Manual Gearbox - Stick movement while in 3rd

[Will]

Chin up Graham - I think you are probably doing the right thing.
Some people spend this much on a Major service with a few jobs on top! Many people will loose much more than this in depreciation in one year alone.

As you have pointed out, the replacement options are a little thin on the ground. No real choices IMHO for a sideways step with a few ££££s on top, unless you wanted a C36/C43 (I know you hate autos!).

The way I would consider it is that you 'enjoy' driving your car. Although not a high-end tuned vehicle, most people who have 'enjoyable' cars end up spending lots in maintance/repairs. Over the thousands of miles that you have enjoyed your car I am sure you have probably had value for money motoring.

Oh, and any dealer that you wanted to P/X your car with, that didn't bother inspecting their vehicles properly, would not be a dealer that I would recommend to purchase from either! Probably full of dodgy old motors, and not a very responsibe attitude - I would think once they realised you have traded them a car with a knackered gearbox, any customer service towards the new vehicle may not be taken as seriously.

Just think of that lovely new gearbox.

Will

 

[Dieselman]

Over the years I have traded many cars with dealers, as part of my job. Most dealers don't even bother to start a car they see drive up, not at this age and mileage anyway.

Funniest one was trading a 1 Year old Vauxhall Cavalier with 25K on it. The salesman tested everything and even started the car, but didn't drive it. Jokingly I asked if he expected a few thing not to work, only afterwards did the driver tell me the gearbox was knackered.

Fuzzer; A nearly new MB is totally different as the dealer wants to re sell the car not trade it.

 

[Will]

Any more news on this one Graham?

 

[Howard]

Yesterday there was a 2.3 cosworth dogleg gearbox on ebay - would this fit a 230k ?

I didn't mention it , as i thought Graham has got it sorted .....

 

[GrahamC230K]

As most of you know, thanks to some other forum members, I picked up a bargain gearbox.

Well fingers crossed guys as having put up with this problem since February, my car finally went to the garage today.

So soon I will know if the 'box I bought really was a bargain and fingers crossed I will be on the road with a 60K mile gearbox with fresh oil and a new clutch.

I won't get the car back for about as week though as the wheels are off for another refurb too (mechanic had an accident and damaged 3 last time he had the car!).

For now I am riding around in a black G plate 190E complete with sunroof, OEM boot spoiler and some old School 15" Borbet alloys. It's not quite a complete POS, but boy do I want my car back asap!

 

[Shude]

For now I am riding around in a black G plate 190E complete with sunroof, OEM boot spoiler and some old School 15" Borbet alloys. It's not quite a complete POS, but boy do I want my car back asap!

All talk and no pics Graham! We want pics!

 

[GrahamC230K]

This thing has a gearbox, which I believe I have in "S" mode. Sport I guess? So it sets off in 2nd gear and then has to kick down to 1st! LOL. Apart from lack of go, poor traction and boat handling, the interiror design is quite nice. Indicator stalk and wiper controls all wrong side and back to front keep me on the ball though!

I put in the garage before the neighbors saw it, I might grab some pics tomorrow.

 

[jgevers]

Hi,

If the mountings and linkeage are ok it is most likely to be dog ring/synchrohub on 3rd gear. The problem is that when a technician opens the gearbox, he will want to replace all the parts that look worn. This normally results in a big bill. If you only replace the offending part and 2 months down the line something else goes wrong with the box it will need to come out again................
Will you replace the clutch assy when the box is out?

regards,

Job

 

[GrahamC230K]

Hi,

Will you replace the clutch assy when the box is out?

Yes, a new genuine MB clutch is going in.

 

[GrahamC230K]

Replacement gearbox and a new clutch are in.

Drives very nicely. New clutch is SO much lighter than before. A brease to use.

Gearbox feels good, but I did see one twitch of the gearstick in 3rd in a short test run, but could not then replicate - this was the very first symptom of the original problem!!

I will be watching it all the way home tonight!

 

[Will]

Glad to hear you're back with your car

Hope it's all ok from now.

Will

 

[big x]

From reading these forums there does seem to be a problem with manual gearboxes on late larger engine Benzes.I'm sure the cars are designed with the automatic as standard as only around 5% of c-coupes are manual from the stats I've seen in the past.
Perhaps theres to much input/output torque twisting the shafts a problem automatics don't have
Mercs do seem to bind in a way BMW manuals do not.

adam

 

[GrahamC230K]

Well, it doesn't pop out of gear *touch wood* so, so far so good.

......and in comparison to an auto 190E it goes like the bloomin clappers!

 

[GrahamC230K]

I was speaking with the tech. that fitted my gearbox. I asked at what intervals the gearbox oil gets changed ina manual (Iwondered if my car missed this).

His reply was the manual boxes have ATF in them anyway and they are also filled for life!

My recommendation for the handfull of manual owners we have on here is get the oil changed!!

 

[MainMan]

My recommendation for the handful of manual owners we have on here is get the oil changed!!

Dead right. I noticed that they were "filled for life" when I couldn't find any reference to changing the oil in the service book. As I wanted to put fully synthetic oil in anyway (you get a much smoother change) I took it to an independent to get Redline MTL put in. The old oil that came out was very dirty (after 3k miles) and had lots of iron filings in it. It beggars belief that Mercedes think that the oil never needs changing. That's why a lot of the auto 5-speed trannies pack up at about 100k.

Mind you, a new geabox for £1300 is better value than their cats for my SLK320 at £1150 parts alone.

PS. You can put ATF in manual boxes but you're better off with the specified oil (forget the rating) preferably in synthetic form - it keeps its viscosity rating over a wider temperature range so it's better when cold ans hot.

 

[GrahamC230K]

ATF is the specified oil from what I have been told.

 

[MainMan]

I guess the 5 speed is different from the 6 speed then. On the 6 speed you can use either ATF or manual transmission fluid. I got the specs for the oil from Merc and found that the Redline MTL oil is the correct spec - it makes a big improvement to the gearchange. That's what the Yanks use.

 

[jimmy]

Graham and I looked up the specs of the gearbox oil and I said 'no it must be wrong, it cant be ATF in a manual' but saying that the Smart's use ATF but then they are semi-auto.

I would be very surprised if MB specify either ATF or 'regular' gear oil, they are the extremes of viscosity!!

 

[GrahamC230K]

Graham and I looked up the specs of the gearbox oil and I said 'no it must be wrong, it cant be ATF in a manual' but saying that the Smart's use ATF but then they are semi-auto.

I would be very surprised if MB specify either ATF or 'regular' gear oil, they are the extremes of viscosity!!

I remember you saying that - so when the mechanic said to me it's ATF and sealed for life too, I thought to myself maybe Jimmy's book wasn't wrong.

 

[MainMan]

Before I changed the oil in my 6-speed I contacted the so-called Mercedes technical dept - about 4 years ago now. They gave the specs of the oil, which I've lost now, but I'm sure they said it could be ATF or Chrysler manual transmission fluid of some grade. The Chrysler stuff was non-synthetic though, so I got Redline MTL which is synthetic of the same grade and is allegedly approved by Mercedes.

Some years ago I had Mk II MR2. This had a fairly good gearchange until it had a major service, after which the lever was very stiff and obstructive. I noticed on the invoice that the oil had been changed and I asked them what they had put in. They said they had used auto transmission fluid and said that Toyota approved the use of either ATF or manual in that gearbox, which turned out to be true. Nevertheless it wrecked the gearchange, so I got some synthetic oil and had that put in. This was even better than the original non synthetic oil, which is why I changed the oil in the SLK. It's a simple way of improving the gearchange, but I guess it would be inadvisable if it's not recommended for the 5-speed.