Does anyone know a feasible way to mate the M275 to a Manual transmission?

 

"Feasible" has a different meaning for different people. There was never a factory MB car with an M275 and a manual transmission, so there is no straightforward way to achieve this. You're not going to be able scavenge a collection of Mercedes parts from various cars and make this happen.

Anything is possible, but this would take a huge amount of custom fabrication. Quite a bit of mechanical fabrication, as you'd have to weld a bell housing from a MB 722 auto trans to your chosen manual and create the entire clutch pedal/linkage from scratch, including modifying the existing brake pedal setup to make room. And also deal with the shifter, crossmember and driveshaft. Then there's the vehicle electronics........ no factory option for manual means that you can't re-program the existing electronic control units to work with a manual, so you'd basically have to remove all existing electronic controls and replace with your own fabricated custom system. Sure, there are lot's of aftermarket control systems for race cars that will manage fuel injection and ignition, but all of them are for 4-6-8 cylinder cars - there are none that will handle a 12 cylinder, and none that would interface with the factory M275 coil packs. So it could still be done, but you'd have to use aftermarket coils with two control systems, each controlling 6 cylinders and synchronized with each other. And then, since the M275 uses the coilpacks and plugs to detect misfires and detonation, you'd need to come up with some kind of knock sensor system............ get through all this and you still need to figure out how to drive the speedo and the tach, air conditioner/heater controls, seat controls, window controls - everything on modern Mercedes cars (and most other brands as well) is controlled via CAN Bus and on-board computers, so you'd need some serious programming skills, along with familiarity with CAN Bus functionality.

All that said, I have seen this Buick with an M275 swapped into it, so like I said, anything's possible..........but..... no offense......... if you're here asking if there's a feasible way to do it, I'd have to say that for you, the answer is almost certainly "no".

 

For reference, you might want to check out Tavarish and his SL55 on YouTube.... he set out to swap in a manual transmission years ago and has never finished it. He he travelled to eastern Europe for a fabricated transmission/bell housing, then realized how difficult the electronics problem was and has been stalled ever since. This guy has loads of YouTube revenue coming in, does all kinds of serious custom work on Lamborghinis, Ferraris, McLarens, etc........... and he still hasn't got this done......on a V8 car, not even a V12.

 

Here's a 4 part series of someone adding a manual transmission to an E55 AMG:


The M275 uses the 722.6 transmission that was also used in the M113. The question is more: what transmission can handle the power, and can the driveshaft and axle shafts handle the extra torque required for a manual transmission.

 

I'm currently researching what transmission platform would be best for the M275.

My feelings are pointing me to the Tremec T56 Magnum lineup, but even those need some upgrades to survive the torque generated from the M275 (600-800 lb ft)

Aftermarket builders can prep these gearboxes to reliably run 1000 lb ft drag cars with hard launches

700 lb.-ft. (949 Nm) of torque capacity out of the crate

Non-integrated bell-housing, so modification or manufacturing is easier.

2x gears options.

Option #11st - 2.66
2nd - 1.78
3rd - 1.30
4th - 1.00
5th - 0.80
6th - 0.63
Reverse - 2.90

Option #2

1st - 2.97
2nd - 2.10
3rd - 1.46
4th - 1.00
5th - 0.80
6th - 0.63
Reverse - 2.90

The Tremec T56 comes in 3 different lengths, all have integrated shifters into the tail-housing (doesn't require the shifter to be tied into the body)

Whatever transmission anybody ends up using, I strongly suggest the use of a variable clutch flow control valve, because these engines will absolutely shred drivetrain, if you try any clutch dipping or kicking.

 

800 lb. ft. isn't enough, pump those numbers. These engines are beast.

 

Hi guys
I’ve just purchased an adaptor plate and clutch kit to
put a ZF GS6 53DZ manual behind a m275. It
is to suit a M113, however I have been told the bolt pattern is the same. Either way I can always modify the adaptor plate
Hopefully, the low weight of my project will let me get away with the questionable strength of the gearbox 🙏🤡

 

When I used to modify nissan 240sx's putting an automatic tcu into a manual car would remove the speed limiter. The car would run just fine with the automatic tcu. It bypasses the parking gear. Like how you can still rev the engine when in park. Only you'd be in gear while reving the engine in park. Im not sure if thats whats going on when i drove my 240sx since it didnt display the gears on the dash. I'm pretty sure thats how it works though. Most important thing is to connect the speed sensor. I doubt mercedes would be any different

 

Incidentally, this is just the information I was looking for. Thanks, bud!

 

What are you guys doing for a flywheel? It will need a trigger wheel for the crankshaft position sensor.

Projects that get finished are the most satisfying.

 

matthewojela0 keep me posted if you do the swap. I plan on doing a manual swap on my w220 s600 one day. I'd love to hear someone with a success story on the m275 manual swap