Are W124 manual transmissions reliable?

[Stelios Lkop]

In a previous thread, someone said that w124 manual transmissions are very bad and they break down all the time. Is this true? I recently bought a W123 with a 5 speed W124 transmission.

 

[matthew k]

I did about 20,000 trouble free miles in a manual w123 5 speed. The car had 177,000 on it when I sold it, I did change the fluid twice. Once with this expensive stuff I got from the dealer, but it made it baulky. I then refilled it with Dextron 2 and it was fine. I imagine it's a similar gearbox, might be wrong.

Which engine has your car got, what's your RPM at 70?

 

[Stelios Lkop]

I did about 20,000 trouble free miles in a manual w123 5 speed. The car had 177,000 on it when I sold it, I did change the fluid twice. Once with this expensive stuff I got from the dealer, but it made it baulky. I then refilled it with Dextron 2 and it was fine. I imagine it's a similar gearbox, might be wrong.

Which engine has your car got, what's your RPM at 70?

It has a 5 cylinder non turbo engine. The transmission of the w123 is different from the w124. The w123 is said to be a very reliable transmission

 

[EmilysDad]

In a previous thread, someone said that w124 manual transmissions are very bad and they break down all the time. Is this true? I recently bought a W123 with a 5 speed W124 transmission.

IIRC it was just said that Mercedes don't make a.particularly nice manual .... I don't remember it said that they were unreliable

 

[Stelios Lkop]

IIRC it was just said that Mercedes don't make a.particularly nice manual .... I don't remember it said that they were unreliable

a guy said this to me "WHY you would want a Manual I don't know! Merc Manual Gearboxes are some of the worst known to man!"

 

[M80]

Merc Manual Gearboxes are some of the worst known to man!"

I ran an early C203 manual for over 58k miles, then passed it to a pal at 121k miles. I drove fine.
The gates were too close so it was easy to select the wrong gear if rushing.
It's possible to blame that on my many years of driving BMW manuals though.

 

[matthew k]

I have driven other manual Mercedes inc (and you won't believe this) a manual E270 w211. They're just a bit mushy and vague, the actual shift quality wasn't too bad. Unlike the Alfa 159, now that is a horrible gear change!! I'm seriously considering a manual facelift e220d next actually.

 

[brianbrian]

I have driven many manual mercs ,would say they are as reliable as any gearbox,just do not like the change on them.

 

[EmilysDad]

a guy said this to me "WHY you would want a Manual I don't know! Merc Manual Gearboxes are some of the worst known to man!"

but he didn't say they were unreliable

 

[EmilysDad]

I always upset EmilysMum's uncle who has/had a manual Jaag! He doesn't like the suggestion that he has the only modern manual Jaag in the world

I mean .... who'd buy a manual Jaag?

 

[LostKiwi]

but he didn't say they were unreliable

Exactly. They're just horrible compared to everyone else's!

It used be said that "MB automatics were as good as the manuals were bad, and the automatics were very good".

 

[EmilysDad]

I can never see the appeal of a manual ... especially if you commute in it

 

[LostKiwi]

I can never see the appeal of a manual ... especially if you commute in it

Agreed. In traffic... No thanks.

 

[Stelios Lkop]

I always upset EmilysMum's uncle who has/had a manual Jaag! He doesn't like the suggestion that he has the only modern manual Jaag in the world

I mean .... who'd buy a manual Jaag?

me...

 

[Stelios Lkop]

Agreed. In traffic... No thanks.

I don't have any problem in traffic. Driving a manual becomes second nature after some months. I don't understand why people in America or other people who have barely driven one find it so difficult. Yes, its difficult in the beggining but it gets easier over time. It is just a clutch and a gas pedal. It ain't rocket science.
I live in europe. My uncle had been driving a manual for 3 years before he bought an automatic. He has lots of money so he bought the car as automatic because here in europe its considered a "luxury". He has been driving automatic for 20 years. His car broke down and the mechanic gave him a manual car to drive until his car gets fixed. He would always stall when trying to start at the stop lights and the gear changes were terrible. He never wanted to drive a manual again. As you can see, its not because manual is hard. Its because you get used to the "ease" of the automatic. If you are a new manual driver and directly jump to the automatic, you will find it way easier and you will get spoiled.

 

[Blobcat]

I don't have any problem in traffic. Driving a manual becomes second nature after some months. I don't understand why people in America or other people who have barely driven one find it so difficult. Yes, its difficult in the beggining but it gets easier over time. It is just a clutch and a gas pedal. It ain't rocket science.
I live in europe. My uncle had been driving a manual for 3 years before he bought an automatic. He has lots of money so he bought the car as automatic because here in europe its considered a "luxury". He has been driving automatic for 20 years. His car broke down and the mechanic gave him a manual car to drive until his car gets fixed. He would always stall when trying to start at the stop lights and the gear changes were terrible. He never wanted to drive a manual again. As you can see, its not because manual is hard. Its because you get used to the "ease" of the automatic. If you are a new manual driver and directly jump to the automatic, you will find it way easier and you will get spoiled.

In the UK with the traffic congestion we "enjoy" up and down on the clutch through stop start crawling traffic... why would you want to?

I did that for over 2 hours on one journey along the M4 after that I bought a E320 CDI W210 and never looked back.

Autos are now faster than manuals - my 911 with tiptronic box was faster than the equivalent manual 0-60.

 

[RhodieBill]

Well, I was brought up on manual gearboxes, original Mini, Beetle, Karmann Ghia, Anglia, 404 and 504 Peugeots, Super Snipe, old BMW's, numerous old Mazda 323's, Ford Lasers's, Nissan Sunny's, Cortina's.
In fact I only started driving Autos in the late 90's - a Merc w116/350se.
But my first Mercedes was actually a w123/200 Manual, (4 speed) seen in my Avatar pic, which in all honesty I thought was very acceptable. The only other Mercedes manual I had was recently, a w203/180K Coupe with a 6 speed box - saying it was shite is being polite! And not helped by an atrocious Clutch!!! I sold it within weeks! Which was a shame because it was a great car!

But I have never said that Merc manuals were unreliable....

 

[Stelios Lkop]

In the UK with the traffic congestion we "enjoy" up and down on the clutch through stop start crawling traffic... why would you want to?

I did that for over 2 hours on one journey along the M4 after that I bought a E320 CDI W210 and never looked back.

Autos are now faster than manuals - my 911 with tiptronic box was faster than the equivalent manual 0-60.

It becomes second nature. You don't have to think about it. Using the clutch and shifting gears is done mostly unconsciously. I prefer manual because of the 1)engine braking(it extends the life of the brake pads a lot), 2)Its extremely cheap to maintain, 3)They are extremely reliable and can outlive the car.

I got 3 manual cars. They all got more than 300.000 miles (480.000Km). My highest milage car has 450.000 miles. I've only changed the clutch which costs 100euros (dirt cheap).

 

[LostKiwi]

I've had probably twice as many manuals as autos.
Only ever had one problem with an auto and that was fixed under warranty.
Had probably half a dozen issues with manuals ranging from bearing failures to shift issues, including broken gears.

I used to think like you that manuals gearboxes were the only way and that autos were lazy and involving until I got a car with paddle shift. In manual mode that was way more engaging than any manual. Admittedly it was a robotic manual with electronic control over clutch and gear shift but it was only 2 pedals and has a full auto mode.
In traffic (and I have over over 40 years of driving manual gearboxes in traffic) an automatic is far and away better. No matter how accustomed you are to a manual nothing is easier than lifting off the brake pedal, allowing the car to creep, then pressing the brake again. Takes all the stress out and best of all you aren't wearing the clutch with every stop/start.
These days we have 5 cars. Three automatic MBs, one manual Cooper S and a Smart (automatic with manual override). The Mini is MrsLK's car and the only reason it's not an automatic is because when she ordered it the auto she wanted wasn't available in Cooper S.

But we're all different - if you want to use a manual then that's your choice. Frankly in a W124 I can't see the attraction. In a sports car perhaps but not a German luxo-barge.

 

[Blobcat]

It becomes second nature. You don't have to think about it. Using the clutch and shifting gears is done mostly unconsciously. I prefer manual because of the 1)engine braking(it extends the life of the brake pads a lot), 2)Its extremely cheap to maintain, 3)They are extremely reliable and can outlive the car.

I got 3 manual cars. They all got more than 300.000 miles (480.000Km). My highest milage car has 450.000 miles. I've only changed the clutch which costs 100euros (dirt cheap).

I think you missed my point entirely...

If you have to drive for an extended length of time through stop start traffic, with your left foot going up and down on the clutch as the traffic is moving too slowly to allow you to maintain progress (even in first) then your left knee, hip and lower back can and will suffer. Why would you want to put your body through the wear and pain if you don't have to???

Driving any car becomes second nature with enough practice. I've had manuals for years and my Land Rover is Manual. In the UK we have to pass a test in a Manual to drive a Manual. If you pass a test in an Auto you have to undertake another test for a Manual. Almost all people start off in a manual in the UK. I can drive a manual so smoothly that the passengers can't tell I've changed gear (up or down) I can (and do) double de-clutch on every downshift in the Landy.

1) "Engine braking"... you can bring an auto down the gears if you desire engine braking. "Gears to go, brakes to slow" - gears are expensive, brakes are cheap in comparison. As I get over 60K from brakes I don't think my auto is prematurely wearing the brakes...

2) & 3) "Cheap to maintain and reliable", I just hope you don't get a dual mass flywheel car then...

Also when you're on a slight incline and you watch the cars in front moving backwards and forwards slightly as they're riding the clutch to maintain position at the lights you just know their clutch is going to require premature replacement.

I've never worn out a clutch in any car I've owned. I've also never damaged or worn out any of the auto's I've owned.