What do you know about 190s?

[MB_Mike]

Id like to get a 5-speed out of a w201 and mate it to my 280SE. Thoughts, suggestions, or concerns?

[Squiggle Dog]

I think that the starter hump will be on the wrong side and that the bellhousing and transmission are one piece. The only 5-speed that will bolt up to your engine is very, very rare (but I just happen to have one). One from another W116, W123, or possibly even a W108 will fit, but they were made in very limited numbers, only for the Euro market.

[MB_Mike]

Squiggle, please tell me more. What is it I am after exactly?

[Squiggle Dog]

A Getrag 717.400 is what you need. It's the only 5 speed that will bolt up to your engine besides the older ZF S-520 (which I also have a lead on) that the Pagoda (W113) cars came with.

My Getrag 5 speed came from a W123 280E Euro model. I'm not totally sure if I am going to install it in my 300SD yet.

The 5 speed transmissions in the mid-1980s and newer have the starter hump on the opposite side so they won't bolt up to your engine.  You can't swap bellhousings, either, since it is integrated into the body of the transmission.

I have heard that a BMW transmission can be altered to fit a Mercedes engine, maybe with a custom adapter plate.

You could swap in a newer engine that already has a 5 speed on it (5 speeds are fairly common after the mid-1980s) and then you don't have to worry about the starter hump being on the wrong side since you would be using the engine also. But, that's a lot of work.

A Getrag 717 5 speed is extremely hard to find and they have gone for thousands. I have heard that reconditioned ones can be bought from Mercedes for around $2,000 or so. But then again, maybe you'll be lucky and find one in a wrecking yard, or maybe in a cheap Euro parts car on craigslist. Believe it or not, there is a W123 turbo diesel with a 5 speed manual for sale locally for $1,995, which is a STEAL for that car: http://seattle.craigslist.org/kit/cto/1935825979.html

[goldacre]

Hi MB Mike, check these guys out in Sydney, they have a good reputation. They take a 5 speed from a Toyota Corona and match it to different bell housings and may be able to help out?

...http://www.big-toys.net/detail.cgi124.htm

They are in  Australia so if you can find the gearbox Toyota used maybe you only need get the bell housing and bits sent over?

Goldacre