AMG 3.6 Engine Swap

[Niks]

Finally I have made the decision and am now going for a 3.6 engine swap on my E280. I dont really want the hassle of messing around with turbo's or supercharger setups as I know its like opening a can of worms.

Before I buy the engine/donor car), Im looking for some advise.

1) A 3.6 from a W210 or W202, will this be a straight swap, meaning not having to mess around with the engine mount locations?

2) What will I need to use from the donor car? i.e. power steering pump, water pump, wiring loom, ECU?

3) I have a 5-Speed Autobox in my E280, will this cope with the 3.6? Bearing in mind im not the pedal to the metal type of driver, more conservative with a little spirited driving once in a while.

4) Will my standard rear diff and flex disc cope too?

I already have planned for brake upgrades for the front and new shocks all round (springs are new).

Im sure I will have more questions soon.

Thanks.

 

[BlackC55]

I have done this swap.

The best thing to use is a doner 124 E36. You will need the diff too!

I am not sure if the 210 or 202 are compatible. The Engine control units won't be. The 124 E36 ECU is different to the 124 E320,280 to produce the same right AMG power.

The mounts should be the same but the 'box I don't think is. The ratio's maybe different. Check the numbers on EPC.

 

[d w124]

I have done this swap.

The best thing to use is a doner 124 E36. You will need the diff too!

I am not sure if the 210 or 202 are compatible. The Engine control units won't be. The 124 E36 ECU is different to the 124 E320,280 to produce the same right AMG power.

The mounts should be the same but the 'box I don't think is. The ratio's maybe different. Check the numbers on EPC.

Olly:Is not easy to find a 124 E36 if if you do,you might as well keep that instead
As for the eco I do know that is possible to chip the 320 to work with the 3.6 and kick out the full power

 

[Niks]

Ok if the engine came out from a C36, i could take out the ecu from there too and it should potentially work right? Or do i still need a 124 E36 ecu just because its going in a 124 chassis? Does the ecu have anything to do with the gearbox at all?

 

[ray_hennig]

Oh dear!!!

I have done this swap.

The best thing to use is a doner 124 E36. You will need the diff too!

I am not sure if the 210 or 202 are compatible. The Engine control units won't be. The 124 E36 ECU is different to the 124 E320,280 to produce the same right AMG power.

The mounts should be the same but the 'box I don't think is. The ratio's maybe different. Check the numbers on EPC.

Oliver, you really mustn't put this sort of temptation in my way. Don't let it get the better of you.

RayH

 

[BlackC55]

Ok if the engine came out from a C36, i could take out the ecu from there too and it should potentially work right? Or do i still need a 124 E36 ecu just because its going in a 124 chassis? Does the ecu have anything to do with the gearbox at all?

I am 70% sure that the ECU from a 210 or 202 is coded to the chassis number of the car and ignition switch etc. I am sure ASR plays a part too.

 

[Will]

I know you've probably seen this before, but bearing in mind you're not going for a V8 conversion now, wouldn't this make more sense:

Mercedes : MERCEDES W124 E36 AMG CONVERSION - New Price

Swap any nice bits from your car (front bumper, grille/wheels etc?) and save yourself a lot of time/money/hassle.

It's even exactly the same colour, is a facelift 124 saloon and has the exact engine swap and transmission type that you're after

I'm sure he'd take an offer now as it's been for sale for a while, he's a member on here IIRC. Price has come down quite a bit now, he probably has to shift it

Will

 

[Niks]

Thanks Will, I will talk to him and find out the nitty gritty about the car. I heard he also had an issue with the ECU at some point from someone, cant remember who though. I really do admire what he has done in terms of conversion, a lot of respect to him for that. Only thing is to my personal liking, im not too fond of the headlights, alloys, grill or the sound system install. Chances are a lot of the mechanicals will be transferred over to mine if I was to get that.

 

[bolide]

If you are not a spirited driver why do you need a brake upgrade?

I think the engine swop will be much more hassle than you think and the ECU will be at the heart of it

Is a 3.6 going to give you the power & torque boost you are looking for? I've always found the W124 AMG engines thoroughly underwhelming

Nick Froome

 

[Niks]

In what respect have you found it underwhelming? Im not looking for gigantic amount of power or boost, just something has some extra oomph and torque when overtaking or pulling from the lights. It would be nice to keep the originality of the car too.

 

[andy27168]

I think you can eliminate the immobiliser issues being coded to the ECU, as only the later models of the 202 had DAS 1 (I think that is what it is called) so I think an early 202 C36 without the raised transponder collar around the ignition switch would be the ideal doner vehicle. I believe the 210 E36 was only ever produced DAS 1, though I could be wrong.
The biggest problem IMO, will be the engine wiring, my understanding is that the 320 engine and the 36 engine are effectively the same but a larger capacity (amongst other things), I would use the 320 engine wiring loom on the 36 engine and the 320 ECU, then as you said get the ECU chipped to reflect the 36 engine.
As the engines are effectively the same any lack of/additional sensors can be sourced from the 320 engine, this how I see the swap could be done, though I,m not too familiar with this type of engine.

 

[bolide]

Im not looking for gigantic amount of power or boost, just something has some extra oomph and torque when overtaking or pulling from the lights

Then a 3.6 conversion will be the poorest value-for-money job I can think of

No great criticism of AMG engines implied, it's just that they don't offer enough, IMHO

Why not import an E420. LHD, but will have all the power & torque you might want in a standard package

Nick Froome

 

[BlackC55]

Unless you TT it.....

 

[d w124]

Unless you TT it.....

The 3.6 is powerful enough for what he wants

 

[BlackC55]

Are you still going to do yours Dash?

 

[d w124]

Are you still going to do yours Dash?

Yes I might go TT on the estate though

 

[BlackC55]

Excellent.

Good luck with it!

 

[Niks]

Olly, fancy doing mine and dash's at the same time? We'll time you

 

[BlackC55]

Yes, of course I will.

Can't time me as it will take a good few weeks to get everything perfect. It is not as straight forward a people might think. Are you both going to run the 320 diff?

Wiring looms have to be considered too.

 

[Niks]

Im not sure what diff dash will have, probably a LSD one. I will most probably go for a 320 diff and keep my 5 speed box.

You mentioned you have done this before, what was involved in it?