W204 271910 automatic engine swap into a manual? Is it possible 🙏🏼

[PowellPGA]

Hi, new to the forum and wish I checked here after purchasing my 59 plate manual1.6 petrol c class C180 w204 estate (courtesy of ULEZ). 4 months in and my timing chain snapped! So looking at putting another engine in.

Struggling to find a good value manual engine and have been told by breaker that I can get the 271910 engine (exactly the same as mine but out of an automatic car) minus the automatic parts. He has suggested that this new engine is the same as mine and can literally put the gearbox from my current car onto it plus all my manual parts (computer bits etc apologies don’t know names as not overly knowledgeable about cars) and it should fit.

Did speak with a staff member at Mercedes who seemed to agree but wasn’t completely sure if all bits are connected the same way to the engine?

Does anyone know if this possible or not?

Any help on the matter will be appreciated as want to be sure before I invest again.

 

[noogieman]

The engine does it have single or double chain?
Would be very strange if the double chain snapped?
MB has been known to cut corners for many years, the famous MB quality is long gone.

 

[PowellPGA]

@noogieman im not sure if its a double or single, but the merc specialists have said im the first car they’ve had with a snapped one. Normally loose and ready to slip a tooth but mine has gone completely (hence my new engine predicament). If I had the car as long as my previous one (at nearly 200k) would consider scrapping, but this is at 92k and only bought 4 months ago

 

[ernie]

The engine does it have single or double chain?
Would be very strange if the double chain snapped?
MB has been known to cut corners for many years, the famous MB quality is long gone.

The '271' engine has a single chain which is renowned for breaking and/or slipping teeth on the sprockets.

Ernie

 

[ernie]

@noogieman im not sure if its a double or single, but the merc specialists have said im the first car they’ve had with a snapped one. Normally loose and ready to slip a tooth but mine has gone completely (hence my new engine predicament). If I had the car as long as my previous one (at nearly 200k) would consider scrapping, but this is at 92k and only bought 4 months ago

Unless you know differently, it might be worthwhile lifting the head and determining how much damage has been done. If just bent valves and associated hardware, it might be repairable. A check with a borescope might help, unless that has been already done.

Ernie

 

[noogieman]

The '271' engine has a single chain which is renowned for breaking and/or slipping teeth on the sprockets.

Ernie

Oh mein gott what a cr@p!

MB did the same mistake when they manufactured first MY W201 series back in 1983 - 84 using single chain and they also broke down.
Then MB had to come up with a revised engine design using double chain.
They never seem to learn from their mistakes?

 

[PowellPGA]

Unless you know differently, it might be worthwhile lifting the head and determining how much damage has been done. If just bent valves and associated hardware, it might be repairable. A check with a borescope might help, unless that has been already done.

Ernie

Thanks for the reply.

it has been checked and is quite the mess apparently. Found an engine for £950ish but has come out of an automatic transmission. Do you know whether this matters? Eg all automatic transmission parts taken off, just the 271910 engine, then all my manual parts from current car put on, ecu, gearbox etc. does that make sense?

 

[noogieman]

@noogieman im not sure if its a double or single, but the merc specialists have said im the first car they’ve had with a snapped one. Normally loose and ready to slip a tooth but mine has gone completely (hence my new engine predicament). If I had the car as long as my previous one (at nearly 200k) would consider scrapping, but this is at 92k and only bought 4 months ago

I'm sorry you have issues with your car.
You must be really upset now about engine failiure?

Any warranties left from the dealer?

 

[PowellPGA]

I'm sorry you have issues with your car.
You must be really upset now about engine failiure?

Any warranties left from the dealer?

Unfortunately bought it privately. More peeved with myself for not taking to get checked out straight away but it had 2000 to go till next service, so thought I could wait, then get it all checked out. Costly mistake

 

[noogieman]

Unfortunately bought it privately. More peeved with myself for not taking to get checked out straight away but it had 2000 to go till next service, so thought I could wait, then get it all checked out. Costly mistake

I bet p/o knew about near future issues, that's why he probably got rid of the car?

 

[JHS]

Back on topic. Back in the day before electronics, I would have said go ahead. Now with the mass of electronic thingies scattered around,I would be inclined to seek the advice of a MB indie.

 

[Petrol Pete]

The detail around where the crankshaft interfaces with the gearbox would probably be a good place to pay close attention mainly because of the difference between a torque converter and a clutch. Is the bell housing different to accommodate the mechanical lever to activate the clutch ?

Common sense would guide a manufacturer of mass produced cars using manual and automatic versions sharing engines to KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) ....but Mercedes Benz have 'form' when it comes to not keeping it simple.

 

[Bellow]

Eg all automatic transmission parts taken off, just the 271910 engine, then all my manual parts from current car put on, ecu, gearbox etc. does that make sense?

Sounds viable to me - using none of the donor engines electronics (except for sensors/actuators with shared part numbers) - but I'd really want that verified by someone with practical experience.
Bell housing is part of the gearbox. The chance of the two bell housings' mounting pattern being different is remote.

 

[IanW]

If you do decide to go ahead, remember that the replacement auto engine will need a spigot bearing fitting into the end of the crankshaft. It supports the manual gearbox input shaft, obviously not required when a torque converter is fitted.
Caught me out after I replaced a blown up Vauxhall VX2300 engine.