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CLK430 to 55 with gearbox?

L

larby

Active Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2008
Messages
78
Location
Guernsey
Car
W208 CLK 430, full AMG spec
Hi all,

I've got a lovely 61k miles CLK430 in fantastic condition with full AMG spec from new (brakes, suspension, kit etc). Whilst the 430 motor is great, it's just not pokey enough for my liking and I find the gearbox a bit sluggish.

As I mentioned it's in great condition and it's black on black, so I don't want to get rid. I'm looking at doing a 55 engine conversion instead. Bear in mind that being in Guernsey the cost of buying another car would be 1k+ in shipping alone! I'd do some work on the 55 before fitting to bring power up a bit too :devil:

Having done loads of searching and reading the full C55 thread, I now know that the engine is the same, which is great, but what about the gearbox? I'd like to put in the 55 'box. Will it just mount right up? What about any electrics etc?

As for the motor, I believe the 430 ecu will be fine for now? Are there any other options?

Sorry for all the questions, I just can't find the info I want with a search as it's not a common swap for obvious reasons. I want to go into this with eyes wide open!!

Hope everyone has a great xmas!

All the best, James
 
you're on a small island, the roads are relatively small why would you need any more power, surely a brake upgrade might be better to help you stop. :-)

Have fun whatever you
 
Hi James,

I know it's probably not what you want to hear, but it's just not worth it.

Even the cleanest, lowest mileage and highest specced 208 CLK55s are quite cheap these days, certainly below the £10k mark for a minter like your one sounds.

The cost of the parts, hassle/cost of fitting + the current value of your car would make it not worthwhile when there's no real shortage of CLK55s IMHO. The main reason Andy modified his W202 into a C55 was that they are so rare that they practically do not come onto the market for sale in the UK, hence the conversion was the only real route.

Does your CLK430 really have the AMG brakes and suspension? AMG 'HWA' part numbers on the anti-roll bars, huge AMG spec discs and calipers etc. I've seen loads of 208 CLKs with AMG bodykits, wheels etc but never heard of one with all the other uprated AMG bits like suspension/brakes etc.

Other differences between the cars I would think:

Gearbox
Diff (?)
Exhaust system
ECU as mentioned

Plus the other AMG bits and pieces, instrument cluster, steering wheel etc.

I'm not against conversions, but I wouldn't go to this trouble/expense to end up with a modded car that's not as good as a CLK55 anyway. It'll also be worth less than a proper one, cost more to insure (as a modified car) and possibly be more hassle in the long run than buying and transporting a proper CLK55 to Guernsey.

Sorry for being blunt, but I'm just trying to offer a realistic viewpoint. CLK55s are great cars but I'd either buy one outright or enjoy what you currently have :)

Will
 
Hi,
I have just had a 55 engine fitted to my 43, and i investigated fitting 55 box as well but i don,t think your prop will be the same. Also the TCU will be different (well the software in it will be).
I decided it would be a far safer bet to spend money on refurbing the existing gearbox and TC, as i have read the 43 box was good for 500+bhp, with modified trans cooling
Also has your car tip? as i believe all CLK55's had this.
Are you planning to fit a 55 diff? as this could also be problematic, as you,ll need to change the drive shafts, and you "may" have to modify the floor pan for the diff itself.
My personnal advice would be get your existing GB and TC reconned, and modify your existing trans cooler to stand alone item like the one fitted to a 43.
What are you planning to do with the 55 engine i have considered a few things cams, headers, renntec remap and airbox, and decat, i did,nt think there was any advantage delaying fitting the engine as all the above items are just as easily achieved with the engine in the car.
Make sure when you get the donor engine that you source all of the induction system as this is different as it has twin inlets, and that the 55 loom is the same as your 430 loom, if it is,nt you will need to remove your 430 loom and fit it to your 55 engine this will involve removing of the inlet manifold as there is a cable that runs under it.
Are you sure you have an AMG brake upgrade? as i don,t believe this was ever an option, in which case you would need to fit either C43 AMG (they have fitted E55 front brakes and IIRC bigger rear brakes as standard than an E55) or CLK55 AMG brakes.
Check the size of your front discs, if AMG they should be IIRC 320mm, and "should" have AMG embossed on the front calipers as the 43 do allbeit only lightly.
 
Last edited:
Hi again everyone,

Thank's so much for such a great response, it never ceases to amaze me how helpful everyone on here is!

I'm pretty sure I've got the AMG brakes, I'll go out and check the logo later but they literally just fit under the AMG alloys. FWIW, it also has full AMG exhaust. I've got the spec sheet from new somewhere with everything listed so I'm pretty sure it's genuine.

I wasn't aware there was much of a difference between the C43 and 430 ecu, as I was under the impression the only difference was the cams, though I guess that would warrant a different map?
Andy - How did you find out the map on yours worked?

Will - I hear what you're saying and I thought the same for a long time, but I've not seen many black on black CLK 55's. When you do, they usually approach 10k which is a fair difference from mine, especially when you factor in the 1k+ for travel to and from Guernsey, assuming the first one is the right one, and I don't know if the car I'm buying is necessarily as well looked after as the one I have. That said, it is an option, I'm just looking to weigh up cost and what's involved in the 55 swap so I can make a decision. I've also gotta sell my 430 if I go down the road which probably won't be easy! We'll see I guess.

Main issue for now is the tranny and it's tcu. Andy, when you say tip, I can knock the lever left or right when in drive to change gear if that's what you mean? I just don't know if I could stay with the 430's slow changes with the 55 motor, I'm told the 55 box is much sharper?

Oh I don't know, decisions decisions eh! Keep the advice coming guys, it's all really appreciated!

James
 
Have you had your gearbox oil changed? There are re-maps available that will sharpen up your gearchange.

To swap the engine over is straight forward. I would keep the original box and diff to keep it hassle free.

I can do this conversion for you if you wish. You just need to find an engine and get the car to me. Allow 2-3 days for conversion.
 
Hi,
Yes if you can knock the lever left/right to change then you have Tip, the TCU is a generic item on the 5 speed box, and it is only the software that is in it that differs.
The difference between the C43 and the 430 is I "believe" the inlet manifold, induction system i.e. air box and ducting, and the MAPP in the ECU, the TCU also has bespoke AMG software loaded, and an AMG exhaust system. I,m sure I have looked before and the cams are the same, though this may depend on the source of the 55 motor, but I,ll look on the EPC at some point and check
When you check your brakes, check the exhaust, the exhaust boxes should have a plaque with the AMG logo and pt. no., if you do have an AMG exhaust I would think it will only be the back box, as these were offered as an accessory.
My car is running with a C43 gearbox, torque convertor, prop and diff, and is very lively and responsive, and the gear changes are quick and smooth, you can also get upgraded TCU's from Renntech (see BlackC55/Olly as he is the main Renntech agent in the UK).
Regarding how I knew my MAP would work on the 55 motor, I did,nt really but I found out that the ECU for the E55 and the C43 had the same pt. no. so if it did,nt run it was only a matter of getting a 55 MAPP put in the ECU, but to be honest I never doubted it would run as there is no reason why it should,nt, and it certainly is no slouch now I find it difficult to see that I would gain anything by getting it remapped to a standard 55 mapp, though I,ll be getting a decatt, Renntec airbox, remapp, and TCU remapp in the new year at some point hopefully before Thorney Island.
Just a thought your if your not happy with the gear change of your car, as it is adaptive, try a few standing starts, this should change the TCU characteristics, or better still get the car put on STAR and get the gearbox adaptations fully reset, but as you live on a small island unless you are gonna be driving like you stole it everywhere it won,t take long to re-adapt.
 
So Olly , you are saying that a 430 ECU can be used to control a 55 engine as well as a 43 ECU ? :cool:

That suggests that the 43 engine runs on the 430 ECU then ?

I must add that the gearchanges on both of our 430s are sharp , the red one particularly so since Olly changed the gearbox oil for me.
 
Howard said:
So Olly , you are saying that a 430 ECU can be used to control a 55 engine as well as a 43 ECU ? :cool:

That suggests that the 43 engine runs on the 430 ECU then ?

I must add that the gearchanges on both of our 430s are sharp , the red one particularly so since Olly changed the gearbox oil for me.
Click to expand...

So what you`re trying to say,is that you`re going to get Andy`s engine on yours
 
Ha ..... not in so many words ;)

But it had occured to me ..... however with the news yesterday , i think i will be battening down the financial hatches next year !
 
Right, went and had a look at the brakes etc, couldn't really be ****d with taking the wheel off to check for logos but managed to measure them, they're definately AMG sized, with vented on the back too, as AMG spec. Whole exhaust system is AMG, not that it really matters as I've changed most of it to de-cat it anyhoo. I'll be making a new revised and neater system for it soon anyhoo, sounds amazing!
I've also been out in a standard 430 which handled like a boat compared to mine, so I'm guessing suspension is actually AMG as I was told, though I'll likely upgrade this anyhoo.
So... I'm pretty much of the conclusion that my car is actually full AMG spec other than the engine.

That's really interesting about getting the gearbox remapped!! It currently takes about a second from when I hit the lever in tip until it changes, I call it 'predictive shifting' as you have to select your gear way before you want it! Can be a real pain when launching!
So I'm guessing my best bet would be to have an AMG map put on the TCU? Would it be the same box as in the W202?
It'd definately save a lot of hassle keeping the box etc that I have if I can sharpen it up a bit!

BlackC55, I may well be taking you up on that offer next year, where abouts are you in the country? We'll have to have a chat about pricing. My email is [email protected] or PM me if you'd be able to give me a guide price?
I'll change the transmission oil over the holidays and see what that does to help. When in auto it is quite responsive when I've driven for a bit, but then my girlfriend drives it for a week and I have to drive like a loon for half an hour to get it back to normal again! You can tell it's a 'luxury car' gearbox, not a sporty auto, especially when in tip, and I'd like to change that. Is there anyway to make the adaptive bit lock in it's sportiest mode or anything?

I'm getting excited now! Main advantage of doing an engine swap instead of buying another car is that I can sort out all the styling bits and bobs I want whilst doing my research and finding a suitable engine.

Andy and BlackC55, you're legends. Glad to have found people who think the same way as me, even better that you both have experience of what I want to do!!
Keep the advice flowing!

Cheers, James
 
Howard, how long does it take from when you knock the lever in tip, to when it actually changes gear? Mine is about a 1 sec delay...

Is there a handy 'how to' on changing gearbox oil?

Cheers, James
 
I've just finished reading the 'how-to' thread and the original one with all the replies! I'm not sure if that's my box though? How do I tell?

Sadly there's not really a garage over here I'd trust with doing a proper, complete job of the change, so it looks like I'll be doing that one myself. Never done an auto gearbox oil change before, it's quite a procedure!!

Cheers, James
 
Hi,
The procedure is the same in the "HOW TO" for your gearbox.
 
Awesome. I take it BlackC55 (I really must learn his name!) can supply the necessary parts?

Cheers, James
 
Awesome. You really can get an answer to everything on here!!

Knowing I can do this is the best xmas present I'm gonna get this year!!

James
 
larby said:
Awesome. You really can get an answer to everything on here!!

Knowing I can do this is the best xmas present I'm gonna get this year!!

James
Click to expand...

You go and do it mate,after all is still not an original CLK55 but is the one you would have ordered new with the colour and options you like

I`m in the process of doing an AMG covertion on my car,mind you is only a 3.6 but is just the way I wanted it Black colour to ;)
I know maybe it would have been cheaper to find an 3.6 one but where is the fun on that
 
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