cr!mz

I wasn't able to find W210 with manual transmission in Canada. I think in here and USA there's only automatic available, right?

Although, I saw some manual e320 (5 speed manual) and e430 (6 speed manual) in Europe. Wondering if I can get myself standart trans. from somewhere and what the cost is going to be.

Thanks for any help

ohlord

up a manual trans.The ecu would have to be changed out,the dash pod,the console,the trans module,the under dash mounting bracket,the speedo,your wiring.the drive shaft................Sure you could do it,if you had all the above and either the money(big)or the knowledge to do it,and I'm guessing from the question ,you don't.
ohlord

cr!mz

Any idea where can i find the parts ?

ohlord

aurora auto wrecking in Seattle,they are on the web.They might have a euro spec manual car.You would need almost everything.Probably cheaper to swap in an LS1 and richmond 5speed.Faster also

cr!mz

Thats gotta be pretty expensive... even DIY :P

ReZzZ320

there's a company tht installed an LS1 in a W210 called Converse Engineering in the States

look them up and see how their progress goes

lkchris

It will cost a significant percentage of the value of the car to perform this conversion.

Plus, when you're done, the resale value of the car will be zero as well.

Then, of course, it may be illegal should, for example, your area have mandatory periodic emissions testing.

Untertürkheim

Mercedes has not fitted a manual transmission to an 8 cylinder since the 350 engine from the 70s, and that was not sold in the US. W210 8 cyl never had manual.

If you want a manual, why not look for a W203 C320/350 sport, there should be plenty around with manual shift.

cr!mz

I've seen 6 speed manual v8 w210 (dunno if it was AMG or 420,430)
And I dont have enough money for w203 plus the interior sux hard... its a bit of a shame for the mbs. It looks like altima :P
I like the exterior pretty much bit still the cheapest I find over here is like 14k + it has no leather

Untertürkheim

It must have been aftermarket. That did not come from the factory.

Lancelot

"Then, of course, it may be illegal should, for example, your area have mandatory periodic emissions testing."

This has nothing to do with it, usually an auto trans has 10% less fuel economy compared to manual. So emissions won't chance, only your fuel enconomy will be better. If it's all worth it is something else indeed!

lkchris

Guess you don't comprehend emissions testing.

First aspect of test is determining car has the equipment it came with (and passed the test with allowing it to be sold)

What comes out the tailpipe is irrelevant.

bad hare

I've checked this out as well.
Not worth the time / money / hassle.

If you want a manual transmission (which i do) we gotta get a bmw.

stickygreen

If & when the transmission on our '97 goes out, I am determined to do this swap as long as the parts are obtainable. I have done manual swaps on older BMW's before, but used parts are always readily available for those cars.

I have never seen or heard of a w210 e320 5-speed, but there was an e280 5-speed, which I believe uses the same basic block architecture, and therefore should have the same bellhousing bolt pattern. This also means that a pedal box & clutch hydraulics that would bolt up should exist somewhere, instead of having to go custom. Would likely be best to pick up an e280 5spd parts car to have all of these parts available. Also wonder if the 5spd from a w124 300e or r129 300sl would bolt up to an m104...that would make it a bit easier to source parts.

My thoughts:

ECU - would definitely have to be modified to bypass transmission influence. This is the part that I am most unsure of

dash pod - why? what does this have to do with the transmission?

console - from what I have seen, MB (& most other german manufacturers) has used similar consoles for manual & automatic cars, with different inserts.

trans module - I imagine it would just have to be deleted. I have yet to see an early OBD2 manual transmission with any sort of computer control.

under dash mounting bracket - dont know what this is

speedo - why? Don't these cars get the speedo signal from the output shaft of the rear differential? Don't see how the transmission is connected in any way to the speedo

wiring - absolutely, at least anything that has to do with the automatic transmission would have to be removed and it's influence on the ECU would have to be deleted

driveshaft - Probably would have to be lengthened or shortened, unless the e280 5spd driveshaft is the same size & even available. Driveshaft work isn't really that expensive, at least compared to other costs that would be incurred with this swap.

Anyways, I don't think it would be all that hard, but that would be completely dependent on whether the parts to do the swap are even available anywhere, and if so - at what price they can be had. Most difficult part would be overcoming transmission parameters in the ECU. And it could definitely prove to be very expensive.