manual tranny with no problems. hell my 91 integra used regular 10-40 motor oil in the tranny.

Lynn

Do not use hypoid gear lube in your MB transmission. It is not what MB recommends or uses. The high pressure additives in hypoid gear lube are not good for the transmission.

DCXdynodog

It's junk.

Do a search with my username and/or trans, lots of people have problems, my 2003 c230k didn't make it 100 yards off the lot before I returned it. The dealer installed a new trans the next week and it has been decent since but still lacking in shift quality compared to a $12,000 Honda which lasted 180,000 miles.

pyy116

Hi, everyone~
I would like to thank all of u giving me these advices...
finally, i decided to bring the car to the dealer to fix it!

I brought in my car to the dealer and told them the problem this morning....
they called me back and told me there was no problem and asked me to drive it with one of the technicians...
the technician had the same feeling to the 2nd gear but did not think it was a major problem.... but he is gonna check the car again...
I hope they find out the problem and fix it...
does anyone who has the same trans problem take the c coupe to the dealer and get it fixed??

20FHK02

I had the same problem with my 02 coupe. The dealer bleed some fuild from the trans and it helped. But after 3000 miles the shifting is notchy again!

neptunespeed

Hey guys,

A guy came to look at my C7 wheels last week. He was driving a loaner car. He told me he was going on a third tranny with his 2002 C230 coupe. The dealer also said it wasn't a problem at first. But it got to a point where it was so cumbersome to shift, that he did want to drive it anymore... that's terrible for a Mercedes. Anyhow, he persisted and got them to replace it(supposedly)... but it got bad again so he's insisting they fix it again.

I think you have to do this stuff while it's still under warranty.

-Thach

alevy

I had the same problem.. after 500 miles i switched Tranny fluids.. Go with Royal Purple Synchromax.. i used it in my E46 M3 which is the notchiest gearbox on the planet.. people who have driven it can attest to that.. Replace the fluid with RP Synchromax and watch it glide like butter...

-Alex

20FHK02

Hey I want to try it myself. How do you replace the fluid?

alevy

I actually had the dealer change the fluid.. I know bmw's inside and out not too familiar with my new benz yet.. wasnt going to chance it.. Id assume there is a drain plug somewhere under the middle of the 2 front seats... let it drain completely.. then close the drain plug with roughly 21ft lbs of torque.. then find the filler hole.. probably up under where the drivers seat is.. and fill the tranny untill it leaks from the filler hole.. then close her up..

-Alex

20FHK02

So did you buy the fuild and had the dealer change that or you just told them to change to the brand you specified?
I just worry they wouldn't do it as it's not an OEM product.

alevy

I bought the fluid and they put it in.. My dealer is cool as hell and the shop foreman is a friend of mine.. Hell any AAMCO transmission center can change it for you for like 10 bux.. I got my fluid from Rogue Engineering.. www.rogueengineering.com If you want the Synchromax speak to Ben and tell him Alex Levy reffered you


-Alex

20FHK02

Thanks! Last question: how many quarts did you buy?

alevy

I believe they are sold in liters.. i bought 6... pretty sure i still have 1 1/2 left over..

-Alex

totita

Does anybody know the specs for the gearbox oil; is it GL-4 or GL-5 compatible? Any experience with Amsoil or MObil1 synthetic oils? I also experience sometimes a crunching noise when shifting form 1 to 2 and would like to change the oil.

alevy

As i stated earlier.. go with the Royal Purple..

-Alex

totita

Why?

totita

Why do you think is better then Amsoil or Mobil1?
Thanks

alevy

Absolutly.. There is nothing worse in this world as far as notchiness goes than the E46 M3 gearbox.. and the Royal Puple made it glide.. i tried M1 and Catrol Synth both didnt do the job.. the RP is nice!

-Alex

TonyG230

What wieght or grade is the Royal Purple? You did say over 4 Liters? Thanks Tony

alevy

Here is the data sheet..

http://www.royalpurple.com/scmax/scmaxps.pdf

-Alex