Author Topic: 230sl Auto or Manual.  (Read 3220 times)

Sparks68uk

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230sl Auto or Manual.
« on: February 26, 2016, 17:17:11 »
 Hi all. A friend of mine owns a pretty nice 230 with soft n hard top. It has a manual box from the factory. Now he has an auto box available to him to fit . He once read that the auto's drive better and command better money for resale (not that he is selling) he loves the car far too much!
 He is not computer savvy n does'nt use the internet so I am posing the question.Should he or should'nt he? Me I'm not convinced ,but this one article he read years ago has stuck with him.The car is owned n driven in the UK in a rural area ,me I like to drive a car ,auto's always make me feel like the car is taking or driving me rather than me driving it .But ,that is my own bias.
 So it would be great to hear some opinions.
Mark

relbhcb

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Re: 230sl Auto or Manual.
« Reply #1 on: February 26, 2016, 17:31:10 »
I have never driven a 230SL auto, but I can say that I love my 230SL manual  :)

Jonny B

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Re: 230sl Auto or Manual.
« Reply #2 on: February 26, 2016, 17:37:36 »
(fair warning first - I have two automatic 113's)

I have driven a number of manual cars, and I would offer that in a rural area with not a lot of traffic, the manual would be a good choice. The sporty feel of the manual is quite nice.

For driving around town, I like the automatic.
Jonny B
1967 250 SL Auto, DB 568
1970 280 SL Auto, DB 904
1966 Morris Mini Minor

Benz Dr.

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Re: 230sl Auto or Manual.
« Reply #3 on: February 26, 2016, 23:30:51 »
Here's the straight poop on this:

 You can go from an auto to a manual but I would never go from a manual to an auto. The wiring harness is different and nothing short of a new harness would work. Also, the 230's flywheel is balanced as part of the complete crank assembly.

  I short, NO, I wouldn't do it. A 230SL is a poor choice for trans a swap.
1966 230SL 5 speed, LSD, header pipes, 300SE distributor, ported, polished and balanced, AKA  ''The Red Rocket ''
Dan Caron's SL Barn

1970  3.5 Coupe
1961  190SL
1985   300CD  Turbo Coupe
1981  300SD
2013  GMC  Sierra
1965  230SL
1967 250SL
1970 280SL
1988 560SEC