c230 kompressor auto or stick?
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,238
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From: Long Island, New York
'05 C230SS 6MT, 1966 Triumph TR4a IRS, Shelby Cobra 427 Supercharged
Originally Posted by Axxis22
I have stick.. and it doesnt seem THAT rare when 18 out of 20 post here are stick drivers..
maybe we just know were to look
maybe we just know were to look
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,175
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From: Socal
EVE
hell i'm an enthusiast and sometimes i contemplate a conversion 
. alas - my 5spd. chipped 1.8T B6 generates the "complete man" so to speak. I mean really, look at what I'm trying to bring to everyone.
flip
. alas - my 5spd. chipped 1.8T B6 generates the "complete man" so to speak. I mean really, look at what I'm trying to bring to everyone.flip
Last edited by mig888; Feb 8, 2006 at 11:58 AM.
Almost a Member!
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 52
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From: Alexandria, VA
2005 C230K Sport Sedan in Brilliant Silver/Black
Originally Posted by BabyBenz6spd
According to their site, I think only the vehicle listed uses Getrag 6spd. (Some are 5 spd trans.)
Getrag Link
BMW 3er, 5er, Z4 Roadster
Ford Lincoln, Jaguar S-Type
BMW 540i, Z8, M3, M5, Alpina
Nissan Skyline GTR, Toyota Supra, Supra Turbo
Cadillac CTS,Holden Commodore V6
Getrag Link
BMW 3er, 5er, Z4 Roadster
Ford Lincoln, Jaguar S-Type
BMW 540i, Z8, M3, M5, Alpina
Nissan Skyline GTR, Toyota Supra, Supra Turbo
Cadillac CTS,Holden Commodore V6
).. so I got my benz in an auto and I have no regrets.
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,684
Likes: 12
From: West Los Angeles
Midnight Blue 2004.5 C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan. 2002 w210 E320, 2009 w211 E350 Sport
I really wish I would've gotten stick. The ONLY reason I got an automatic was in case of emergency, if my parents needed to borrow my car. I Love them to death, but making a decision on the transmission based on their needs was a big mistake...Oh well, I'm still happy with the auto though, but I've heard the 6 speed is a lot more fun to drive.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 277
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From: Maryland
Dia Blk '06 C230 w/3 pedals
Originally Posted by Amy_fl
The car I traded in to get my C230K had a 5 speed Getrag transmission.. and yes, it did shift very smoothly. I bought that car when I lived in northern Florida, though, where there was significantly less traffic and a lot more room to actually go through the gears. Once I moved to the DC Metro area, the stick became a major pain in the *** (as did the traffic ).. so I got my benz in an auto and I have no regrets.
).. so I got my benz in an auto and I have no regrets.
Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 227
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From: Brooklyn, NY
Mine 2005 C230 Kompressor, Dad's 2005 ML350
Originally Posted by drexappeal
I really wish I would've gotten stick. The ONLY reason I got an automatic was in case of emergency, if my parents needed to borrow my car. I Love them to death, but making a decision on the transmission based on their needs was a big mistake...Oh well, I'm still happy with the auto though, but I've heard the 6 speed is a lot more fun to drive.
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Joined: Sep 2005
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From: South Coast Metro/Cerritos/Yorba Linda California
'05 C230K '10 GLK350 '13 SMART
I have no regrets getting a 6spd. Makes the car very fun to drive only sucks when stuck in traffic. Finally was really able to take my car sideways last Sunday in the quiet slopes in Yorba Linda 
. I was ing ear to ear. People always suprised to see my car is stick. Anyone know if the new SLK's come in stick? I once saw a older one in stick.
. I was ing ear to ear. People always suprised to see my car is stick. Anyone know if the new SLK's come in stick? I once saw a older one in stick.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2026
Posts: 22
Likes: 2
From: Kentucky
2004 C230K 2 door coupe 1.8l m271 6 speed manual
I own a 2004 c230k coupe 6spd, 64,449 miles and daily driver. Love the car, regular preventative maintenance is highly recommended with the m271 engines. Also the early 2000s models have trim deterioration issues.. and headlight assembly wiring harnesses are made of biodegradable shielded wiring.. kinda sucks but was a easy fix and repair myself.
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,268
Likes: 172
From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
Wow, pretty low miles. Cool. I had M271 C230 sedan loaners back in the day. My commute
involved going up a twisty 4 lane mountain highway ie 17 in Cali and right at the top
the M271 topped out and would not go faster at about 30-45 degree angle uphill.
It was a real PIA with the auto t needed to stay in 3rd but would drop into 4th before redline
and then bog. I'm quite sure the 6 speed would have been much better M111 has so much more torque. Climb right up that hill. Too bad they didn't keep it going, only the one year in the coupe in US.
Oh hey, I see it;s your 1st post. Welcome to the forum. Whats left of it LOL.
Big time repository of info here, but less and less active members. I'm 24 years with W203 coupe and now a 2nd one. And almost just as long on this forum.
I must be crazy! LOL.
involved going up a twisty 4 lane mountain highway ie 17 in Cali and right at the top
the M271 topped out and would not go faster at about 30-45 degree angle uphill.
It was a real PIA with the auto t needed to stay in 3rd but would drop into 4th before redline
and then bog. I'm quite sure the 6 speed would have been much better M111 has so much more torque. Climb right up that hill. Too bad they didn't keep it going, only the one year in the coupe in US.
Oh hey, I see it;s your 1st post. Welcome to the forum. Whats left of it LOL.
Big time repository of info here, but less and less active members. I'm 24 years with W203 coupe and now a 2nd one. And almost just as long on this forum.
I must be crazy! LOL.
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; Mar 5, 2026 at 04:13 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2026
Posts: 22
Likes: 2
From: Kentucky
2004 C230K 2 door coupe 1.8l m271 6 speed manual
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2026
Posts: 22
Likes: 2
From: Kentucky
2004 C230K 2 door coupe 1.8l m271 6 speed manual
Hey hey!
Wow, pretty low miles. Cool. I had M271 C230 sedan loaners back in the day. My commute
involved going up a twisty 4 lane mountain highway ie 17 in Cali and right at the top
the M271 topped out and would not go faster at about 30-45 degree angle uphill.
It was a real PIA with the auto t needed to stay in 3rd but would drop into 4th before redline
and then bog. I'm quite sure the 6 speed would have been much better M111 has so much more torque. Climb right up that hill. Too bad they didn't keep it going, only the one year in the coupe in US.
Oh hey, I see it;s your 1st post. Welcome to the forum. Whats left of it LOL.
Big time repository of info here, but less and less active members. I'm 24 years with W203 coupe and now a 2nd one. And almost just as long on this forum.
I must be crazy! LOL.
involved going up a twisty 4 lane mountain highway ie 17 in Cali and right at the top
the M271 topped out and would not go faster at about 30-45 degree angle uphill.
It was a real PIA with the auto t needed to stay in 3rd but would drop into 4th before redline
and then bog. I'm quite sure the 6 speed would have been much better M111 has so much more torque. Climb right up that hill. Too bad they didn't keep it going, only the one year in the coupe in US.
Oh hey, I see it;s your 1st post. Welcome to the forum. Whats left of it LOL.
Big time repository of info here, but less and less active members. I'm 24 years with W203 coupe and now a 2nd one. And almost just as long on this forum.
I must be crazy! LOL.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2026
Posts: 22
Likes: 2
From: Kentucky
2004 C230K 2 door coupe 1.8l m271 6 speed manual
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,268
Likes: 172
From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
265K on my original owner W203 with no issues with with the trans.
and to clairffy, My M111 engined car doesn't bog on hills, the loaner M271 equipped one did.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,434
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From: Raleigh, NC
2005 C230K, 2019 Honda CR-V, '74 Lotus Europa
It seems most of the owners of a six-speed like them. I can't say I don't like mine but I find it disappointing. The pedals are not placed well at all. Shifting isn't real heavy or notchy but I don't find it as nice to shift as other cars I've had. Even my mid-engine Lotus Europa (with long and somewhat complicated linkage) feels nicer to me. Many people have used Red Line transmission oil to improve shifting but that didn't improve mine.
If you don't want an automatic, the six-speed is ok. It's not terrible but I think it could be so much better.
As with all personal opinions, YMMV.
If you don't want an automatic, the six-speed is ok. It's not terrible but I think it could be so much better.
As with all personal opinions, YMMV.
