500SEC Manual 'box conversion??

Iolaire

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Hi guys and gals. I am toying with the idea of fitting a manual box to my 500 SEC. Any suggestions as to which one, where to get, and what pedal box I could use would be most welcome.

The best Mercs I have owned were the manuals, and when I think of how ****** quick it would be with a manual 'box, I think it is worth a thought.

I await your input with bated breath!!

J.
 

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Big problem as far as I can see is that MB manual boxes are lousy, or in other words not very good, and horrible compared to a ZF box
 

bigasotonuk

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I don,t think there is a Mercedes manual gearbox that would fit the V8.
There is absolutly nothing wrong with MB manual boxes IMO, I have owned mine now for over 7 years and over 100,000 miles, and as far as I,m concerned its the best box for the 230K engine by far, having driven both auto & manual versions, a manual box gives you better fuel economy and a "Sportier" driving experience, what people don,t get on with is the foot operated handbrake with a manual box.
Though I will concede that for the V8, I would,nt have anything but the Auto.
 

Bolide

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If you really want to do this, and if there is no suitable MB manual box, I'd look at the Getrag box fitted to the BMW M535i - I think it had a removeable bellhousing. With that, and a bellhousing from an MB automatic box, you could fabricate a custom bellhousing for a standard Getrag box

Maybe a 190 pedal box would fit?

Good luck

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk
 

bigasotonuk

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If you really want to do this, and if there is no suitable MB manual box, I'd look at the Getrag box fitted to the BMW M535i - I think it had a removeable bellhousing. With that, and a bellhousing from an MB automatic box, you could fabricate a custom bellhousing for a standard Getrag box

Maybe a 190 pedal box would fit?

Good luck

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

Thats quite a rare gearbox to find, I had job to find my E28 5 Series with that gearbox in it (i take it you mean the G/B that had 1st gear, down and to the left), You are correct regarding the removable housing.
Don,t some of the big American muscle cars have manual gearboxes, which maybe easier to get hold of.
I would possibly looking at using a w123/w124 pedal box and modifing it.
 

popuptoaster

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gonna be hard to find a manual strong enough for the torque of the big V8, you'll be looking for something either designed for purpose from a specialist or maybe adapting something esle to fit, dodge viper box should be up to it for instance, Aston Martin paddle shift boxes were just manuals with hydraulic gear and clutch operation on em, i dunno if they still are, my mate has one in his big power mk1 escort so i could ask him, but it weren't cheap. :S

Another route would be to check out the autobox specialists in the states, you can get a lot done to an auto over there to sharpen them up, higher stall speeds and more gear selection control as well as less slip between gears, for example its possible to convert one of the 4 speed Ford autoboxes to 6 speed paddle shift with a new ecu for the box and a couple of extra bits of hardware.
 

Seeker_UK

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Thats quite a rare gearbox to find, I had job to find my E28 5 Series with that gearbox in it (i take it you mean the G/B that had 1st gear, down and to the left), You are correct regarding the removable housing.
Don,t some of the big American muscle cars have manual gearboxes, which maybe easier to get hold of.
I would possibly looking at using a w123/w124 pedal box and modifing it.

The Getrag 265 (dogleg box) was also offered on V12 XJSs - you might have better luck finding one of them than an M535i
 
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Iolaire

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Thanks for the contributions guys. I should say I'm actually a motor engineer and I was hoping for someone to come along who had a 'box lying around.

I have owned two SLCs, one 350 and one 450 that had manual boxes; they were both German registered LHD, and the 450 was utterly mental, far, far quicker than an auto.

I have toyed with the idea of a Getrag box; by the way the dogleg 'box in the 535 was a ZF and standard on the E12 but an option on the E28. I would go for a standard shift 5 speed Getrag, which incidentally would handle the torque no problem. I have fitted them to some pretty scary power units without problems.

A flywheel and clutch might be more difficult to find though. If anyone has any bits or knows where I can find some let me know.
 

popuptoaster

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if they do LHD manuals cant you just buy all the bits off one of them? should all bolt up just the same to the engine.
 

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I have been through the 126 and 140 range and nothing listed for a manual box

How about a box from a commercial van ??
 
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Iolaire

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I had thought about that Malcolm, and the one that is available is from some of the Sherpa vans that used the Rover V8 'box which was also used in the Series 3 Jags. It's quite tough, but doesn't have the nicest shift quality.

I don't want to make a hash of this though; it has to be totally professional and look and drive as if it was a factory fit. That's why I would rather use a German unit for the sake of perceived originality.
 

Seeker_UK

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If you've got any experience of importing cars from Europe, why not try www.mobile.de and look for a high-milage W126 going cheap?
 

popuptoaster

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Toyota Supra boxes are pretty strong and shouldnt be that dear or maybe a T5 from a Mustang (not a UK T5) however i think you'll find any box designed to cope with a torquey engine is gonna have a pretty clunky gear change by the very nature of its design.

Still gonna be easier to find a German contact and get them looking for a manual to rip all the bits from than build it custom, i have modified many cars over the years and its ALWAYS easier and cheaper to use and OE set up if you can, it also makes the car easier to maintain and sell on.
 

Myros

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not much help I know, as they will be rare

but I seem to recall AMG doing a 5 speed manual option for the 107 V8s. Maybe they did one for the SEC as well. Might be worth an enquiry to see if they know of any at the back of the factory sort of thing.
 

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Myros

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i knew I'd seen it here. POS1 has one.

Not a common "poster" at this site, but I read through the threads regularly. Here's my 1983 500SL AMG. I bought it in 2006 from the original owner; now it's a weekend toy for pretty days.




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1983 Black 500SL AMG with 5-spd manual - 44,000 miles
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1998 E320 Dark Blue Estate - daily commuter
 
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Iolaire

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crabbtrux

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There's a bloke in Ilfracombe in North Devon that puts manual boxes on V8's (and V8's in all different cars that weren't built with them!). I don't know what boxes he uses, but they're deffo Merc ones. If anyone is still wondering, I'll get his phone number if you want a bit of advice?
 
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