Just saying hi and thanks.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 549
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
'97 c36
Just saying hi and thanks.
After a dear decided that I no longer needed my 2002 blk/blk BMW 540i6 
I ended up taking the buy out from the insurance I found this off of cragslist. A 97 C36..
Its a pretty sweet ride but needed some work. The guy I bought it from was a pretty nice guy but did hide some issues that I found later after driving the car for a week. First off the transmission seemed to shift "ok" when I first drove it, but after a filter and oil change started to shift poorly. After reading some awesome threads on MBWorld I dug into the valve body and found the famous pressure spring problem.
It shifts better now but still not 100% seems to shift rougher than it should when cold. Holds on to 2nd gear till 3k then shift pretty hard. WOT seems ok though... I dunno maybe normal with this cars if not figure ill work that out..
I also caught up on the other service. Changed the upper control arms, diff oil.. lower bushings and ball joints are next. How many people have actually done the w208 solid bushings? I love the idea of solid rubber but was there an increase to road noise? Unfortunately I already bought the stock bushings before reading the thread on here about the w208's being an upgrade. Just wondering if its worth the effort to sell the 202's bushings....
Way behind the curve as this is my first Mercedes. Been in BMW land for a long time. But just wanted to give thanks to you guys for some killer threads.. specially posts by MarcusF, DRBC43AMG and 503C43 ////AMG
I ended up taking the buy out from the insurance I found this off of cragslist. A 97 C36..
Its a pretty sweet ride but needed some work. The guy I bought it from was a pretty nice guy but did hide some issues that I found later after driving the car for a week. First off the transmission seemed to shift "ok" when I first drove it, but after a filter and oil change started to shift poorly. After reading some awesome threads on MBWorld I dug into the valve body and found the famous pressure spring problem.
It shifts better now but still not 100% seems to shift rougher than it should when cold. Holds on to 2nd gear till 3k then shift pretty hard. WOT seems ok though... I dunno maybe normal with this cars if not figure ill work that out..
I also caught up on the other service. Changed the upper control arms, diff oil.. lower bushings and ball joints are next. How many people have actually done the w208 solid bushings? I love the idea of solid rubber but was there an increase to road noise? Unfortunately I already bought the stock bushings before reading the thread on here about the w208's being an upgrade. Just wondering if its worth the effort to sell the 202's bushings....
Way behind the curve as this is my first Mercedes. Been in BMW land for a long time. But just wanted to give thanks to you guys for some killer threads.. specially posts by MarcusF, DRBC43AMG and 503C43 ////AMG
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,890
Likes: 323
From: Land of mountains, cheese, chocolate and watches
12' W204 C63 AMG coupe "T-Rex", 12' W451 Smart Fortwo Pulse (99' W202 C43 AMG + Ultima Can-Am sold)
Welcome to the one and only serious and friendly fold 
and thanks for the compliments
and thanks for the compliments
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,101
Likes: 40
From: Bay Area, CA
98 C43, 15 Alfa 4C LE, 18 Tesla Model 3 DM Perf, 08 Duc S1000, 02 Duc 998, 98 Duc 748, 01 Miata
These cars hold 2nd gear longer when they are cold to help the car warm up quicker, so as long as nothing else is going on, that's normal. Hope you enjoy her.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,890
Likes: 323
From: Land of mountains, cheese, chocolate and watches
12' W204 C63 AMG coupe "T-Rex", 12' W451 Smart Fortwo Pulse (99' W202 C43 AMG + Ultima Can-Am sold)
Correct, the gear holds longer to get the cats heated up faster. Had me also thinking "is this normal..." when I got my first MB
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 549
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
'97 c36
Thanks guys glad to be here.. I sure like this little c36. I've adjusted the wheel bearings, replaced the MAF, crank sensor, replaced spark plugs. So far been really pleased with how well the car is built.. very solid.
O2 sensors, rear bushings, LCA bushings are next on the list of to do's.
As far as the transmission shifting, it for sure makes a fella wonder... Speaking of wondering. Ive been doing a ton of reading/dreaming of a manual tranny swap. Seems to be a ton of information out there and correct me if im wrong but...
dogleg getrag from a 16V cosworth is the strongest, but totally hazy info on which flywheel to use due to crank trigger.
A 5 or 6 speed from a M111 is bolt on if used with a c280s flywheel?
A slk320 is the slickest swap?
I also read a thread that said with out data from the 722.6 transmission it throws the ASR out of whack. But Ive never read a single thread of what some one did to over come it. It s a shame there isnt a sticky on this.
ARuss says he has done it... but then again, from the looks of the new project thread looks like those guys can do just about anything..
O2 sensors, rear bushings, LCA bushings are next on the list of to do's.
As far as the transmission shifting, it for sure makes a fella wonder... Speaking of wondering. Ive been doing a ton of reading/dreaming of a manual tranny swap. Seems to be a ton of information out there and correct me if im wrong but...
dogleg getrag from a 16V cosworth is the strongest, but totally hazy info on which flywheel to use due to crank trigger.
A 5 or 6 speed from a M111 is bolt on if used with a c280s flywheel?
A slk320 is the slickest swap?
I also read a thread that said with out data from the 722.6 transmission it throws the ASR out of whack. But Ive never read a single thread of what some one did to over come it. It s a shame there isnt a sticky on this.
ARuss says he has done it... but then again, from the looks of the new project thread looks like those guys can do just about anything..
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 549
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
'97 c36
wow really makes a guy wonder when you see this on UK ebay..
Dual mass flywheel
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-C...item4cfc451c6b
clutch
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-C...item3cbf255cb1
Dual mass flywheel
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-C...item4cfc451c6b
clutch
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-C...item3cbf255cb1
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,437
Likes: 43
From: PDX
1999 C43, 2008 P30 E63, 2014 SQ5, 2024 Model Y Performance
wow really makes a guy wonder when you see this on UK ebay..
Dual mass flywheel
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-C...item4cfc451c6b
clutch
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-C...item3cbf255cb1
Dual mass flywheel
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-C...item4cfc451c6b
clutch
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-C...item3cbf255cb1
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Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 549
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
'97 c36
For sure... I did a ton more reading on it and pretty much found the answers from the 190net guys. Looks like the 97 is a real mother for a swap. It's been done but looks like most end going I'n the direction of a stand alone ECM. Which with out a doubt is a pretty serious undertaking. But then would open pandoras box to something even more serious like a very mild forced induction.
But im thinking if a guy is going to swap the tranny, figure a limited slip, run a standalone, install a turbo or sc... It would be a ton less work to buy a e36 M3 which is lighter and already has half the work done from the factory.
For now looks like the auto box is just going to have to stay where its at.. At least till i can finish the 28 foot ocean boat restoration project. Any ways sorry to
: with the whole tranny questions.. Im sure you guys are sick of that one.
But im thinking if a guy is going to swap the tranny, figure a limited slip, run a standalone, install a turbo or sc... It would be a ton less work to buy a e36 M3 which is lighter and already has half the work done from the factory.
For now looks like the auto box is just going to have to stay where its at.. At least till i can finish the 28 foot ocean boat restoration project. Any ways sorry to
: with the whole tranny questions.. Im sure you guys are sick of that one.
