I agree with Alon, there is nothing better than someone who knows Mercedes in and out...

However, $5000 for a manual gearbox on a 500E, that sounds pretty dam good!! That will porbably make your car even faster!!! (A C36///AMG with a Carllson manual gearbox is 2s faster from 0 to 62mph!!! )

Do you know what kind of manual trans. the guy wants to install?