PJmak

This forum is kinda slow so let me bore you with my story.

So i have two 202s right now. My c43 and a 2000 c280

My c43 needs quite a bit of work and the 280 is really clean and has pretty much all the maintenance up to date.

My engine valve lifters are making a ton of noise in my 43 right now and the suspension needs a refreshment plus the two right doors have slight damage on them that happened recently from someone backing into me.

So basically i dont know if i should sell my 280 to fix the 43 or drive the 280 and garage the 43 and slowly fix it.

I would really want to swap in a 5.4 and maybe do a h&r cup kit and id be able to do all of that plus paint the doors if i sold the 280. I have the doors already and i have a few friends who do paint work and can do it for a good price. Dont have much to invest into cars at the moment so im kinda torn between the two decisions and id want to keep the 280 but i also want a 5.4 swap and my amg to be all nice and clean again.

What would you do?

JohnnyRock

Sell the 280 and fix the/upgrade the C43. Transfer what parts you can to the C43, but try to keep VIN tags for re-sale value. The 43 w/55-motor upgrade will be super-fun if you get it done. Just my .02$.

cm60k

Yeah, im also suffering about lifter noise, hates the car, when that damn sound appears,

when i put a thick oil with "2" bottles, it goes away, and quickly returns back,

lifters & oil pump are the "2" things need to be replaced,,!!

rather than repairing those lifters put 5.4l, difference like DAY & NIGHT....

ZAYED,,

PJmak

Your 5.4 is ticking or was it your 4.3 before you swapped it out?

PJmak

Cant really get much for the 43 motor especially with lifters that need work or replacing

cm60k

4.3 wasn't clicking, when i swapped it with 5.4l, and driving it about 2 years, then clicking started...

ZAYED,,

PJmak

Dang...what was the mileage on that motor when it started doing it?

cm60k

As i remember; 138,000....

ZAYED,

PJmak

Thats kinda early for that to happen no?

Im nervous about getting a high mileage m113. Id hate to have the same thing happen

cm60k

Its point-out how previous owner was dealing with the Engine, he may feed it with a cheap oil,

or keep the old oil seated for long time....

ZAYED,,

PJmak

Wrong thread reply

svt ricco

I'd say slowly fix the 43.. But that's just me..

Sulaco

I also say slowly fix the 43, keep the 280.

Bird in the hand...

mickey13

keep them both, you might have a windfall of cash in the next 2-3 or 6, even 18 months and then you'll be able to fix the car and kick yourself in the --- for selling the other one you really enjoy too.

svt ricco

I don't see the point in selling a good working car. Just use it for now while you are saving up for the 43. This is your best option I think. Btw, haven't seen the 280 yet, let us see it.

mickey13

yeah where the pictures at?!

benzslo

I would not sell the 280 especially if it is in nice shape. Then you go from one good car and one project, to just one project car. I'd personally rather sell the project car that isn't as nice.

Just speaking from experience but once things start sliding like that, it's hard to ever get it back the way you want it, and you might lose interest. Who wants to replace doors and everything that is involved with that?

One thing I've always wanted to do, is a big motor swap to a c280. It would be just like the 5.4 swap but with a v6. Use the 3.7 liter m112 from the later ML350 in the 163 chassis. That engine is a a stud compared to the 320. and the 320 has way more torque than the 280. I'd guess with the 3.7 motor you'd be very close if not faster than a stock c43.

I think that would be pretty cool. I've never heard of anyone doing it. I'd love to find a cheap clean 280 someday, I would like to do this swap.

PJmak

I didnt even know the 3.7 existed in an ml until recently. My friend had to get one for his ml.

would this swap be just as easy as a 5.4 into a c43 swap?

PJmak

We have three cars and dont really need the 280 plus if i sold it id immediately be able to get the 43 back on the road in a fresh condition. Might as well just keep it i guess unless someone really wants to buy it. Ill keep you guys posted on what happens

My wife is supposed to start working soon too so thatll make the decision a bit easier

Ill put up some pics tomorrow. Its just a stock black on black with 16" w202 sport wheels

benzslo

As long as the motors dimensionally the same as eachother on the outside, it will be doing just the same thing, even easier since it's a v6 and not a v8.

I can't say for 100% certain they are the same size dimensionally as I have never measured it, but if I know Mercedes, they are. Nothing 5 minutes and a tape measure couldn't accomplish. The ML motors would be alot easier to come by also as a ton were made in the couple years they were out, cheaper too.
That would be a real nice sleeper and those things pull really nicely.

PJmak

Thats what i figured too but its a newer car so i dont know if there would be any differences and even tho i found out about this motor, that swap never crossed my mind. You can get a facelifted 202 that doesnt run for dirt cheep, strip it, swap this motor in and youd have a fun little ride

I did some research and is seems these were used from 03 to 05 and are at 235hp 245tq.

My 280 pulls good, this would be a noticable difference with 40+ extra tq

benzslo

I see it says 254 torque.

But I don't put much faith in most of MB published numbers really, I'd guess it would give the ml430 a real run for it's money, if not beat it, if that tells you anything.

I guess just something to think about if you ever get bored. Also a simple parts search would tell you alot too. If it uses the same intake manifold and exhaust manifolds as the 320, you can bet it's the same size.

PJmak

We are steering off topic and i gotta say that the bottom line is that my c43 stays no matter what but this swap is definetly interesting to talk about and i guess its mostly coz i think the c43 is a little rare to just strip down and turn into a project car but i wouldnt mind doing that to a c280

Im pretty sure the c280 spec tranny would keep up with the extra power too no? Would it be necessary to strengthen it?

Sulaco

Umm didn't the slk32 and c32 have a blown 3.2 m112? Swap one of those into the 280?

JohnnyRock

Have you thought about a LS1/T56-6 spd swap into the C43? I agree with you, keep the C43, it should have more appeal than a regular 280.