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Hello my friends, I posted this in the C63 forum but as a C350 owner I'm beneath them lol. Here's the situation: I have a 2012 C350 sedan RWD. I recently blew the differential as well as a passenger side rear axle. The Mercedes dealership wanted $12,010 dollars to do the work, with parts back ordered in Germany. As such, I have decided to do it myself. What I am thinking of doing is one of two things. #1. Is to play it safe and do an entire rear end assembly swap from another C350 and #2. is to just switch the axle (probably both Axle's to be safe) as well as the differential. I live in a very low populated area so about all there is to do for fun is donuts in empty parking lots so I would like the Limited Slip Diff as an added bonus but really I just don't want it to break again. My Question is this: does anybody know if the W204 C63 Rear differential will plug and play into the C350? What I imagine is I will need at least new axles and that's fine. My concern is stuff like wheel hubs and driveshaft and transmission and fitment. I have STAR DAS so I could code the new axle ratio. Does anyone know what would need to be physically replaced to do the swap? Alternatively, Would a C63 entire rear end assembly bolt into the C350 or would I have to fab something up?
This is probably a shot in the dark as I can only find like 2 things on the entire internet regarding a similar situation but I would really really appreciate any help anyone could offer me.
To find out id start comparing the parts. A quick search shows the spring control arms are the same for example, says it fits the C350 and C63. I have a 2010 so my parts diagrams arent the exact same as yours. Track down a C63 parts diagram and the parts diagram for your specific vin the start looking up parts.
Im sure the drive shafts are different. So how would that be installed?
just replacing the diff and axles will be the cheapest. But depending on the condition of your rear subframe and parts it may be worth it to replace the entire thing while you're at it.
That's what I've been looking into but it can be hard to find concrete answers. I like your suggestion about the parts diagram. I work for CDJR Portland so I have Shop Key access. ill look into finding those on there. The more I look into this though the more im leaning toward just sucking it up and putting C350 parts back in.
Thanks again man
You're really not gaining much changing differentials. The gear ratios are very close and there's no point in the axle difference as the power isn't there.
Simply remove the broken axle and slide the differential off (you can leave the good side in.) Then replace differential and axle.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Once fixed, find another way to entertain yourself besides doing donuts in the parking lot of the local Tastee Freeze. I hear watching paint dry and grass grow can be fun.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Mercedes are awesome cars, but hope you don't need to have one fixed by the dealer. $12k is NUTS for a 12-year old car. I'm surprised it wasn't totaled. In my state, if repairs cost more than 85% of the value of the car, it's considered totaled.
Mercedes are awesome cars, but hope you don't need to have one fixed by the dealer. $12k is NUTS for a 12-year old car. I'm surprised it wasn't totaled. In my state, if repairs cost more than 85% of the value of the car, it's considered totaled.
Yeah probably would be totaled if I had been in an accident or anything. It sucks because the car only has about 62,000mi on it. I reached out to insurance and they basically told me there was nothing they could do and that a claim couldn't be filed on the car since it hadn't been in a collision. Plus I'm only 19 so my insurance is already about $500 a month so any more and i wont be able to afford the car! LOL.
But yeah. You're right, I think after I fix it, I'll just buy a cheap POS to get my fix of Tastee Freeze parking lot donuts.
Last edited by jetsquee; Jan 20, 2024 at 03:42 PM.
You're really not gaining much changing differentials. The gear ratios are very close and there's no point in the axle difference as the power isn't there.
Simply remove the broken axle and slide the differential off (you can leave the good side in.) Then replace differential and axle.
Well generally I agree. But, the goal with the C63 diff into the C350 isn't different ratios.
the C350 never came with an LSD from the factory regardless of options. The C63 on the other hand, does. With the P30. So, the goal was to get a P30 LSD for better burnouts and drifts.
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W204 C63 Rear End Swap into a NON-AMG
