2003 CLS 6MT Trannies
 

Hey there, I'm new to this board - just picked up a Black 2003 CLS 6-Speed w/out navi.

I keep hearing about the transmission slip ups for the autos - how good (or bad) are the manual transmission?

I tried searching for it on these forums with no luck.

Anyone else with a 6-speed type-s out there? How good are these bad boys?

no known issues with the 6 speeds. some have changed the fluid to the new honda trans fluid and have seen improvements in the sometimes notch-ey shifts.

edit: type s 6 speed right here!

i've had my 6 speed brand new since Nov 2002 with no issues what so ever.

They are fine. No real problems with the 6 speeds.

Bought mine new in 03
No problems from me

If I remember correctly there have a been a few clutch issues, but no tranny issues. The clutch issues were probably due to driver error

:agree: Oct 2002 here, now with 70K miles... only issue was slight notchiness when it was new in sub-freezing weather. I'm still on the stock (old formula) MT fluid.

no issues here at all besides routine maintenance, but all i can say is save your money for when the ballasts go out!!

:)

ballast??
can someone tell me what that means?

thanks

The Ballasts make the HID bulbs work. There is one for each headlight. They have nothing to do with the transmission. Enjoy your car.

Oh, I forgot... Welcome to the forum, and welcome to the 6spd Club !!

Thanks - just looking at that production list, under night hawk black pearl --- what is Ebony and Parchment?

That the interior?

Ebony and Parchment are interior colors. Ebony is Black and Parchment is Tan.

GreenMonster beat me to it, but I have a 03 CLS 6MT black/black non-navi like yours and I never knew how rare it was until I came to this board. It is an awesome car, the only negative I have about the black on black is that it can get pretty toasty in there during the summer months.

BTW...I have 97xxx miles and I switched over to the new Honda MTF. I can't really tell any difference, but I'm no mechanic. It feels a little bit more smoothing on shifts, but that could be my mind trying to justify the cost of replacing the fluid :rolleyes:

Welcome to the exclusive 6-speed club. I've got around 70k mine and it's been switched over to the new tranny fluid before I bought it. A little notchy in the morning when it's really cold but other then that it's great.

I wonder how many of them have been totaled?

I know of 5 from this board. All 6MT's. I also have seen 2 on Ebay.

Also have seen more 6mt CLS trans & engines pop up on Ebay recently.

Ive got one in my TL :D

I'd have to guess 5-10% or so... So like 175-350... maybe more, maybe less..

The one I have is Black on Black - with 70k KMs (40ish miles).

Pretty smooth so far. I'm lovin it.

Got one in my 1st Gen :D

Count me in a a 6 speed owner :) lol
I have black with tan interior and no Navi.

Chalk up another 6sd blk/blk manual guidance...not to the totaled tally of course ...knock on woodgrain! Just got mine this week. Pretty amazing but did shift more roughly this morning (15°F).

1st post too

oh and yes, I know I've got no woodgrain so someone with it give it a few raps for me :wish:

I love drivning my6sd blk/parch manual! It never gets old. I cant wait to put the HBP on my Blower with the emanage.

chalk up a white w/tan interior 2003CL-S 6spd with CT SC and 35489 miles.

Welcome to the forum !!

Purchased new Labor Day Weekend 2002, just about to hit 169K miles. Not one issue with the tranny, the engine, or anything else (except a front passenger headlight that went out around the 125K mark and was replaced for free).

Have had mine for 5 years, 78000 miles. No tranny issues. Just last week changed out the manual transmission fluid for new formula Honda, along with routine Mobil 1 oil change and new air filter. Didnt notice any change in shifting with the new fluid. It runs like a champ.

You know what I drive, anthracite with Navi.
at 51k miles now, bought used @ 7500 miles.
no problems with tranny. great car.

ps- Change out the lightweight plastic shift knob. I've used the TSX & TL knobs myself, heavier metal and shorter!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4.../Salumdash.jpg

No Problem With My Tranny Just Had To Replace The Clutch Though. Driver Error.

I seem to be the only one with problems and they are not user error caused. Seriously and to be fair, I REALLY seem to be the only ass hat with problems! I have been here since 2002 and have maybe heard of one other issue. I have had a manual for most of my driving life and have been involved in auto racing, nothing special. However, at 25000 my 2-3 gear syncros failed and the dealer replaced the 1234 gear sets and syncros as they are a 1-2 and 3-4 sets. At 85000 miles my main input shaft seal on the trany failed causing fluid to hit the clutch and fry the whole assyembly and the rear main seal. I think it was caused by overfilling the trany with fluid by the dealer for the life of the car. None of the dealers seem to know about the TSB that states to remove the trany top off bolt and fill till it begins to drain only, instead of filling with the stated pour volume in the service manual. I had them replace the gears again because the 2nd gear grinding issue never went away. $3500 later I thought everything was fine but now at 99000 miles I have leakage again from the clutch area. The trany is not overfilled anymore so it is either coming from the Rear main or the Main input shaft seal again. Im pissed.

I love my car though and I will not be selling it.

To be fair your do have a blower & much more power going through the drivetrain.
Have to consider that. I know even without the blower you had problems though. As you said there's 1 or 2 others & that's been it.

the s2k is heavy, the tl is not sadly.... i'm going to switch out the a 460gram weighted shift knob soon

how is driving the 6 speed in highway or any kind of traffic? is the 6 speed easy to get used to? i guess this could go for any car, but any comments?

It has been fine for me, I have 106k on mine. I sit on the 408 parking lot in the mornings going to work and the clutch is pretty light and not a problem to me. Highway driving not a problem at all.

It does have a quick engagement point, but once you get used to that, its a real easy car to drive. I won't be getting rid of mine any time soon.

Been a long time since I last posted here, but here's my say on the CL 6-speed: I test drove an orange '01 model A/T and thought it was okay even though the salesman tried to sell me on the "manual shift" mode which I think is BS anyway. I have owned one of the 230 Aegean 6-speeds since summer '05 with 57K miles then and now I just did the (expensive) 105K "1st major tuneup" (codeword for bendover and get raped in the wallet) and my clutch/tranny are still just as good as when I first bought it. I love the 6-speed and feel there's no other way I could drive my CL. When I read the reviews before I bought it, all it said negatively was the A/T. I love this car to death and hate I'll have to sell it this spring due to "my Uncle" giving me an all expense paid trip to Korea then Europe. Bottom line--once you go 6MT CL, an A/T will be the anti climax...

Me too finally :ecstatic:

I hope some day I can join these CL boys and get a nice Taffeta White CL-S6 :wish:

My notchiness is occurring more often but to be fair, it is on the tail end of winter now and that may be why I am thinking of it. I am replacing the transmission fluid very soon.
I can tell it is not a synchro issue due to the fact it still occurs, unchanged, when double clutching.
I just have learned that I can not drive my CL like my supercharged civic si. I need to take a breath between shifts and concentrate more on being a good driver.

Wish the car wasn't so heavy though, have to replace brakes very soon because my rotors are warped and I barely use the brakes as I am a mainly highway driver.

1. Virtually every honda I have ever drove has been notchy in the winter, I just get used to it

2. The CLS6 is not a slow shifting car and you certainly don't have to take a breath in between shifts once you get used to the car. Ive had this car for 5 years and its certainly the fastest shifting MT ive driven. Infact I think the faster you shift the smoother it is