Newbie here - some advice on C180 manual gears please

[Hak]

Hi all,
I just bought a C180 panorama, great looking car & excellent interior.
My only concern is that the manual gears are a bit stiff and louder than I expected (1st gear being the worst).
Is this normal or have I bought a dodgy one?
(its an 03 with slighty higher than average milage)

Thanks!

 

[television]

Hi all,
I just bought a C180 panorama, great looking car & excellent interior.
My only concern is that the manual gears are a bit stiff and louder than I expected (1st gear being the worst).
Is this normal or have I bought a dodgy one?
(its an 03 with slighty higher than average milage)

Thanks!

With the MB box there is a mod for hard 1-2 shift,that is to remove some oil from the gear box. if you are going to do it your self I can look it up.

Welcome to the forum. Malcolm

 

[Hak]

Hi Malcom,

does this mod help when going from 'neutral' into first?
What Im finding is that going into first is difficult, but if I keep my foot on the clutch and try again it goes in quite smooth....?

Any info on the mod would be appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[television]

Hi Malcom,

does this mod help when going from 'neutral' into first?
What Im finding is that going into first is difficult, but if I keep my foot on the clutch and try again it goes in quite smooth....?

Any info on the mod would be appreciated.
Thanks!

I will look later in the day.

Malcolm

 

[kid-jensen]

Hak,
Nearly all gear selection problems are down to the clutch not freeing properly (especially difficulty in getting into first).
Try selecting reverse, does it crunch unduly? if so, that's where your problem lies...
Check for the silly stuff, any bunched-up carpet under the clutch pedal?
Too much freeplay at the top of the pedal travel?
Maybe an internal clutch problem, say distorted driven plate. This is less likely as well as being more expensive.
You say first is louder than expected....There's not a lot you can do about this now, maybe it was used fore towing ? maybe it was owned by a "round the world in first gear" club member (only women admitted).
If the damage has been done, you can only stop it getting worse if you don't want to rebuild. Change the oil is always advisable on any "new" high-milage car. Should at least assure the bits of ground-up gears don't go swirling around doing more damage...
The box is unlikely to be made quieter without a rebuild, but may well have several thousand miles left in it before the "big bang" if you act now....



Sort any of these problems out and there's a good chance of an improvement

 

[Hak]

Hi Paul,
thanks for the useful feedback.
I would say that reverse is also quite poor. The biting point is very low so I guess it might not free properly as you said.
Can the clutch be adjusted to have a higher biting point and therefore help the situation a little?
Thanks

 

[television]

The clutch cannot be adjusted.

The MB answer for 1st and 2nd shift is for gearbox 716.6**** up to 1209959.

and is termed. !st and 2nd gear hard to shift in a cold state.. Reduce oil level by 1.2 litres, the oil will then be 10 mm lower than the stand pipe filler.

Noise in 1st and R would point to lay shaft bearings worn,putting the gear out of mesh.

Malcolm

 

[Hak]

Thanks Malcom,
bit unsure of the numbers you have mentioned tho.
Are they car production serial numbers or a gearbox number?
Many thanks

 

[television]

Thanks Malcom,
bit unsure of the numbers you have mentioned tho.
Are they car production serial numbers or a gearbox number?
Many thanks

They are the serial numbers on the box, if your number is after 1209959 then your gearbox will have the lower stand pipe that only allows you to fill to the new level.

malcolm

 

[D3Less]

Isn't the gearbox number also on the vehicle data sheet in the service book, mine is anyway.

I know I will probably get shot down for this but it may be worth using some additives in the box.
Not talking about stuff you can buy from Halfords etc but decent suppliers such as Forte, their stuff is excellent and can only be bought from garages that use it (or ebay for some items )

Have a look here http://www.forteuk.co.uk/Home.htm and especially here http://www.forteuk.co.uk/Diff.htm

 

[television]

Isn't the gearbox number also on the vehicle data sheet in the service book, mine is anyway.

I know I will probably get shot down for this but it may be worth using some additives in the box.
Not talking about stuff you can buy from Halfords etc but decent suppliers such as Forte, their stuff is excellent and can only be bought from garages that use it (or ebay for some items )

Have a look here http://www.forteuk.co.uk/Home.htm and especially here http://www.forteuk.co.uk/Diff.htm

A finnish product was tested in Sweden, and it did very well over a long test.


malcolm

 

[Hak]

useful stuff - thanks guys!

 

[Hak]

Guys,
I cant descipher the gearbox number (from the service book) very easily because its longer than i expected...?
20326021020172598301.
any ideas?
Thanks