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Thanks so much bro! I am also planning to DIY an Evo 2 style conversion on my regular 190e 2.6. Looking forward to your progress and preparing to learn something from your work!
Btw I also notice seems you only ordered the kits without side skirts and door panels, how are you gonna deal with that? The skirts and panel are extra options in topbodykit shop but very pricey.... Meanwhile, I am also considering an evo 2 style kit from hedgehog motorsports: https://www.facebook.com/commerce/pr...e_shop_tab_cta
They have all the parts for 3700 in total, a lot cheaper but I am not sure about the quality, they seem also to have a long-standing reputation as 190e specialist. Do you think if this could have better value considering the labor in their country is much cheaper than UK?
I checked - the fenders do not have molded bolts. Only small bracktets but they dont look too solid.
I bought a complete used Rieger Evo III bodykit - I will use the sideskirts and door panels from this kit probably. BTW the Rieger parts are super tough and well made - I was very impressed.
The Topbodykit parts are also well made but Rieger is on another level.
Hedgehog seems to make a very nice kit - however their kit was more expensive for me with all additional costs (shipping, tax, customs etc.)
If it is cheaper, go for it. I would trust them.
Originally Posted by Kammie
You are doing what I have been dreaming of for nearly 20 years,sort of. Had a 190 2.6 customer amg, person bought the car and right away dropped it of at amg. This was in 1988, I did 307 km/h with it on the gps (300km/h amg odo) and it felt like it could go even faster, 120 km/h in second gear ( 5 speed manual). Unfortunately it was my first car, I was 19 at the time and didn't appreciate what I had. It had street cred like you wouldn't believe, people came up to me and asking if it really did 300. It was stolen. It has always been a dream to somehow try and mimic what amg did to that car, but I don't think I would be able to pull it of without some serious help from (former) amg mechanics, just to ask them what they did to these cars back then. I have the vin, engine and gearbox numbers, do you think it can be done? Or just do it your way and do an engine swap?
I'm super curious what it will do when finished, the 6 speed manual top speed I mean. I had the 5 speed manual with first gear left under, 71743501109366.
I see! Thanks a lot for your info man! Sorry for this late reply somehow I didn't see any reminder in my inbox and missed your last reply...
Anyway, in this case I guess I will like to give a try with hedgehog, thanks for your help!
And looking forward to your project updates!
olszowa12 This project is amazing. I recently bought a 190e 2.6 and plan to convert to an evo2 kit too. My goal is to have the M113K engine as well. I've seen a few with that engine is crazy haha.
olszowa12 This project is amazing. I recently bought a 190e 2.6 and plan to convert to an evo2 kit too. My goal is to have the M113K engine as well. I've seen a few with that engine is crazy haha.
Thanks M113K is sick but I felt it was over-the-top so I went with the M113. Tuned it should be around 380HP which is enough power for me.
Small updates on the build. Recently the goal was to install the gearbox and shifter mechanism so that gear lever fits and works in the original tunel hole. It's almost done - it will be re-worked when we know it works properly.
The transmission crossmember was also custom-made. We also had to shave the fins on the oil pan as the W210 steering rack was touching them.
In addition, the clutch was overlaid with new kevlar and I got a new flywheel.
Easy on the ole Alabama trash can bud!!….some of us are partial to the first American made benzo 😈
Hehe. I wasn't a fan for the longest time and after testing an e53 x5 4.4 and the first ml55 in Qatar, I was really disappointed by the build quality of the ml.
But I dunno, i guess I kind of don't mind them now.
This thread was freakening hillarious at the start where folks were complaing and he said something like okay I'll stop the project. Folks believed him, even myself, and then psych! Still doing it. : D
Easy on the ole Alabama trash can bud!!….some of us are partial to the first American made benzo 😈
Actually, the original ML isn't the first American made vehicle from MB. Before the Daimler-Benz merger in 1926, Gottlieb Daimler who was a very good friend of the piano maker Steinway, used a Steinway factory in Long Island, NY to build cars for a couple of years before a fire destroyed the factory.
Excellent work mate... I am planning to do the same with mine but with M113K though. TOP Man
Following...
Thanks, progress is slow recently but we are moving ahead.
Originally Posted by ChrisVannoy
Easy on the ole Alabama trash can bud!!….some of us are partial to the first American made benzo 😈
Originally Posted by AdamOfAus
Hehe. I wasn't a fan for the longest time and after testing an e53 x5 4.4 and the first ml55 in Qatar, I was really disappointed by the build quality of the ml.
But I dunno, i guess I kind of don't mind them now.
This thread was freakening hillarious at the start where folks were complaing and he said something like okay I'll stop the project. Folks believed him, even myself, and then psych! Still doing it. : D
My father had an W163 ML 400 CDI back in 2001 so I have a sentiment for the "Alabama trash can", but my ML55 was not worth saving.
Sold it to an ML "collector" at no loss, so in the end, I got the M113 engine and BBK for free
Yes, definitely would recommend them. The fitment and quality is very good on the Topbodykit one.
The second bodykit I bought is a Rieger Evo III kit, however I would not buy for the price it costs new (3500-4000€). If I were to spend that much money, I would definitely choose the Goeckel EVO II kit. It's probably the best one out there, but it's pricey.
Hi from New Zealand mate,
im doing two v8 190e conversions, one for the road (v8 evo2) and one for track (v8 class 1 DTM)
for the road car I’m looking for the absolute best body kit conversion money can buy - is Goeckel the best you think is available?
Hi from New Zealand mate,
im doing two v8 190e conversions, one for the road (v8 evo2) and one for track (v8 class 1 DTM)
for the road car I’m looking for the absolute best body kit conversion money can buy - is Goeckel the best you think is available?
excited to see your progress!
Yes, I am sure Goeckel is the best bodykit available on the market. I read somewhere that Mercedes Benz in Germany used their EVO II parts on one of their cars when they had a shortage in OEM parts.
Good luck with the 2 projects
Following! Great progress so far! We need more pics!
I plan on doing something very similar but it's hard for me to find a good W201 example in Calgary, Canada. I am considering importing a rust-free unit from Europe. Plenty of M273 engines to find here though!
Small update guys
The engine and transmission were installed and removed more than a dozen times.
The engine bay had to be modified, shaved and hammered in a few spots - it's all welded and painted now.
Transmission tunnel is also welded up and painted. The transmission works perfect.
Radiator is installed - we used a Mercedes replacement radiator (NRF 58253).
Valve cover gaskets, exhaust manifold gasket and others were replaced.
The original ML55 AMG exhaust manifold has been cut, welded and modified to fit - it's a super tight fit and real headache to install and remove.
I'm hoping to have more updates soon. Next step is final engine+transmission install. After that I will have it wired up and started for the first time.
I still need a new exhaust system and custom driveshaft.
Then I will have to modify the wheel wells and finally install the bodykit. Can't wait.
Update - We upgraded the rear brakes to 278mm from a W124.
Got the car finally in my own garage. Maybe I will find some time this week to testfit the Evo package and the wheels.
The wiring work and engine start will be probably around mid August.
Last edited by olszowa12; Jul 18, 2022 at 09:07 AM.
Progress has been slow recently - life getting in the way - but we are moving ahead.
New Bosch 044 fuel pump, all cooling hoses and some other minor stuff was installed.
After many hiccups, we probably have a fitting frankenstein driveshaft.
Now we need to start this bad boy - electrical wiring next
but its moving thats what matters ! keep up the good work man !!
p.s. those felgi rims in the background there, what size are those and may I ask where you got em ?
Thanks
Which ones? The gold Volk Mesh with chrome lip? They are 15x8 ET-11 for my Datsun 240z.
The wheels are from Japan, 4" lips from France, and they were restored and assembled in Poland.
Thanks
Which ones? The gold Volk Mesh with chrome lip? They are 15x8 ET-11 for my Datsun 240z.
The wheels are from Japan, 4" lips from France, and they were restored and assembled in Poland.
oh right, they are 4x, didnt notice )) they look sick !
Slowly but surely moving ahead.
Driveshaft combined of a w124 rear part, w201 front part and a BMW coupling was installed. We had to make custom mounts for the support.
We installed all the cooling hoses and filled the engine with oil and all other fluids. No leaks yet
The M113 ECU was sent out to be flashed and coded. Can't wait to start it up.
I installed my Recaro CS84 driver seat - the fit is perfect with the Recaro mounts. Passenger seat is next. They will be retrimmed in the future.
The center console needed a small cut so the new gearbox didn't hit it - it's all ready to go in.
My bodykit was missing the sideskirts - I was able to source an original set from Germany. Driver-side skirt needs some work but it's not bad.
But I am glad the kit fits so well. Now we can start cutting the fenders.
Cool build. Be sure to check your steering rack for interference with the control arms at full extension. They hit on my W124/M113 swap and I had to notch them.
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I prefer the V8 setup.
thats what matters ! keep up the good work man !!
