Is it worth it to convert a 280SE to a manual transmission?

Started by Bad Benzo, 30 April 2020, 11:08 PM

Bad Benzo

I am taking delivery of my 1977 W116 280SE this weekend, and there is a bit of an unknown regarding the automatic transmission.  There is a possibility that this car has a transmission problem, in which case I will remove it for a rebuild.  While I was considering this procedure, it occurred to me that a manual transmission swap would be possible since this car has a M110 like my W114 does.

I already collected the parts for a manual transmission swap in my W114 but never got around to the conversion.  Would replacing the stock automatic with a 4 speed manual be of any benefit in a W116?  Honestly, I'd love to find a 5 speed, but we all know how rare they are.  Worst case scenario, if the transmission is truly beyond repair, I could always pull the automatic out of my W114 and put it into the W116, then manual swap my W114 as I originally planned.

Thanks in advance!
1963 220SE - 1977 280SE - 1986 300E AMG

TJ 450

Having driven a 280S with the 4-speed manual, I would personally stick to the automatic.

If you're keen though it's certainly possible. I would look for complete donor car to do this job.

Tim
1976 450SEL 6.9 1432
1969 300SEL 6.3 1394
2003 ML500

Nabstud

I read somewhere that the W116 that came from factory with manual transmission has the same diff ratio and very close gear ratios, so it would perform the same, only difference would be that you would be changing the gears.
1975 280S - Australian delivered

Bad Benzo

Quote from: Nabstud on 01 May 2020, 08:40 AM
I read somewhere that the W116 that came from factory with manual transmission has the same diff ratio and very close gear ratios, so it would perform the same, only difference would be that you would be changing the gears.

Yup, I saw that on the main page, https://www.w116.org/tech/116_024/
1963 220SE - 1977 280SE - 1986 300E AMG

Taha

Not a good idea even the 5 speed. I converted mine to automatic 9 years ago and got rid of manual gearbox. Very satisfied of the result. For a big and heavy car like w116, automatic is much better choice. Be aware that it's not easy to get a good used manual gearbox because they depreciate in a shorter time. Most of them have the howling sound in the first gear. If I were you, I wouldn't do that for the W114 either.
Good luck.
1978 280S