I didn't think these existed, but here is one for sale and the vin decoder says it was US delivered 5 speed.
Has anyone else ever seen one?
https://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/ctd/d/palm-desert-1983-mercedes-benz-300/7247809053.html

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1985 300 TD 448K
1984 300 TD 278K

1983 240D euro 240k
1994 f-250 idi turbo 330K
1986 f-350 IDI
1987 F-350 IDI

1985 JD 1050 4wd
1965 IH 3660

#1: The vin decoder is wrong

#2: Why does this car have a 100MPH speedo from a 240D?

Either the vin or the transmission isn’t original to the car... or the decoder is wrong.
https://www.lastvin.com/vin/mPD91djXWw72lrNM3

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Past mb: '73 450sl, '81 280slc stick, '71 250, '72 250c, '70 250c, '79 280sl, '73 450sl, parted: '75 240d stick, '69 280s, '73 450slc, '72 450sl,

VIN decoder doesn’t say anything about a 5 speed.

It’s probably a 4 speed. They likely swapped in the speedometer from the 240D the manual Ye trans came from.

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1983 300D Midnight Blue
4 speed, W115 intake mani, non-EGR exhaust mani, KKK K26, 3 pc Euro bumpers, Lo-spec Euro headlights, AL129X, hubcaps, custom A/C

1987 300TD Smoke Silver
Euro headlights, thermostat relocation, coolant bypass mod, rebuilt Becker + Jehnert + Helix audio, OEM Oris roof boxes and surfboard racks, Euro towbar

1983 300TD Reed (Moss) Green / Dark Olive MB Tex Euro spec

1983 300TD Silver Blue / Blue cloth Euro spec, OM648 and 722.6, 15" hubcaps, W126 S2 brakes

I looked at another VIN decoder, which is probably the one you saw:

vindecoderz.com

It lists option code “410” as “5 speed manual transmission.”

Option 410 for this model range refers to “electric sliding sunroof.” Perhaps 410 was used to designate 5 speed manuals in other model or year ranges - MB likes to re use the codes.

This VIN decoder also lists “transmission type” right above the option codes, and it says the car came with a 722.315, which is an auto 4 speed box and lines up with what it should have come with.

The car definitely didn’t come with a 5 speed manual, and this is likely a 4 speed.

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1983 300D Midnight Blue
4 speed, W115 intake mani, non-EGR exhaust mani, KKK K26, 3 pc Euro bumpers, Lo-spec Euro headlights, AL129X, hubcaps, custom A/C

1987 300TD Smoke Silver
Euro headlights, thermostat relocation, coolant bypass mod, rebuilt Becker + Jehnert + Helix audio, OEM Oris roof boxes and surfboard racks, Euro towbar

1983 300TD Reed (Moss) Green / Dark Olive MB Tex Euro spec

1983 300TD Silver Blue / Blue cloth Euro spec, OM648 and 722.6, 15" hubcaps, W126 S2 brakes

Well it looks like a decent car though rust would be impossible to detect from the pictures offered. If it is a five speed manual that would be worth a good amount by itself. It would get about 30 highway with the four speed and probably mid thirties with a five speed.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

That is the decoder I put it in and what I saw. If it really had a 5 speed in it I would be tempted to pick it up, though I need another MB like I need another hole in my head.

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1985 300 TD 448K
1984 300 TD 278K

1983 240D euro 240k
1994 f-250 idi turbo 330K
1986 f-350 IDI
1987 F-350 IDI

1985 JD 1050 4wd
1965 IH 3660

There are some interesting coincidental manipulations of data going on here for sure.

1) car listed as a 5-speed in the CL ad

2) 410 sunroof code showing 5 speed manual in some erroneous vin decoder. I couldn’t find a single MB option code reference sheet that matches 410 to anything other than a sunroof. And BTW, the car does have a sunroof. And the same (and all other) vin decoders show that car having a 722 transmission which is an automatic. Code 428 is the code for a five speed, not 410 (I believe). Reference here:
https://www.w123-bremen.de/en/sa_innen.php

Here’s the dealer website.
https://www.desertprivatecollection.com/vehicle/62986/1983-MERCEDES-BENZ-300-SERIES-300D-TURBO-DIESEL-5-SPEED-MANUAL/

Notice the picture of the shifter with a 4-speed on it. Perhaps it’s one of those lame cases of the seller adding reverse to the “speeds.” I guess it is possible that they used a 4-speed shift knob displaying the wrong shift pattern, but it would seem far more likely to me that they’d put a knob on with no shift pattern as opposed to the wrong one. And they gave up fitting the boot it seems too. I am 99.9% confident that this is a 4-speed swap. I could be wrong. I’ve been wrong before.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Past mb: '73 450sl, '81 280slc stick, '71 250, '72 250c, '70 250c, '79 280sl, '73 450sl, parted: '75 240d stick, '69 280s, '73 450slc, '72 450sl,

I wonder too, for this price the driver's side air vent should be properly mounted, I bet this is an old enthusiast's car from a while ago .

If I wanted a stick shift I'd certainly go look at it and test drive it, make some cash offer, I wonder if the AC works, I doubt it or they'd mention it in the advert as it's hot there 365 days the year .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

I think that diesel manual conversions are easier to do than most gasser conversions because there’s no crank position sensor to worry about for ignition timing. I’ve got a 1985 190e 5-speed out of the parts car, which I believe could be bolted to a diesel motor with the starter on the driver side. The SLK 6-speeds are a bolt on too. The 5-speed transmissions with the starter on the passenger side (1985 and earlier) are harder to find, but 4-speeds are pretty plentiful. With that, at nearly $7000 asking, the car should be very nice and advertised appropriately, unlike this car. That’s my opinion.

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Past mb: '73 450sl, '81 280slc stick, '71 250, '72 250c, '70 250c, '79 280sl, '73 450sl, parted: '75 240d stick, '69 280s, '73 450slc, '72 450sl,

Agreed but it's a hobby car lot so they're prolly hoping for one of those clueless people who mob us at gas stations saying "wow ! I gotta get me one of these !" .

I always try to dissuade them, yes my old Mercedes has nearly 1/2 million miles and I drive it quickly, far and wide but no, it's not a turn key and ho Honda typ of vehicle, if you don't accept this you'll hate it .

1971 Chevrolet Vegas are rare too but essentially worthless ~ I found two a few years back that were actually in VGC and RUST FREE (hard to find even in the Desert) and guess what ? NO ONE wanted either one so they got crushed for scrap pretty much intact .

One never knows ~ I've bought a lot of vintage cars for less than 1/2 the asking price by looking closely and making a realistic offer in CASH .

This just might be someone's dream hobby car .

I live in the Desert so no dark colored cars for me, I learned my lesson .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better