C300Sport

I have about 800 miles and my 1-2 shift is getting pretty clunky. All the other shifts seem just fine but the one two is getting kinda annoying. Even if I shift very slowly, it is quite nothchy. Has anyone heard of syncronizer problems in the manuals or have this same issue?

mikestyle

ya i have noticed the same thing happening to me. when it was new shifting was very nice, however 7000km later, it feels clunky. and yess at first 1-2 seems to be the only gear but after a while every gear seems to get like that. however 1-2 being the worst.

sleewell

i have a W203 6spd, but am not experiencing any of those types of problems. it feels like it wants jump to the next gear and barely requires any effort to find the next gear. it is very smooth as it slips in too, no rough spots or catches at all. the car is just as easy to drive slowly and smoothly as it is to drive aggressively.

hmc

I have 2300 miles and shift quality is getting better (at least not getting worse).

It may be temperature related.

sleewell

i hope not, i am possibly moving to Michigan in a few months.

C300Sport

It is a little better once up to full operating temp but nothing like it was for the first 500 miles. Well at least I have my 1K-3K service coming up. Maybe they can address the issue. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

C300Sport

Did they change much from the 203 to the 204?

Spec_Davis

1st and 2nd catches hard that when start up, but after the engine gets to the normal temp it shifts fine.

keith100

Don't have a manual C, but on most stickshifts I've owned, hard shifting was usually clutch drag - ie clutch not releasing fully. Maybe an adjustment at your first service?

Spec_Davis

that could be it. When i go in for my first oil change i will let them know about it.

Distalero

First to second gear change in a number of different cars is an art, to do it right. You have to really listen to the revs, learn the sound the engine makes so well that you don't register it consciously; it's why I held out for a stick. More expertise needed to drive smoothly. I don't want to just sit there.

Granted, there may be a minor issue with this model, and maybe this is what Chilled Benz was talking about when he said the transmission wasn't the best, but I've been in worse cars, where you were pretty much forced to shift with the right rev band, synchros or not. Think of it as a retro experience; puts you up there with the old pros .

mikestyle

hmmm so keep us posted plz

C300Sport

[QUOTE=Distalero;3092912]First to second gear change in a number of different cars is an art, to do it right. You have to really listen to the revs, learn the sound the engine makes so well that you don't register it consciously; it's why I held out for a stick. More expertise needed to drive smoothly. I don't want to just sit there.

Granted, there may be a minor issue with this model, and maybe this is what Chilled Benz was talking about when he said the transmission wasn't the best, but I've been in worse cars, where you were pretty much forced to shift with the right rev band, synchros or not. Think of it as a retro experience; puts you up there with the old pros .[/QUOTE

If only it were that simple. The synchros are there for the simple reason that in daily driving, you will be shifting at different engine and vehicle speeds. Even if you "rev match' the Benz would still not allow you to shift smoothly.(I am quite adept at this on my motorcycle, so I understand the concept) It is really more of a problem in the linkage than the meshing/rev matching in the gear box. Of course if it had the old school, staight cut gears, that might be the case.

Distalero

Of course shifting is more than just relying on the gearbox. The other important part of this scenario is adept use of the clutch, learning how and when to let it out smoothly. Again, it's an art to some degree in the best of cars, and more so when there is an idiosyncrasy (I prefer "personality") in the car in question. Notchy? OK, then learn to align with what the car does as it's particular response to input.

And again, clutch use is associated with use of speed, engine revs, smooth input with hand and foot. Many, maybe most, drivers don't like this, don't want this, because it forces you to change your habits, and it forces you to pay attention. I personally think that some personalities actually become a little fearful with the idea that you have to cooperate with the car; seems like a loss of control. But in my view, there is no other way to drive. Getting from A to B is an exercise in skill, or at least learning to be skillful, or, it's getting there half anesthetized, with a false sense of control. Maybe a harsh viewpoint on my part, but there it is.

hmc

Well said.

C300Sport

Good grief Distalero...can you not accept the notion that the MB gearbox is simply just a little rougher around the edges than many others on the road? As with most C300 owners, we chose the manual because of the aspects you mention.(Actually paying attention to what is going on with the car and the road).
If one can shift a 3 series, G8, TSX, GTI or Miata without any roughness whatsoever, there is really no reason why MB can't address this issue. Actually the clutch take up is quite smooth, it's the shifter action (with full clutch) that is nothcy and balky(even when not rushing a shift and aligning with the gate perfectly). It's not that the transmission is inherently bad...just not a smooth operator. With that said, I still plan on having the dealer inspect it with my first checkup.

mporter25

Until water temp reaches normal operating conditions, I've found that shifting as close to 3500 rpm as possible allows for very smooth transitions between 1-2 and 2-3. BUT, as most of us know, revving past 3500 before the engine is warm increases the wear.

Try it out and let me know how it works.

Distalero

Well, not MANY cars, but sure, it's notchy, a bit, but therein lies the challenge, so my points remain true for me at least. But, by all means, I'm all ears, please let us know what Service tells you about the situation. For all I know there's a TSB out, but I would doubt it because it doesn't seem that much of a problem to me. Now, if it got worse with time, then that's a different kettle of synchros.

RLE

Mercedes has never gotten good reviews on their manual transmissions.

mikestyle

I agree, seems like we both have the same problem, not my first standard car either, I think MB has to realize there is a problem. Distalero its not the 1960's cars shift better now in days, I think they have some kind of crazy technology thing called syncro’s.

hmc

While I don't have problem with my car, I wonder who manufactures this manual transmission for background information.

MB, Getrag, ZF or someone else?

Carsy

I have noticed that in cold conditions a manual transmision can be "knotchy" until up to operating temperature. The correct grade of oil for the climatic conditions is essential.

mikestyle

yess i agree however when the car has been driven for more then a hour the shift 1-2 is still notchey when compared to other newer vehicles and when compared to the car was driven off the lot. maybe that's just normal, its not all that bad however it dont feel like a mb should.

Distalero

Kettle of what? ()

Derspeed

Mine shifts fine. I also find rev matching to be pretty easy with it. My biggest complaint is the long throws. I wish someone would make a short shift kit.